On 03 August 2023, we lost our original keyboard player and dear friend, John “The Baptist” Gosling.

Here are our thoughts :

Mick Avory, drummer, The Kast Off Kinks :

Today we lost a dear friend and colleague, he was a great musician and had a fantastic sense of humour... which made him a popular member of the band, he leaves us with some happy memories. God Bless him

Mick

Dave Clarke, lead guitarist and vocalist, The Kast Off Kinks :

Extraordinarily talented, loved and admired, he will be very sadly missed. He played beautifully for our entire wedding service from the organ loft in an idyllic Swedish church, and our anniversary was just two days ago. It was a great joy to be his friend and sometimes partner in crime. Resting in peace and jamming with the Angels.

With love,

Dave & Christina 

John “Nobby” Dalton, bass player, The Kast Off Kinks :

I just don’t know what to say at the moment. I love this pic of me and The Baptist at a topsy turvy night.

John

Debi Doss, backing vocalist, The Kast Off Kinks :

I have fond memories of ‘Life on the Road with The Kinks and Baptist!  I met up with Dave Davies last Thursday and we were reminiscing about the ‘old days’.  We mentioned Baptist and I recounted the tale of Baptist repeatedly trying to pour a pint of beer over my head.  Silly tour antics!  When I worked with The Kast Off Kinks decades later…Baptist apologised to me for his behaviour way back then! 

My favourite Kinks song to sing is “Celluloid Heroes” and Baptist’s superb piano playing on that track is unforgettable.  I have a vision of us playing that live at the Santa Monica Civic Centre.  A special memory.  RIP dear Baptist.

Here are some photos (Copyright Debi Doss) 

Debi x

Kinks Tour 1977…on the road

Kinks Tour 1977 Anaheim Stadium California 19th June

Kinks Tour 1977 day off at Universal Studios, LA (Baptist, Andy Pyle, Shirlie, Debi and roadie Ian)

Mark Haley, keyboard player, The Kast Off Kinks :

It was my pleasure to meet John several times at the annual Kinks Fan Club events and to share the stage with him on a few finales. He was everything everybody has been saying. A delightful fellow with an engaging smile and hugely talented. I'm very grateful now that Geoff suggested that this photo was taken which includes myself, John (centre) and Ian Gibbons (right). It's one of my favourite photos of all.

Mark

Bob Henrit, drummer, The Kast Off Kinks :

He was before my time in the Kinks, although I  played with him at several Konventions. John the Baptist contributed yet another dimension to the Kinks

Bless him

Bob

Geoff Lewis, Kast Off Kinks webmaster (keyboard player, The Kinksfan Kollektiv) :

John was such a lovely man and a superb keyboard player. When I listened to what he played, I often felt I might as well give it up, but he was always very encouraging. He was always happy to help if I asked for advice on how he played a part of a certain song. Once he went to the trouble of writing out the dots for his piano run in “Strangers”, which started with a mordent  (the particular part I could not make out) and sending them to me. He told me the Kinks sometimes called him “Mr Mordent” because he was so fond of inserting that little ornament into his piano parts.

Such a kind and funny man, Ali and I will miss him deeply.

Geoff

Bill Orton, Chairman of The Official Kinks Fan Club (organisers of the annual OKFC meeting, featuring the Kast Off Kinks):

Deeply moved by the loss of John (Baptist) Gosling, John along with what became original Kast off Kinks played the first show under that name in late 1996 at the Archway Tavern (Nightclub) they had previously played a Fan Club show in Broxbourne as "The Juicers" together Dave Clarke, Mick Avory, John Dalton and Baptist played the Fan Club gigs at the Archway and the Boston Arms till "Retirement" from John Dalton in 2008, prompted Baptist, who was finding travel difficult to leave as well. Kast off Kinks had built a club following around the country during those initial years.

Obviously many other former Kinks players and singers have contributed to the Fan Club shows, but it was down to Baptist and the original members to create the bedrock of where we are now in the larger room at the Dome. John Gosling was a real character and will be sadly missed

Our thoughts are with Teresa and family, from all at Official Kinks Fan Club

Bill

Shirlie Roden, backing vocalist, The Kast Off Kinks :

Can’t believe dear Baptist has gone, bless him.

I first met Baptist at Konk Studios where my friend Andy Desmond asked me to sing backing vocals on his album which was being produced by John and Dave Davies. My first impression was of a quiet, studious, dedicated musician and it was Baptist who kindly suggested I audition for the Preservation musical Ray was about to stage. As Kinks rehearsals and then the tours began to unfold, so did Baptist’s unique sense of humour and fun (when I asked him what the girl singers should wear on stage he replied ‘A cheesecloth tent!’) And yes, he did attempt to pour drinks over Debi’s head (although I did get him back with a Tequila Sunrise he was drinking).

He was a gifted musician and sometimes after gigs on US tour, he and bass player Andy Pyle would decide to do a Shoe (I never did discover why they called it that!) and play an improvised blues set in the hotel bar.

Sensitive, kind, musically creative, and at times completely mad, Baptist was a one-off and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and had the pleasure of hearing him play.

Bless him, So sad.

Shirlie x