Dave Cousins, founding member, guitarist, and singer of the folk-prog band Strawbs has passed away at the age of 85. The news was reported yesterday afternoon on Cousins’ Facebook page.
The official statement read: “It is with profound sadness that we have to announce the passing of David Joseph Cousins at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury, peacefully following a long illness, today, Sunday 13 July 2025.”
It continued, “We will all wish to celebrate the life of this incredible singer-songwriter, relation, colleague and/or special friend at this time. We, therefore, ask you to enjoy listening to your favourite Cousins song as the sun goes down, in whatever part of the world you are, enjoying what he would refer to as a glass of vino collapse (wine)…”
Dave Cousins formed Strawbs, initially called Strawberry Hill Boys, in Strawberry Hill, London, in 1964. Starting life as a bluegrass band they subsequently went on to embrace both folk rock and progressive rock. Strawbs have released 23 studio albums in total, the latest of which The Magic of it All came out in 2023.
Strawbs’ best-known single was ‘Part of the Union,’ – something of a “novelty song,” atypical of the Strawbs’ music in general and not written by Dave Cousins – which reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in February 1973. ‘Lay Down,’ another single taken from the same LP, Bursting at the Seams, is still a regular feature of their live set.
One of the very first records I ever bought was Grave New World. Released in 1972 it was their fourth album and saw Strawbs begin to shift from their previous folk leanings towards a more progressive rock bent.
Their earlier emphasis upon folk music is evidenced by the album All Our Own Work, which was recorded in 1967 but not released until six years later. Credited to Sandy Denny and the Strawbs it contains an early recording of what is Denny’s best-known song, ‘Who Knows Where the Time Goes?’
It wasn’t until 2009 that I was to see Strawbs in concert at the sadly-no-more Rhythm Festival at Twinwood Arena near Bedford. At that show, where I recall Dave Cousins arriving unceremoniously in an old Volvo estate car – which seemed to reflect the great modesty of the man – they played ‘Benedictus,’ the opening track from Grave New World, something that was a huge nostalgic pleasure for me.
Photos of Dave Cousins with the Strawbs at The Great British Folk Festival, Skegness in December 2018: Simon Godley
