Robert France (5 December 1959 – 14 January 2012) was an English drummer, record producer, arranger, journalist, music educator, and broadcaster.
Early life
France was born in Sheffield, and emigrated to Australia in March 1972. He studied at the National Academy of Rudimentary Drummers of Australia until 1974, under tutor Harry Lebler. At the age of fifteen, he began to teach at the Australian Academy of Music (1974–1975).[citation needed]
While living and travelling in Australia, France formed the jazz-fusion group, Carnival, performed at the Oz Jazz Festival, and supported John McLaughlin. He worked with Stevie Wright of the Easybeats, Marty Rhone and Tim Gaze.[citation needed] He has over 1,000 television, radio, and advertising credits, including eight documentaries and four film scores, including Band on the Run[citation needed].
France left Australia in 1982 to return to England, where he joined Diamond Head the following year. Part of the NWOBHM movement, they performed at Castle Donington Monsters of Rock, then went on to record their third album, Canterbury.[citation needed] He played on the hit single "Making Music".
Leaving UFO in 1985, he formed One Nation with Kipper (now Sting's producer). They worked together at Tony Visconti's studio in Soho, London on an array of recordings.[citation needed] When France's wife, Annette, was asked to leave One Nation he felt compelled to leave with her.[citation needed] By now France was also teaching in drum clinics, usually on behalf of the Avedis Zildjiancymbal company.[citation needed]
It was around this time that France was asked to fill in for drummer Frank Tontoh with jazz saxophonist Jean Toussaint. Meeting up to open a venue called The Soho Jazz Shack, Jean asked France to play with him on a more permanent basis, as he (Toussaint) had a regular slot at the Dingwalls club in Camden Town on Sunday afternoons.[citation needed]
In 1994, he returned to London, ostensibly to promote the solo project where he became a founder member of Skunk Anansie and recorded and co-produced their debut album Paranoid & Sunburnt. He co-wrote the hit track "Weak", which has since been covered by Rod Stewart.[citation needed] He also recorded the B-side, "Army of Me", with Björk.[citation needed]
France left Skunk Anansie in 1995, joining the German group Alphaville the next day. He toured and recorded with Alphaville until an accident in which he severed his Achilles tendon.[citation needed] He lived in Poland for over two years, hosting his own radio programme, and appearing on various television shows.[citation needed] In 1998, he moved to Mazarrón, Spain, to concentrate on writing his first novel. He was running Pulpo Negro Records, Pulpo Negro Publishing, Pulpo Negro Studios, GCBC Productions, with his partner, Tim Oldfield up until 2004.[citation needed] He produced the Spanish bands Second, Renochild, and Blue Aliens Temple, as well as Screw Coco.[citation needed] He also produced, wrote, and arranged for London-based artist Keke.[citation needed]
France broadcast for a number of different radio stations in Spain over the last decade including Costa Calida International and TKO Gold. His most recent preoccupation was a return to radio broadcasting for both Real Radio 95.6 FM in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca and One Radio Spain on the Costa Calida, providing simulcasts between the two Costas. France's first novel, Six Degrees South was published on 7 December 2011.[citation needed]
Death
France died on 14 January 2012 in Spain after reportedly suffering a ruptured aorta. He was 52.[1]
