Brian Case, a prominent music and culture journalist, has passed away at the age of 88. Throughout his career spanning several decades, Case established himself as a distinctive voice in music criticism and arts writing, known for the depth and literary richness of his contributions.
Case’s journalism career began in 1974 when he started submitting pieces to the NME, a music publication where he quickly became known for his distinctive approach to music criticism. His writing drew comparisons across multiple cultural domains, frequently incorporating references to literature, film, and other arts to illuminate his subjects. He later worked at Melody Maker and spent 18 years at Time Out magazine during its period as a substantial print publication, serving as film editor, senior feature writer, and books editor. His work covered a range of subjects, from jazz musicians like Dexter Gordon and Miles Davis to actors such as Al Pacino and cultural figures including Ian Dury and James Ellroy.
Beyond journalism, Case was also an author. His debut novel, The Users, was published in 1968 and received praise from writer Anthony Burgess, who described it as “a remarkable debut.” In 2015, he published a collection of reflections on his interview subjects titled On the Snap.
Case was born in Deptford, south London, to Anne Davies, a Welsh nurse and midwife, and Harry Case, an officer in the City of London police. He attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s grammar school in New Cross and later studied history at Hull University. Prior to his journalism career, he worked as a teacher and served in the RAF during his national service, where he worked with radar equipment at a base in Germany.
Case is survived by his second wife, Sonia, whom he married in 1980, and their two daughters, Daisy and Molly. He was previously married to Pam Jones, a teacher, in a union that ended in amicable divorce.
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