The rock and roll world mourns the loss of Viv Prince, the iconic 1960s drummer for The Pretty Things, whose explosive style and boundary-pushing persona defined him as a true original, a ‘high priest of lunacy’ whose brief but impactful career left an indelible mark on music history; his passing at 84 in Portugal has sparked a wave of tributes to this eccentric visionary.
Viv Prince embodied the untamed spirit of early rock, carving out a reputation not just as a musician, but as a force of nature. His wildness was so legendary that even in an era of rock-and-roll rebels, he stood out as the “maniac among maniacs.” This article journeys through the tumultuous and fascinating life of the man who redefined what it meant to be a rock drummer, influencing countless others, including the incomparable Keith Moon, and cementing his status as a foundational figure in the sound that would become known as proto-punk.
As we delve into the life and times of Viv Prince, we uncover the stories, the music, and the sheer audacity that made him one of rock’s most talked-about figures. From his early days to his explosive stint with The Pretty Things and beyond, Prince’s journey is a vivid testament to a time when rock and roll was truly dangerous, unpredictable, and thrillingly alive.
1. **The Sad News and Enduring Tributes**
News of Viv Prince’s passing, at 84, from his home near Faro, Portugal, reached the world through social media, with Jack White, the former frontman of The White Stripes, sharing the solemn announcement. White, a musician known for his deep respect for rock’s pioneers, shared words that perfectly encapsulated Prince’s spirit and legacy, lamenting the loss of a true original. The specific date or cause of his death was not immediately disclosed, adding to the mystique that always surrounded Prince.
Jack White’s tribute was particularly poignant, describing Prince as “an incredible drummer, wild and full of abandon.” He further elaborated, calling him “an inspired and eccentric rock and roller,” a sentiment echoed by many who knew or admired Prince’s work. White, who had the unique opportunity to meet Prince years ago while the drummer was working on his farm in Portugal, expressed a genuine admiration, even suggesting the intriguing possibility of working on a documentary about this remarkable man one day.
This powerful sentiment from a fellow rock icon highlights the enduring legacy Prince left behind, reminding us that his death is not just an obituary but a profound reflection on a pivotal musical era and the fearless innovators who paved the way for countless artists; his departure marks the end of a chapter, but his legend continues to inspire.
2. **Rock’s Original Madman**
Viv Prince’s reputation as “Rock’s Original Madman” was not merely a label; it was a testament to his innate ability to infuse every aspect of his life, both on and off stage, with an unbridled, chaotic energy. During his pivotal 18-month run with The Pretty Things, Prince was universally recognized as “the high priest of lunacy.” His performances were a spectacle of raw power and unpredictable showmanship, earning him the moniker of one of music’s reigning Visigoths.
Indeed, in a band already known for its ferocious outfit and incessant partying, Prince stood out as “the maniac among maniacs.” The Pretty Things were a group that scandalized buttoned-up British society with their earthy music and impudent behavior, often seen as a ruder, cruder version of The Rolling Stones. Yet, even within this context of debauchery and rebellion, Prince managed to set a new standard for rock extremity, cementing his place as an undeniable force of nature.
Prince’s wild persona was more than just an act; it was the very essence of his artistic expression, as he thrived in the chaos, his unwavering commitment to pushing limits making him a captivating, albeit often difficult, figure; his legend was forged in his unapologetic authenticity, a spirit so untamed and free-spirited that he played and lived by his own rules, leaving everyone mesmerized and a little bewildered.
3. **The Pretty Things Era: A Whirlwind Debut**
Prince’s entry into The Pretty Things in 1964 marked the beginning of a truly transformative period for the band and, indeed, for British rock. Though his tenure was remarkably brief, lasting only 18 months until his departure towards the end of 1965, this was a whirlwind debut that etched his name into rock history. He became an integral part of their “first iconic lineup,” bringing a dynamic energy that instantly propelled the group into the media spotlight.
