27 Apr 2018

Exponents guitarist David Barraclough dies

From RNZ Music, 2:50 pm on 27 April 2018

The Exponents guitarist David Barraclough died yesterday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a month ago. He was a member of The Exponents from 1994 to 2000. 

David "Duck" Barraclough.

David "Duck" Barraclough. Photo: David Barraclough / Facebook

Former lead singer of the band, Jordan Luck, announced the news on Facebook. He said Barraclough 'went quickly'.

Dave Barraclough at the 1996 NZ Music Awards

Dave Barraclough at the 1996 NZ Music Awards Photo: Audioculture / Simon Grigg

"No more pain, no suffering," he wrote. 

Luck said Barraclough had "saved" The Exponents: "In early '93 Brian Jones left ... and I was thinking it was time to put Exponents to bed. We put together an album with two guest guitarists but really our sagacity, our strength, lay in live music. 

"Harry had seen a guitarist of whom he was very impressed by. Invited along to a session and David joined ... he would spend the next six years living in the hotel units of Kiwi and Oz."

Following his stint in The Exponents, Barraclough had joined the legendary Australian band Mental As Anything which he left in 2012 due to ill health.

Luck said Barraclough was an 'exceptionally gifted' guitarist and an excellent tour companion: "There will be no funeral proceedings, David has gone to buy some strings," he said.

Read AudioCulture's profile of The Exponents.

'La La Lulu' was co-written by Barraclough:

 

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