William Shakespeare (singer)
Encyclopedia
William Shakespeare was the stage name of Australian Glam rock
singer John Stanley Cave, also known as John Cabe or Billy Shake. He had two Australian hit singles, "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
" which peaked at #2 on the Kent Music Report
in 1974 and "My Little Angel
" which peaked at #1 in 1975. Both hits were written by Vanda & Young
, who also groomed Shakespeare into a Glam rocker.
He was vocalist for beat music
group, The Amazons, with Nick Barlow on guitar
, Harry Brus on bass guitar
, Chris Carroll on guitar and Dally Carroll on drums
. In 1966, they released a single, "Ain't that Lovin' You Baby". After The Amazons, Shakespeare continued performing in Sydney clubs as Johnny Cabe. In early 1974, Shakespeare was in Albert Studios
where noted Australian producer
s/songwriter
s Vanda & Young
(ex-The Easybeats
) were recording "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
" for another singer who was unable to reach its high notes.
voice was suitable so Vanda & Young signed him to Albert Productions and groomed him into William Shakespeare as a glam rock
er along the lines of Alvin Stardust
or Gary Glitter
. "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" was released as a single in July and peaked at #2 nationally (#1 in Sydney & Melbourne) Kent Music Report
. Another Vanda & Young/Albert Productions act was hard rock
group, AC/DC
who were looking for a new lead singer, on the short-list were: Shakespeare, John Paul Young
and eventual vocalist Bon Scott
.
In 1974, in the planning stages for the ABC-TV
series Countdown, it was suggested that Shakespeare host the show. However, this was rejected, with Ian Meldrum
becoming a regular contributor instead. A number of guest hosts such as Shirley Strachan, John Paul Young and Daryl Braithwaite
compered the show in its early days on an ad hoc basis.
In November 1974, Shakespeare released his debut album, Can't Stop Myself From Loving You
, produced by Vanda & Young for Albert Productions
. The album peaked in the top 30 on the Kent Music Report.
His second single, "My Little Angel
" followed in December and peaked at #1 on the Kent Music Report for three weeks in February 1975 and he became a national pop star. Shakespeare appeared on teen-orientated Countdown in his glam rock costume numerous times. The two singles and album were followed by two more singles, "Just the Way You Are" in April and "Last Night" in May 1976, but he had no further Top 50 charting success.
with a 15-year-old girl from his Melbourne
fan club, he received two years probation. He left Albert Productions
in 1977 and had no further recordings—his pop music career was over due to his conviction and changes in music styles.
, was treated with Deep Sleep Therapy
(in combination with electroconvulsive therapy
and other therapies) by Dr Harry Bailey
at the Chelmsford Private Hospital for three weeks. From 1979 he performed as Billy Shake in Sydney clubs but generated little income. A temporary revival of his singing career occurred in 1990 when Melbourne listeners of 3MMM
voted "My Little Angel" as the Daggiest
song of their generation and a cover version
was provided by The Melody Lords.
, where he was found and assisted by Lindy Morrison
(ex-The Go-Betweens
drummer) of Support Act Limited, a company concerned with assisting artists in hard times. In 2009, he was living in government housing in the southern Sydney suburb of Riverwood
.
He died suddenly in Sydney on 5 October 2010. Many fond tributes to William Shakespeare's life and music appeared in the Australian media just after his death became known.
Singles
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
singer John Stanley Cave, also known as John Cabe or Billy Shake. He had two Australian hit singles, "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
"Can't Stop Myself From Loving You" was a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda & George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cave, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second first hit in Australia,making the number 2 spot on the Australian charts...
" which peaked at #2 on the Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
in 1974 and "My Little Angel
My Little Angel (William Shakespeare song)
"My Little Angel" is a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda and George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cabe, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second big hit in Australia and his first number one, making the number-one spot in Australia for three weeks in...
" which peaked at #1 in 1975. Both hits were written by Vanda & Young
Vanda & Young
Vanda & Young are Harry Vanda , and George Young...