During this intense period, Prince contributed his unique drumming style to two seminal albums for the counter-cultural rock group: their self-titled debut, “The Pretty Things,” and “Get the Picture?”, both released in 1965. These records captured the raw, aggressive sound that would define the band, a sound that was heavily influenced by Prince’s fiery and unpredictable rhythms. His presence was not just heard but felt throughout these recordings.
It was Prince’s unruly antics, however, that often garnered more media coverage than the band’s music itself. His stage behavior, characterized by brazen pranks and a general disregard for convention, became a focal point for journalists and fans alike. This constant stream of headline-grabbing misbehavior ensured that The Pretty Things, with Prince at the helm, were never out of the public eye, even as it set the stage for future conflicts.
4. **A Proto-Punk Pioneer**
Before the term “punk” existed, Viv Prince and The Pretty Things were laying down the groundwork for its raw, aggressive ethos. The band’s brand of blues rock, intensified by Prince’s unhinged performances and powerful drumming, was often described as “proto-punk.” This was music that eschewed the polish of some of their contemporaries, opting instead for a visceral, unrefined energy that directly communicated a sense of rebellion and urgent vitality.
Their distinctive sound deliberately challenged the musical landscape, offering a ‘ruder, cruder version of the Rolling Stones,’ a band already known for testing societal norms; The Pretty Things, fueled by Prince’s untamed energy at the drums, embraced a raw edginess that presaged the intensity of future punk movements, showing they weren’t just playing rock and roll, but embodying its authentic, unvarnished spirit.
Prince’s contribution to this proto-punk sound was significant. His drumming was not merely rhythmic accompaniment; it was a central element of the band’s identity, providing the explosive backbone for their aggressive sound. He helped define an attitude of irreverence and a musical approach that favored immediate impact over intricate refinement, establishing a blueprint that many subsequent generations of rock musicians would unconsciously follow.
5.One of Viv Prince’s most significant and widely recognized contributions is his undeniable influence on Keith Moon, the legendary drummer for The Who; numerous accounts confirm that a young Moon was a fixture at The Pretty Things’ concerts, closely observing Prince’s distinctive and charismatic drumming, and found his initial inspiration for explosive solos and wild stage antics in Prince’s electrifying style.
Phil May, lead singer of The Pretty Things, vividly recalled Moon being ‘mesmerized’ by Prince, with May’s observations underscoring the revolutionary impact Prince had on the perception of a rock drummer; May explained that before Prince, drumming was ‘quite sedentary’ and ‘boring,’ but through Viv, they realized a drummer could be ‘an extrovert’ and ‘a star,’ transforming the role from a background musician to a flamboyant showman.
Adding a layer of personal connection to this mentorship, it was Viv Prince himself who reportedly coined the iconic nickname “Moon the Loon” for Keith. This small anecdote underscores not only their mutual acquaintance but also the deep, almost fraternal bond formed through their shared approach to drumming and life. Prince not only inspired Moon’s technique but also validated his theatrical, over-the-top persona, setting the stage for one of rock’s most iconic figures.
6. **The Antics That Defined Him: Onstage Mayhem**
Viv Prince’s reputation was built as much on his outrageous onstage antics as on his drumming prowess. These brazen pranks and spontaneous acts of rebellion became a signature part of The Pretty Things’ live performances, captivating audiences and confounding authorities. He viewed the stage not just as a platform for music, but as a canvas for chaos, ensuring that every gig was an unforgettable, unpredictable experience.
One particularly memorable incident involved Prince sabotaging a performance by teen idol Eden Kane. While Kane was performing, Prince took it upon himself to begin laying carpet onstage, a surreal act that he later confirmed, stating, “Everyone was digging it.” Despite other sensational claims, such as lighting fires onstage during a “scorched-earth tour” of New Zealand in 1965, Prince denied those specific allegations, though he did admit to a general pattern of mischief and misbehavior.
