Tag: Jim Keays

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Jim Keays

It’s not a good time to be an Australian music lover right now. It seems like we were all still mourning the loss of Doc Neeson, and now we have to deal with the loss of another of our greats. Today Jim Keays succumbed to multiple myeloma after seven years battling the disease. He was just 67.

It was pretty easy to forget Jim was sick. He seemed permanently on the road with Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris, and he was still putting out albums right to the end. It might be some consolation to fans that there’s another on the way which Jim was apparently really excited for us all to hear.

But it’s no doubt be the music he made with the Masters Apprentices that is his greatest legacy. This song’s not just my favourite Masters Apprentices song, but also one of my favourite songs of all time. We’ll miss you Jim.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jim Keays’ Cancer Fight

Aussie rock legend Jim Keays has revealed he’s battling myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer.

The former Master’s Apprentices frontman fell ill while holidaying in England last month. He was suffering from back pain, but the greatest problem was a build-up of toxins in his kidneys. When British doctors diagnosed cancer, there was no doubt in Jim’s mind that he needed to return home.

Despite his serious condition, Jim is staying positive.

“It’s treatable and it often goes into remission,” he told the Herald Sun. “I started chemotherapy last week and I am on dialysis, and I am confident both will work.”

He hopes to rejoin his current bandmates Russell Morris and Darryl Cotton on the road soon.

“We have had to drop a few gigs, and Russell and Darryl played Saturday night together, but I hope to be back in business and playing with the boys next month,” he said.

“I’ve been lucky. I’ve had good health all my life. Until this I had never been to hospital — and I plan to get out of this one quick smart.”

Jim’s wife Karin is also optimistic that her husband will make a full recovery.

“The doctors are quietly confident that Jim’s kidney function will improve. Jim has such strength of will that I have no doubt he’ll make it happen.”

Jim Keays burst onto the Australian music scene in 1966. His group, The Master’s Apprentices, stormed up the charts with hits like “Elevator Driver,” “Turn Up Your Radio,” and “Because I Love You.” In the last few years, Jim’s enjoyed success as part of the trio Cotton Keays and Morris. He recently completed a solo album called Resonator.