Screaming Lord Sutch, the 3rd Earl of Harrow, was a musician and politician. He was born David Edward Sutch in November 1940, but changed his stage name despite no real peerage. Lord Sutch formed a horror themed rock band called The Savages. Sutch’s group toured the UK with his stage shows which included a Jack the Ripper theme. One tour the act was called Sutch and the Roman Empire where he and the band dressed as Roman soldiers. Many of the group’s shows included coffins, daggers, skulls and bodies. Despite Sutch’s confession to having no vocal talent, he worked with a number of famous musicians such as Keith Moon, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Charlie Watts and Nicky Hopkins.
Politics
In 1983 he formed the Official Monster Raving Loony Party where he served as leader until 1999. During this time, he stood in many parliamentary elections. In fact, Lord Sutch holds the record for losing every election he stood in which totalled more than forty. Sutch’s holds the record for losing more parliamentary elections than anyone else in British history. He would appear at every election wearing his signature top hat and gold lame suit. When asked his age, he would give it ten years younger and then reply ‘plus VAT’.
Later life and Death
St Paul’s Church Harrow
Lord Sutch was very close to his mother, Nancy, who lived in South Harrow, and who helped him make his costumes. On her death in 1997, he fell into a great manic depression. Just two years later, in June 1999, Lord Sutch sadly hanged himself. His funeral was held in St. Paul’s church South Harrow. All the mourners wore leopard print armbands and over 250 people attended with an additional 150 listening through loud speakers outside the church. His funeral cavalcade was attended by a motorcade of motorbikes, and atop his casket were his top hat and his leopard skin boots with a bouquet. He is buried next to his mother in Pinner New Cemetery. You can find more interesting information regarding Screaming Lord Sutch through this website. More interesting stories from Harrow can be found on Cheap Plumbing Company Harrow website.