Another notorious story involved Prince allegedly releasing live crayfish in an airport lounge. With characteristic wit and defiance, Prince addressed the news accounts by denying the crayfish were alive, stating, “The fish were dead when we bought them. They always are. How on earth can dead fish run around?” These tales, whether fully true or embellished by the passage of time, paint a vivid picture of a drummer who was “often inebriated or high on amphetamines,” prone to leaving his drum stool to roam the stage and generally “cause havoc wherever he went.
7. **The Notorious Offstage Persona**
Viv Prince’s reputation for chaos wasn’t confined to the stage; it spilled over into his everyday life, cementing his image as “one of the great debauched people of our time,” a sentiment even Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones echoed. His wild behavior became such a defining characteristic that it often overshadowed the band’s musical prowess, making him as much a headline-grabber for his antics as for his drumming. This untethered personality, while initially captivating, would eventually prove to be his undoing with The Pretty Things, signaling a larger pattern of self-destructive tendencies that pushed even his rebellious bandmates to their limits.
Indeed, Prince’s proclivity for mischief was deeply ingrained, often fueled by being “often inebriated or high on amphetamines.” These habits led to a pattern of unreliability and an inability to conform to conventional expectations. He seemed to exist in a perpetual state of rebellion, viewing social norms and professional obligations as mere suggestions to be disregarded or, better yet, actively subverted. His life off the stage was a continuous performance of defiance, always pushing boundaries and daring anyone to challenge his chaotic lifestyle.
This consistent lack of discipline caused significant headaches for The Pretty Things. Phil May, the group’s lead singer, recalled how they were initially “sort of novice lunatics,” but Prince was like “the high priest of lunacy” handed to them. His extreme behavior was a stark contrast even to their own brand of rebellion, and it began to severely compromise their ability to function as a professional touring and recording act. The band’s efforts to maintain some semblance of order were constantly undermined by Prince’s persistent unpredictability.
Perhaps one of the most revealing incidents that showcased his offstage temperament, and the one that ultimately sealed his fate with the band, occurred at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. Prince famously refused to play a gig because a pub across the street had denied him service. The irony, as Mr. Unterberger noted, was that Prince had apparently “smashed up the place the previous night” with some friends. This flagrant disregard for consequences and commitment underscored how his chaotic lifestyle had become incompatible with the demands of a touring band. It was a moment of stark realization for the other members that his genius came with an unmanageable price.
8. **Early Life and Musical Roots**
Before his tumultuous but influential tenure with The Pretty Things, Viv Prince began his musical journey in a very different realm, far from the raucous blues-rock he would become known for. Born Vivian Martin Prince on August 9, 1941, in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, his exposure to music came early, through his father, Harry Prince, who led a local jazz band. This familial connection to music clearly set the stage for young Viv’s future, immersing him in rhythm and performance from a young age.
Initially, Prince picked up the guitar, but soon found his true calling behind the drum kit. His early schooling at Loughborough Grammar School even saw him forming his own group, the Viv Prince Skiffle Group. Skiffle, a lively blend of American folk, blues, and jazz, was a major craze among British youth in the 1950s, a movement that even captivated a teenage John Lennon. This early immersion in popular, genre-blending music hinted at his future innovative and boundary-pushing spirit.
Prince’s path continued through various musical fads of the era. He embraced the New Orleans-style revival known as trad jazz, joining Lennie Baldwin’s Dauphin Street Six in 1961, which led to tours in Denmark and his first recordings in 1962. After a brief stint with the Jazz Cardinals in Germany, he returned to London, establishing himself as a sought-after session musician. His skills contributed to numerous pop records, showcasing his versatility and growing professional reputation within the vibrant British music scene.
His career gained significant traction when he joined Carter-Lewis and the Southerners in June 1963, an Everly Brothers-influenced group that became a crucial stepping stone not only for Prince but for rock history, as he shared the stage with a young Jimmy Page, who would later achieve global fame with Led Zeppelin; during this time, Prince also infamously became the first British rock musician to face a drug-related court charge, solidifying his rebellious image even before his time with The Pretty Things.
