Who is Murray Head? One Night in Bangkok singer hospitalised in France after car crash

Hours before the accident, the 76-year-old was seen talking to local media about the death of Her Majesty
Murray Head at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Edmond Sadaka/SIPA/Rex Features
Nuray Bulbul14 September 2022

Musician Murray Head has been injured in a car accident in the south-west of France.

Head, who’ has been living in the region for several years, collided with a lorry while driving his car around 3pm on September 12.

While the lorry driver was unharmed, the musician was taken to hospital conscious but with “relative urgency”.

No further information has yet been published concerning the condition of Head.

Who is Murray Head?

The actor and singer was born in London. His father, Seafield Laurence Stewart Murray Head, was a documentary filmmaker and his mother, Helen Shingler, was an actress.

The 76-year-old received his education at Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in South Kensington, and Hampton School in Hampton. He attended Chiswick Polytechnic in the early 1960s.

Head began writing songs as a child and, by the mid-1960s, he had a London-based recording contract. He also made his film debut in the Sixties with The Family Way.

The London-born singer has been active in the entertainment industry since his early days.

Today, he is recognised for starring as Bob Elkin in the Oscar-nominated 1971 film Sunday Bloody Sunday.

As a musician, he is most renowned for songs Superstar (from rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar), One Night in Bangkok (from musical Chess), and for his 1975 album Say It Ain’t So.

Head has a younger brother, Anthony Head, who is also an actor, best known for portraying Rupert Giles in the American series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

When was Murray Head’s last public appearance?

Hours before the accident, Murray spoke about the death of Her Majesty on the French radio station France Blue Bearn Bigorre.

According to the radio network, he was overwhelmed when he found out The Queen had passed away last week.

He said, “I had tears, for my country, for my people...”

The Superstar singer also spoke about his experience of meeting her in 2004, saying that he “did what he should not have done” and shook her hand.

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