Darryl Michael Roy Read, born September 19, 1951, in Exeter, England, was a British singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, poet and writer. He began his career as an actor, appearing in films such as Daylight Robbery (1964), for which he won a silver medal for best actor at the Venice Film Festival. Read's musical journey started after joining Crushed Butler in the late 1960s, considered by some to be among the forerunners of proto-punk and punk rock. The band released demos but failed to secure a recording deal. In 1971, after disbanding Crushed Butler, Read continued his musical endeavors with various collaborations. His solo career included the release of No Soul Through Midnight (1986), "Play With Fire / Trouble In The House Of Love" (1985), Beat Existentialist (1993), and Freshly Dug (1999). Read died on June 23, 2013.