, who also groomed Shakespeare into a Glam rocker.
Early life
Shakespeare was born as John Stanley Cave in 1948 and grew up in Sydney, New South Wales.He was vocalist for beat music
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
group, The Amazons, with Nick Barlow on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Harry Brus on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Chris Carroll on guitar and Dally Carroll on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. In 1966, they released a single, "Ain't that Lovin' You Baby". After The Amazons, Shakespeare continued performing in Sydney clubs as Johnny Cabe. In early 1974, Shakespeare was in Albert Studios
Albert Productions
Albert Productions, a division of music publishing and recording company Albert Music, is one of Australia's longest established independent Australian record label to specialise in rock and roll music. The label was founded in 1964 by Ted Albert, whose family owned and operated the Australian...
where noted Australian producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s/songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s Vanda & Young
Vanda & Young
Vanda & Young are Harry Vanda , and George Young...
(ex-The Easybeats
The Easybeats
The Easybeats were an Australian rock and roll band. They formed in Sydney in late 1964 and broke up at the end of 1969. They are regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the 1960s, and were the first Australian rock and roll act to score an international pop hit with their 1966 single...
) were recording "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
"Can't Stop Myself From Loving You" was a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda & George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cave, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second first hit in Australia,making the number 2 spot on the Australian charts...
" for another singer who was unable to reach its high notes.
Career
Cave's falsettoFalsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
voice was suitable so Vanda & Young signed him to Albert Productions and groomed him into William Shakespeare as a glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
er along the lines of Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust is an English pop singer and stage actor.-Career:...
or Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
. "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" was released as a single in July and peaked at #2 nationally (#1 in Sydney & Melbourne) Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
. Another Vanda & Young/Albert Productions act was hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
group, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
who were looking for a new lead singer, on the short-list were: Shakespeare, John Paul Young
John Paul Young
John Paul Young is an Australian pop singer who had a 1978 worldwide hit with "Love Is in the Air"...
and eventual vocalist Bon Scott
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
.
In 1974, in the planning stages for the ABC-TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
series Countdown, it was suggested that Shakespeare host the show. However, this was rejected, with Ian Meldrum
Ian Meldrum
Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM is an Australian popular music critic, journalist, record producer , and musical entrepreneur...
becoming a regular contributor instead. A number of guest hosts such as Shirley Strachan, John Paul Young and Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop singer. Best known as the lead vocalist of Sherbet, Braithwaite has also sustained a successful solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including the No...
compered the show in its early days on an ad hoc basis.
In November 1974, Shakespeare released his debut album, Can't Stop Myself From Loving You
Can't Stop Myself from Loving You
"Can't Stop Myself From Loving You" was a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda & George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cave, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second first hit in Australia,making the number 2 spot on the Australian charts...
, produced by Vanda & Young for Albert Productions
Albert Productions
Albert Productions, a division of music publishing and recording company Albert Music, is one of Australia's longest established independent Australian record label to specialise in rock and roll music. The label was founded in 1964 by Ted Albert, whose family owned and operated the Australian...
. The album peaked in the top 30 on the Kent Music Report.
His second single, "My Little Angel
My Little Angel (William Shakespeare song)
"My Little Angel" is a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda and George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cabe, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second big hit in Australia and his first number one, making the number-one spot in Australia for three weeks in...
" followed in December and peaked at #1 on the Kent Music Report for three weeks in February 1975 and he became a national pop star. Shakespeare appeared on teen-orientated Countdown in his glam rock costume numerous times. The two singles and album were followed by two more singles, "Just the Way You Are" in April and "Last Night" in May 1976, but he had no further Top 50 charting success.
Fall
In 1975 Cave was convicted of carnal knowledgeCarnal knowledge
Carnal knowledge is an archaic or legal euphemism for sexual intercourse. The term derives from the Biblical usage of the verb know/knew, as in the King James and other versions, a euphemism for sexual conduct...
with a 15-year-old girl from his Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
fan club, he received two years probation. He left Albert Productions
Albert Productions
Albert Productions, a division of music publishing and recording company Albert Music, is one of Australia's longest established independent Australian record label to specialise in rock and roll music. The label was founded in 1964 by Ted Albert, whose family owned and operated the Australian...
in 1977 and had no further recordings—his pop music career was over due to his conviction and changes in music styles.
