Obituary: Dave Beal

London-based researcher and music aficionado Dave Beal died suddenly on Monday 27 August at the age of 60, after a long illness.

Beal (pictured) was born in 1952, and kicked off his career in the music industry in the 60s, working for a number of London-based booking agencies, supporting several bands.

To supplement his music industry career, Beal began working as an interviewer, and in 1991 he founded the drinks market specialist PAS (now part of TNS) in High Wycombe, where he worked for several years, before leaving to join RAS.

He then co-founded the Telephone Interviewing Company with sample specialist John Mackay, providing fieldwork, face-to-face and telephone interviewing services to agencies such as RAS, Romtec (now Harris Interactive) and Dataquest.

Later, Beal and Mackay set up a UK-based CATI telephone unit for German-owned icon brand navigation, which was closed following a takeover by WPP in 2000. Beal continued to work for icon for several years before joining Perspective as Qual Recruitment Manager, and then moving to BMG Research's call centre in Birmingham. He later worked freelance for Thor Research in Oxfordshire.

Alongside his research career, Beal spent the past 25 years managing Tex-Mex/Americana band Los Pacaminos, which is fronted by 80s vocalist Paul Young. During this time, he also ran Club Ska at the 100 Club on Oxford Street, and earlier this year he began managing three piece guitar band, Voodoo Room.

Mackay described Beal - who is survived by his son Jay and partner Vikki - as an 'old buddy and top man', who will be missed by many.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.