Larry Ray — founding guitarist of Detroit psych pop outfit Outrageous Cherry — has died. The band confirmed his passing last night (October 24) following a short battle with lung cancer. He was 63.
Born Larry Ray Peikutowski in 1954, he formed Outrageous Cherry with vocalist/guitarist Matthew Smith in 1991. As the band recalled in a statement, the group was formed "after Larry showed up at Matthew's house one day to sell him a couple of NEU! albums."
The meeting between Ray and Smith led to "a spontaneous acoustic jam," which in turn birthed "a 25-year musical partnership, at least 12 albums, and a lot of memorable gigs." Ray was also a member of the Ivories and the Spike Drivers.
"Larry was a mysterious guy, who would typically provide elliptical answers to the most straightforward questions, as if he were reading from a 40's film noir script," the band's statement continued. "He had a seemingly limitless knowledge of all kinds of music, and a highly individual guitar style: left-handed, never playing the same thing twice, always coming up with something new. And he was a really nice guy."
Outrageous Cherry last delivered the album The Digital Age in 2014, while recent single "I Believe in Sunshine" was released through Burger Records earlier this year. Find the band's complete statement below.
Born Larry Ray Peikutowski in 1954, he formed Outrageous Cherry with vocalist/guitarist Matthew Smith in 1991. As the band recalled in a statement, the group was formed "after Larry showed up at Matthew's house one day to sell him a couple of NEU! albums."
The meeting between Ray and Smith led to "a spontaneous acoustic jam," which in turn birthed "a 25-year musical partnership, at least 12 albums, and a lot of memorable gigs." Ray was also a member of the Ivories and the Spike Drivers.
"Larry was a mysterious guy, who would typically provide elliptical answers to the most straightforward questions, as if he were reading from a 40's film noir script," the band's statement continued. "He had a seemingly limitless knowledge of all kinds of music, and a highly individual guitar style: left-handed, never playing the same thing twice, always coming up with something new. And he was a really nice guy."
Outrageous Cherry last delivered the album The Digital Age in 2014, while recent single "I Believe in Sunshine" was released through Burger Records earlier this year. Find the band's complete statement below.
