RIP Ex-VdGG Bassist Nic Potter

British bassist, composer and painter, best known for his work with the group Van der Graaf Generator in the 1970s has died of complications brought about by pneumonia. Yesterday, Peter Hammill wrote of his longtime friend and collaborator with these simple words on his Sofa Sound website:

I'm so sorry to have to announce that the great Nic Mozart passed away in hospital last night. Deeply, deeply missed.

Nic Potter was the youngest member of Van der Graaf Generator and first appeared on the album The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other, as a replacement to Keith Ellis, at the insitance of drummer Guy Evans. He left VdGG halfway through the recording of H to He, Who Am the Only One. Still, Nic remained in contact with his ex-bandmates, often working on Peter Hammill's solo material. In 1977 he rejoined the band for the recording and touring of The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome. His live output with the band was immortalized on the double live-album Vital. He left the band, again, but continued work with Hammill through the 80s and 90s.



As a solo musician he recorded 9 albums, all of whom were remastered and re-released in 2009. He was also part of the short-lived ex-VdGG project The Long Hello.



He was admitted to University College Hospital in January 2013 suffering from pneumonia. He will be sorely missed, but his musical legacy will live on.