RIP- musicians

[David V B]

Very sad, so many great songs and always true to himself.

Newsflash came up on my phone and seconds later my iPod Christmas playlist started up Driving Home for Christmas. Uncanny.

[ColinB]

Sad to read the passing of Chris Rea. Upon hearing the news, my mind took me back to the only time I saw Chris perform. It was during the On the Beach tour, occupying the drum throne was Dave Mattacks and the keyboards, Max Middleton. This gig at Sheffield City Hall is certainly one of my gig highlights.

The only time I saw him was supporting Clapton in 85. Looking on setlist.fm he played quite a long set and even an encore which is fairly unusual for the support. From the setlist I think the only song I might have recognised was Stainsby Girls.

I'm putting together a mix for next week's radio show and remembered that Megson recorded Road to Hell on a covers album they did during lockdown.

[mickf]

Sad news, he had been ill for a while. I have a 'best of' compilation of his, called 'New Light Through Old Windows', which was a collection of his hits re-recorded. I enjoy listening to it on occasions. I have to admit, though, that I'm not a big fan of his Christmas song.

[Peter Allen]

I saw him live around the time of his Deltics LP , which I had on blue vinyl, probably my first coloured vinyl purchase
Letter from Amsterdam was the song I played the most , RIP Chris

[PaulT]

It seems Rod Stradling has passed away. I'll be spinning some Edward II and Tiger Moth this evening.

[Shane (Skirky)]

Chris Rea, from Jools Denby about being on TotP with New Model Army (my edits);
successful as it was for the band, it was an exhausting and horrible day. the utter contempt and distain shown me by the BBC who obviously considered me, as so many conservative men did and still do view Alternative women, as a repugnant freak, all got a bit much. I left the dressing room and sat in the floor outside in the corridor silently crying and trying not to smudge my eye makeup. As I sat huffing and sniffling a man approached, speaking with a strong Geordie accent, asking me with genuine concern if I was alright. I found my voice and replied in a rather wobbly tone I was, but it was just all a bit much and not what I’d dreamed it would be. Ah, he said, yeah, I get that, but remember, you’re the artiste, you have the power, they can never force you to play and they need you – chin up, give ‘em Hell, eh?”
He was so kind, so thoughtful and his voice, husky and low, was so beautiful and reassuring after all that had happened. Most men within the music industry were awful to me but here was a thoroughly decent, compassionate man taking time to reassure a stranger, and a stranger most men regarded as trash. I have never, ever forgotten the simple, genuine kindness Chris Rea showed me on that day and it has remained in my heart as a treasured memory ever since. RIP.