9. **Chart Success and British Invasion Potential**
Despite their reputation for wildness and Prince’s notorious antics, The Pretty Things, with Viv Prince driving their rhythm section, achieved surprising commercial success on the British charts during his brief but impactful tenure. This period saw them transcend their status as a mere cult act, demonstrating a genuine capacity for mainstream appeal even while maintaining their raw and unpolished edge. Their records captured the attention of a wide audience, proving that their particular brand of “proto-punk” had a significant place in the burgeoning British music scene.
The band notched a string of successful singles, showcasing their ability to craft compelling, aggressive blues-rock that resonated with listeners. “Rosalyn” landed at No. 41 in June 1964, setting the stage for greater triumphs. This was quickly followed by “Don’t Bring Me Down,” which soared into the Top 10, reaching an impressive No. 10 that October. These early hits cemented their position as a significant force in British rock, standing as a clear contrast to their more scandalous headlines.
Their commercial success continued into 1965 with the hit “Honey, I Need,” which reached No. 13, and their self-titled debut album, “The Pretty Things,” released that year, impressively climbed to No. 6 on the British charts; this chart performance highlighted the band’s musical prowess and the compelling energy of their recordings, with Prince’s unique drumming being a key element of their appeal, a testament to their enduring quality, as evidenced by David Bowie’s later covers of “Rosalyn” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
The band’s chart success, combined with their raw appeal, positioned them perfectly to join the “British Invasion” that was sweeping the United States. They were “well placed to join the British Invasion, and perhaps to become much bigger stars.” However, a critical missed opportunity arose: The Pretty Things “never managed to tour the United States at their mid-1960s peak.” This absence from the American stage likely prevented them from achieving the global stardom that many of their contemporaries enjoyed, leaving their full potential unrealized on an international scale.
10. **The Inevitable Departure**
The explosive energy and unpredictable nature that made Viv Prince a rock icon ultimately became the very reasons for his premature departure from The Pretty Things. While his presence initially brought a captivating dynamic to the band and garnered significant media attention, his “untethered personality” proved to be an increasing liability. The balance between his wild antics and the band’s professional obligations became utterly unsustainable, culminating in a series of dramatic incidents that made his exit inevitable, a bittersweet end to a powerful, albeit brief, collaboration.
The growing unreliability was a major factor in the band’s decision. Prince frequently missed recording sessions, forcing the group to enlist substitute drummers such as Bobby Graham, Mitch Mitchell, and Twink, to ensure their albums could be completed. This operational disruption, born from his frequent intoxication or drug use, showcased a pattern of behavior that was becoming severely detrimental to the group’s stability and progress. Phil May, the band’s lead singer, succinctly put it, explaining that without Prince, “We couldn’t finish a concert,” highlighting the profound impact his absences had.
His infamous “scorched-earth tour” of New Zealand in 1965, despite his denials of arson, generated significant negative publicity and ended dramatically with an altercation with the crew that led to him being “thrown off the plane” carrying the band home; forced to find his own way back to England, this incident vividly demonstrated the extent of the chaos he caused and the strain it placed on the touring operation, serving as a clear prelude to his eventual departure from the band.
The final straw, widely documented, occurred at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. Prince, having caused “mayhem with The Kinks” the night before in an attached hotel, refused to play the gig because the pub across the road wouldn’t serve him. Dick Taylor, The Pretty Things’ guitarist and founder, recounted the moment in 2021, stating, “What he hadn’t twigged was that it was attached to the hotel he’d been in the night before… In the end Phil said: ‘You’d better just go home.’ He was a wonderful drummer, but…” This particular incident, coupled with his general pattern of “bad behaviour” and escalating unreliability, led to his being sacked in mid-November 1965, ending a turbulent yet historically significant 18-month period.
11. **Life Beyond The Pretty Things**
Following his tumultuous departure from The Pretty Things, Viv Prince’s life took on a diverse and often unexpected trajectory, far removed from the consistent spotlight of a major rock band. While he continued to engage with music in various capacities, his career path after 1965 reflected a restless spirit and an unwillingness to settle into a conventional existence. His post-Pretty Things years were a mosaic of brief musical stints, entrepreneurial ventures, and continued brushes with notoriety.
