Tributes paid to Probe Records boss Geoff Davies: “The gateway to enlightenment”

nme.com:

The Liverpool Echo that her husband had had a spell in hospital before being relocated to the care home, and that she saw him deteriorate quickly having been further diagnosed with lymphoma, which was his cause of death.The couple’s record shop was originally located on Clarence Street in 1971, before moving to Button Street in 1976.

It was also close to Eric’s nightclub, leading to frequent visits from artists including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes.Famous faces including Pete Burns and Julian Cope worked at the shop before making it big in their respective careers, and Davies was soon established as one of the most integral names in the local music scene.In 2010, the shop moved to its current location on School Lane.Following his passing, new wave band Deaf School took to social media to pay tribute to Davis, describing him as “a dear friend, not only to us, but to the entire musical collective on Merseyside”.

Former Eric’s director Ken Testi also said the record label boss helped “build the raft” for other Merseyside creatives “to sail on”, and that the city’s “musical creativity and legacy” was built on his and Annie’s work (via BBC News).It is with enormous sadness that we report the loss of Geoff Davies.A dear friend, not only to us, but to the entire musical collective on Merseyside.Rest in peace Geoff.

We will not see your like again. pic.twitter.com/pFMCMoAnGm— Deaf School Live (@D_S_Live) September 12, 2023As reported by The Liverpool Echo, Nigel Blackwell – frontman of Half Man Half Biscuit – also paid tribute to Davies. “OMD, Echo and the Bunnymen, Wah!, The Teardrop Explodes, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Farm, The La’s, Lightning Seeds, Boo Radleys, The Coral –.