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'... because the music has the answer...' - rediscovering Ou Est Le Swimming Pool last week was soul blessing and refreshing, but at the same time a little heartbreaking. I saw them live years ago and they remind me of old, carefree times. I suppose I'm still carefree, so that doesn't really make sense. However, the memories it brings back are relaxing and listening to the songs again simultaneously cause me to bounce, illuminate and puts my body at ease.
Although it's not the cheeriest of songs, although it has been the backdrop of many a cheery time, it seems all that much darker seeing as the lead singer is dead! But still, what a tune! RIP Charles Haddon!
I think more people need to be aware of this band.. (I heard Davey Havok mention them in an interview, only reason I found them!) Most unfortunately though, there is only one album released by the band (titled 'The Golden Year') as the lead singer passed away far too soon :(
Here's one of their singles, but I can assure you every song off the album is amazing!
"Dance the way I feel" - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool
"Its better to burn out than fade away" ......"I hope I die before I get old"......
The Rolling Stones and Neil Young knew how to coin timeless Rock&Roll aphorisms, but did they ever actually live up to them? No (accept for Brian Jones of course, RIP).
Is it Rock&Roll to crystalize your youth and legend in an early death? Definitely not.
Did Jimi think it was groovy choking to death on his vomit? Did Morrison think OD'ing in a bathtub was sexy? Id suffice to say no.
Could these artists have gone on to make volumes of even more timeless music? Probably, but we'll never know.
Just like we'll never know what Ou Est Le Swimming Pool could have become. On August 22, a little over a year after they released their debut album, The Golden Year, lead singer Charles Haddon ended his own life following a show at PukkelPop in Belgium. This horrific, and very Greek, tragedy occurred after Haddon took a stage dive that severely injured a girl in the front row. Haddon was overheard saying "I hope she pulls through. I hope she will be able to walk." Haddon, only 22 years old, was so distressed after the incident, he climbed to the top of a radio tower in the backstage parking lot and leapt to his death. In October, friends of the band including The Kooks, Mr. Hudson, Tribes and Daisy Dare You came together in Haddon's hometown of Camden, to put on Chazzstock, a benefit concert for Haddon's favorite charities. Ou est... had seemingly infinite potential to become the biggest Indie-electronica band of the 2010's, but now they'll relegated to a one-album wonder with a lingering ? as to what heights they could have ascended too.
The girl injured in the stage dive is expected to make a full recovery.
A year ago today (8/20) at Pukkelpop, Charlie Haddon of the band "Ou Est Le Swimming Pool" committed suicide at the age of 22. It was such a shock and a tragedy, I still don't believe it. Thoughts and prayers with Charlie and his friends and family.
One of my all- time favorite songs. Rest In Peace, Charles. :(
