The great Dave Ball has departed this earth after a long illness. He passed peacefully surrounded by family in Melbourne one day after his 65th birthday. Dave crammed several lifetimes into that span: gold record winning recording artist, soldier, martial arts master and high powered international banker just to name a few of his pursuits.
Almost exactly two years ago, I got to know Dave at a Procol Harum fan gathering in Germany. It was a wonderful evening, as Dave shared witty stories about the raucous London music scene in the 1960s and his numerous adventures over the years. His joy and enthusiasm were infectious, and it was a time filled with laughter. While we kept in touch through social media, our paths never crossed again. However I feel privileged to have gotten the chance to enjoy his company, if only briefly.
Dave will be deeply missed, and this world is poorer without him. We grieve for ourselves and our loss, but there should be no grieving for Dave. He is free from his pain, and has embarked on his next extraordinary adventure. And if I know Dave, he's already scouring the cosmos, looking for a good jam session.
Dave posted a number of videos on YouTube, covering a wide range of topics, but here's how I'm sure he would prefer to be remembered: rockin' out with his mates...
My review of Dave' hilarious book Half Hippie - Half Man
My review of his album Don't Forget Your Alligator
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