James Cruickshank

James George Watson, who performed as James Cruickshank (1962 – 8 October 2015), was an Australian musician. He was the long-term guitarist and keyboardist for indie rock group, the Cruel Sea. As a solo artist he released three albums, Hymn for Her (2003), Hello Human (2007) and Note to Self (2011). In 2014 he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and died in the following year, aged 53.

James Cruickshank
Birth nameJames George Watson
Born1962
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died (aged 53)
Bangalow, New South Wales, Australia
GenresIndie rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
  • vocals
Years active1985–2015
LabelsVitamin
Associated acts

Biography

James George Watson was born in 1962 in Melbourne and grew up with two siblings.[1][2] His mother, Margaret Cruickshank, was a television actress – he used her last name as his performance name.[1] He received music lessons and performed classical music while at primary school.[1] After secondary education he worked as a labourer.[1] At 23 he relocated to Sydney where he completed a degree course in Communications and started in a band, Gargoyles.[3]

In 1987 Cruickshank, on guitar, keyboards and vocals, was a founding member of Sydney-based indie rock band, Widdershins, along with Greg Appel on vocals and guitar, Peter Timmerman on drums, Barry Turnbull on bass guitar and Juliet Ward on vocals.[4][5] They released a full-length album, Ascension, in May 1989 before breaking up later that year.[4] Cruickshank and Ward then formed Juliet Hammerhead and Friends. He played with Neil Murray and the Rainmakers during 1989, and was a member of the Blackeyed Susans in 1991, appearing on their extended play, Anchor Me.[6]

Cruickshank, on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals, joined another Sydney-based indie rock band, the Cruel Sea, in 1989.[6][7] Whille attending the group's gigs at the Landsdowne Hotel, he had "started getting up with the band, only to lend the occasional hand on keyboards" before he formally joined.[7] The line-up included Jim Eliott on drums, Ken Gormly on bass guitar, Tex Perkins on lead vocals, harmonica and guitar and Dan Rumour on guitar.[6][8]

He remained with the Cruel Sea until they broke-up in 2003, and re-uniting with them to tour in 2008 and again in 2010.[9] He also played with Cruel Sea bandmate, Perkins, as a member of the Cruel Three (1992), then Tex Perkins and His Ladyboyz (2008) and appeared on Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses's self-titled album.

Cruickshank released three solo albums through Vitamin Records, Hymn for Her (2003), Hello Human (2007) and Note to Self (2011), and toured nationally to support them.[10] James Cruickshank died on 8 October 2015, a year after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.[3][10]

Discography
  • Hymn for Her (2003) - Vitamin[11]
  • Hello Human (2007) - Vitamin[12][13]
  • Note to Self (2011) - Vitamin

Tex Perkins and His Ladyboyz

  • No. 1's & No. 2's (2008) - Universal

The Cruel Sea

The Blackeyed Susans

  • Anchor Me EP (1991) - Waterfront Records

Widdershins

  • Ascension (1989) - Waterfront Records
  • Good Songs 1987-1989 (2005) - Egg Records
  • "Now You Know / Dishwashing Liquid" (1987) - Waterfront Records
  • Bottle Man's Wife EP (1988) - Waterfront Records
  • "Return of the King" / "Bugle Call" (1989) - Waterfront Records
  • "Now You Know" (2006) - Egg Records

References
  1. Thompson, Angela (24 October 2015). "Cruickshank surf prize honours Cruel Sea legend". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. "'Marimba Brick' at APRA search engine". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 15 November 2020. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  3. staff writer (9 October 2015). "The Cruel Sea Guitarist/Keyboardist James Cruickshank Passes Away". thMusic. Street Press Australia. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  4. McFarlane, Ian (2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Lighthouse Keepers'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press. pp. 277–278. ISBN 978-0-9953856-0-3.
  5. Griffin, Roger. "Widdershins". Widdershins Official Website. Archived from the original on 14 May 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. Australian Rock Database entries:
    • The Cruel Sea (1990-present): Holmgren, Magnus. "The Cruel Sea". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
    • Neil Murray and the Rainmakers (1989): Holmgren, Magnus. "Neil Murray". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 12 April 2004. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
    • The Blackeyed Susans (1991): Holmgren, Magnus. "Neil Murray". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  7. Nimmervoll, Ed. "The Cruel Sea". Howlspace. White Room Electronic Publishing. Archived from the original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  8. McFarlane, Ian (2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Cruel Sea'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-0-9953856-0-3.
  9. "The Cruel Sea's guitarist James Cruickshank dies after cancer battle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press (AAP). 9 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  10. Encalada, Javier (9 October 2015). "Tributes flow for Bangalow rock star James Cruickshank". Northern Star. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  11. Shedden, Iain (31 July 2004), "Mellow moods follow Cruel Sea change", The Australian
  12. Apter, Jeff (20 July 2007), "CD Reviews", The Sydney Morning Herald
  13. Shedden, Iain (22 December 2007), "Spin doctor", The Australian
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