Back to Moya Brennan/ Máire ní Bhraonáin... it's brought it home to me how in a small country like Ireland "national treasures" can really be treated as such. RTE News channel broadcast the entire live feed of Moya's funeral from start to finish. And though I haven't a religious bone in my body I found it quite beautiful. No showbiz, no sparkle, just a simple ceremony in a small local chapel.
Yes there were a few big names (U2), but the vast majority were just the local community and friends and family. The music was beautiful but low key, the local choir and musicians singing beautiful renditions of Moya's songs. Daniel and Majella O'D! sang a religious duet and the emotion in Daniel's face was palpable. Similarly with Mairéad ní Mhaonaigh (Altan) - they were singing not to an audience but for a true friend and one of their own community.
The priest found the perfect balance between religion and celebration, while floating effortlessly and seamlessly between English and Irish languages (as indeed did Moya and Clannad).
The image of the seldom-seen Enya there, not as a star but simply as a woman mourning her big sister taken too soon, taking comfort in the embrace of her own community, was heartwarming.
So, sorry for the long ramble but it touched me and made this exiled English folkie quietly proud of the corner of Ireland I've made my home for the last 44 years .

A slight tangent but a conversation I’ve had with friends over the years……can you split the artist from the work.
I love the music of Wagner but his political views are appalling.
I love the poetry of Philip Larkin but his personal views are unconscionable.
My kids loved the books of Roald  Dahl , I was reading them to my grandkids a couple of weeks ago but his views are also reprehensible.
A friend loves the music of Morrissey and follows him from gig to gig. I find Morrisseys political views repugnant but my friend, the most liberal and gentle of men, can seperate man from performance.
I loved the music of John Martyn but his behaviour in his personal life was awful.
Some of Kershaws private life is a dark place but his enthusiasm for music and later particularly world music introduced me to a lot of music I probably  have found.

So I do split man from art but sometimes it is a difficult gymnastic act.

 There's a question of degree here. Where do you draw the line? Everyone has their own line, I''ve no doubt.

I was talking to Mrs B about Andy last night and she observed how on the Isle of Man they will give out custodial sentences at the drop of a hat, bit like in the Falkland Islands. So it's quite likely that if the offence had happened on the mainland Andy would probably have got a suspended sentence or had to do work in the community. But anyway, he did his time and I'd rather focus on the music he introduced to so many people via his radio work.

I for one will always remember him as the guy who brought Ted Hawkins over to the UK. Seeing Ted in concert was one of the most incredible night's music I've ever witnessed.

It gets easier to do that. Think about your own shortcomings, then think how you'd feel if they came to define you.

Jules

Or as Edward R. Murrow said "Good night and good luck". (A great movie to watch on a Sunday evening)

Supertramp's albums of the mid-to-late 70s are superb.

1974's Crime Of The Century, 75's Crisis? What Crisis?, 77's Even In The Quietest Moments and 79's Breakfast In America were all groundbreaking and immensely enjoyable. 1980's Live In Paris '79 is great, the 2025 remaster being the one to listen to. 1982's Famous Last Words is reasonably good. After that, Hodgson left and... things changed, although others may like post-Hodgson more than I do.

Remastered versions of Crime Of The Century & Crisis? What Crisis? were released in 2025 (although the original master tapes for both were destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire so I'm not sure what, exactly, provides the sources for these), together with a remastered Live In Paris '79. and 2026 has brought us Even In The Quiestest Moments, Breakfast In America and Famous Last Words.

Roger Hodgson's solo albums post-Supertramp are mixed, but 84's In The Eye Of The Storm is well worth a listen.

2005's Retrospectacle is a reasonable intro to the band for neophytes.

It's a sad situation that a man who in many ways was a musical hero had feet of clay. I'm not good at processing my feelings in this kind of thing.

I loved his contribution to music and, until those problems arose, I really liked him (never met him, though).

I guess that, once again, it's a case of having to separate the parts of the parson's egg.

I'm sorry he died. Cancer is a bastard, spinal cancer is a really bad bastard with shades of Jason Statham.

66 was too young.

As someone who, like AK, has lived in Todmorden, there are some very problematic elements to the man.  But his huge contribution to music can never be doubted...

It’s a real shame, he was clearly a huge enthusiast regarding all types of music. I remember a notable Whistle Test where he boarded Neil Young’s tour bus and delightedly played him the latest Green on Red album.