Therapy
In 1978, Shakespeare, who had an alcohol addiction and clinical depressionClinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, was treated with Deep Sleep Therapy
Deep Sleep Therapy
Deep sleep therapy , also called prolonged sleep treatment or continuous narcosis, is a psychiatric treatment based on the use of psychiatric drugs to render patients unconscious for a period of days or weeks.-History:...
(in combination with electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy , formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Its mode of action is unknown...
and other therapies) by Dr Harry Bailey
Harry Bailey
Harry Richard Bailey was a controversial Australian psychiatrist. He bore the primary responsibility for treatment of mental patients via Sledge hammers, and other methods, at a Sydney mental hospital. He has been linked with the deaths of a total of 85 patients...
at the Chelmsford Private Hospital for three weeks. From 1979 he performed as Billy Shake in Sydney clubs but generated little income. A temporary revival of his singing career occurred in 1990 when Melbourne listeners of 3MMM
3MMM
3MMM is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30 - 54 age group...
voted "My Little Angel" as the Daggiest
Dags (subculture)
Dag is an Australian and New Zealand slang term. In Australia, it is often used as an affectionate insult for someone who is, or is perceived to be, unfashionable, lacking self consciousness about their appearance and/or with poor social skills yet affable and amusing...
song of their generation and a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
was provided by The Melody Lords.
Decline and death
By 2001, Shakespeare was homeless and lived in a ticket booth at an oval next to St George's Leagues Club in KogarahKogarah, New South Wales
Kogarah is a suburb of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kogarah is located 14 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is considered to be the centre of the St George area...
, where he was found and assisted by Lindy Morrison
Lindy Morrison
Belinda "Lindy" Morrison is an Australian musician originally from Queensland. She was the drummer in indie rock group The Go-Betweens from 1980 to 1989, appearing on all the band's releases from their first LP in 1981 until the band's first break up on 26 December 1989...
(ex-The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
drummer) of Support Act Limited, a company concerned with assisting artists in hard times. In 2009, he was living in government housing in the southern Sydney suburb of Riverwood
Riverwood, New South Wales
Riverwood is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Riverwood is located 18 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area...
.
He died suddenly in Sydney on 5 October 2010. Many fond tributes to William Shakespeare's life and music appeared in the Australian media just after his death became known.
Discography
Albums- Can't Stop Myself from Loving You – Albert ProductionsAlbert ProductionsAlbert Productions, a division of music publishing and recording company Albert Music, is one of Australia's longest established independent Australian record label to specialise in rock and roll music. The label was founded in 1964 by Ted Albert, whose family owned and operated the Australian...
(25 November 1974) AUS #27
Singles
- "Can't Stop Myself from Loving YouCan't Stop Myself from Loving You"Can't Stop Myself From Loving You" was a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda & George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cave, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second first hit in Australia,making the number 2 spot on the Australian charts...
" – Albert Productions (1974) AUS #2 - "My Little AngelMy Little Angel (William Shakespeare song)"My Little Angel" is a song written by ex-Easybeats members Harry Vanda and George Young in 1974 and was recorded by Johnny Cabe, aka stage act William Shakespeare. It was Shakespeare's second big hit in Australia and his first number one, making the number-one spot in Australia for three weeks in...
" – Albert Productions (1974) AUS #1 - "Just the Way You Are" – Albert Productions (1975) AUS #57
- "Last Night" – Albert Productions (1976) AUS #97
See also
- 1974 in music1974 in music-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
- List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
External links
- Obituary
- George Negus Tonight transcript of interview with John Cave, 2005.
- Popular Countdown Acts – William Shakespeare. Contains biography and photos from late 1970s.