Initially, Prince remained active in the music scene, albeit in a more transient capacity. He briefly filled in for an ailing Keith Moon on tour with The Who, a testament to his drumming prowess, though it’s reported he “quickly wore out his welcome, even in that context.” He also played with groups like the Bunch of Fives and the Denny Laine String Band, and deputized on drums for the Honeycombs and Hawkwind. He even recorded with artists such as Chris Barber, Twink, and McGough & McGear, the latter session notably involving Jimi Hendrix. He was also considered for the Jeff Beck Group, showcasing his continued demand as a session musician.
Beyond performing, Prince explored other avenues. For some time, he ran the Knuckles club in Soho, London, a venue he famously claimed served as the first rehearsal base for Jimi Hendrix in England. He even asserted that he suggested musicians to complete the lineup of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, adding another layer to his already rich rock-and-roll mythology. These claims, whether fully verifiable, illustrate his continued proximity to and influence within the vibrant London music scene of the late 1960s, despite his departure from a major band.
Later in life, Prince made a significant shift, leaving the music industry decades ago. He eventually settled in Portugal, living for many years on a farm with a citrus grove near Faro. Even during this seemingly quieter phase, his rebellious spirit resurfaced in anecdotal form. A persistent rumor suggested he joined the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, only to be “ejected for misbehaviour” because, as he reportedly claimed, he was “too much of a handful” even for a notorious biker gang. This final flourish of defiance perfectly encapsulates the enduring, untamable character of Viv Prince.
12. **A Lasting Legacy and Tributes**
Viv Prince’s career, though marked by brevity and controversy, left an undeniable and lasting legacy on the landscape of rock and roll. His influence extended far beyond his 18-month stint with The Pretty Things, shaping the performance style of subsequent drumming legends and defining a proto-punk attitude that resonated for decades. He wasn’t just a drummer; he was a cultural force, an embodiment of rock’s wild, unpredictable, and thrillingly alive spirit that continues to inspire.
The most tangible testament to his impact is undoubtedly his mentorship of Keith Moon. As Phil May observed, Prince transformed the role of the drummer from a “sedentary” background figure into an “extrovert,” a “star.” This radical redefinition of the drummer’s role, demonstrated nightly through Prince’s explosive fills and wild stage presence, directly paved the way for Moon’s iconic showmanship with The Who, illustrating a clear lineage of rock drumming innovation that began with Viv Prince.
His contributions to The Pretty Things’ early sound also earned him a permanent place in rock history. The band’s aggressive blues-rock, fueled by Prince’s unhinged rhythms, is now recognized as a precursor to punk rock, influencing future generations of musicians who sought raw energy over refinement. David Bowie’s decision to cover Pretty Things songs decades later further underscores their enduring musical quality and Prince’s foundational role in that distinctive sound, cementing his place in the annals of influential rock music.
Even years after his departure, Prince remained an unforgettable figure to his former bandmates. In 1999, The Pretty Things recorded a song specifically as a tribute to him, titled “Vivian Prince,” which was included on their album “Rage Before Beauty.” This heartfelt homage, along with the recent tributes from contemporary artists like Jack White, who described him as “an incredible drummer, wild and full of abandon” and “an inspired and eccentric rock and roller,” solidify his status. White’s expression of interest in a documentary further cements Prince’s enduring fascination and ensures that his wild, influential story continues to captivate new generations, preserving the memory of rock’s original madman drummer.
From his explosive beginnings behind the drum kit with The Pretty Things to his later years on a peaceful Portuguese farm, Viv Prince lived a life as untamed and unpredictable as his drumming; he was a true force of nature, a one-of-a-kind artist who defied convention and shattered every boundary, both musically and personally, leaving behind a vibrant, chaotic chapter in rock and roll history that reminds us true artistry often embraces a touch of madness, ensuring his wild spirit will reverberate through rock and roll for generations to come.
