Jim Keays, Australia rock legend and frontman for The Masters Apprentices, has died at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer.
Keays, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma seven years ago, was admitted to intensive care at The Alfred Hopsital several weeks ago, suffering from pneumonia following complications with his blood cancer.
The 67-year-old was on life support since Monday, and thought thought to be making a recovery, he passed away peacefully this morning at 10:30am surrounded by family.
Despite his seven-year long battle with the disease, Keays released an album of updated garage rock in 2012, had recently completed another LP – due for release in August – and had continued to tour frequently as Cotton Keays and Morris (alongside 1960s rock contemporaries, Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris).
Keays’ music career had included production, management, journalism, television, and radio, but his most prominent role was as the lead singer of influential pop rock band, The Masters Apprentices.
First formed in Adelaide in 1965 from the ashes of The Mustangs, once Keays joined The Masters Apprentices they evolved their surf rock into a burly mix of beat music, rhythm and blues, and garage rock. They released a string of hit singles with Keays out front, including ‘Undecided’, ‘Living In A Child’s Dream’, and ‘Hands Of Time’ – all marked by Keays’ distinctive vocals.
Part of the classic lineup from 1965–1972, the singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonica-player also featured in several Masters Apprentices reunions over the years, including being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1998, while carving out a healthy discography as a solo artist. “Jim had an aura about him, you always knew he was in the room. Always the Master, never the Apprentice.”
Former bandmate Glenn Whetley called Keays a “consummate showman” in a statement today, “I had the pleasure of sharing some of the best years of my life with Jim Keays… [he] had an aura about him, you always knew he was in the room. Always the Master, never the Apprentice. His presence will remain with me always. Do what you wanna do, be what you wanna be Jim. Vale my friends, you will be greatly missed.”
Aussie music commentator Glenn A Baker also honoured Keays as “innately one of the very best rock singers we ever had in Australia,” adding “he had a growl. He had a confidence. He had a swagger.”
Keays had been working on a follow-up to his 2012 record Dirty, Dirty, writing to fans on his Facebook page in March that he’d “Just finished recording the new album. Mixing in March. Very excited, sounding great!” The album is expected to be released posthumously this August.
Keays is survived by his partner Kari, and his three children Holly, Bonnie and James.
(Photo: Carbie Warbie. Source: Supplied)
