Singer Chris Rea, whose songs include the festive hit Driving Home For Christmas, has died at the age of 74, a spokesperson for his family said.
The Middlesbrough-born musician was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke.
Rea found fame in the late 1970s and 1980s with hits such as Fool (If You Think It’s Over), Let’s Dance and The Road To Hell.
Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has died at the age of 74. Photo: AAP
A statement on behalf of Rea’s wife and two children said he had died in hospital on Friday after a short illness.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris,” it said.
“He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Rea’s debut album titled Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, a reference to the stage name his record label wanted him to adopt, was released in 1978.
The track Fool (If You Think It’s Over) went on to be nominated for a Grammy.
He did not find such success again for a few years. But by the time his eighth album On The Beach, spawning a hit single of the same name, was released, he was a star in Britain and across Europe, with sporadic hits in the US.
When The Road To Hell was released in 1989, Rea became one of the biggest solo stars in Britain, and cemented himself as a favourite among a predominantly male audience of a certain age.
Two of his studio albums – The Road To Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991) – went to No.1 in the UK.
His most famous song, Driving Home For Christmas, released in 1986, features in this year’s M&S Food Christmas advert, with comedian Dawn French sing along to it in her car.
The track also features in a Christmas-themed album he released earlier this year, with songs such as Footsteps In The Snow and Joys Of Christmas.
“I was on the dole when I wrote that,” told comedian Bob Mortimer of the song during the 2020 Mortimer And Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special.
“My manager had just left me. I’d just been banned from driving, right. My now wife, Joan, she had to drive down to London, picked me up in the Mini, and take me home, and that’s when I wrote it.”
Rea was good friends with Mortimer, who is also from Middlesbrough. In 1997, they recorded Let’s Dance for Middlesbrough Football Club’s FA Cup final.
“We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea. A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris,” Middlesbrough FC said in a tribute post on X.
Rea had two daughters, Josephine and Julia, with his wife Joan, who he had been with since they met aged 16.
He credited his family with helping him to cope after his ill health.
“It’s music and family with me. I’m only one of four, that’s how I am. I’m 25 per cent of a unit. It’s always been that way and we like it that way. In between that, there’s music,” Rea once said.
“Beautiful soul” Mani farewelled
Stone Roses singer Ian Brown has paid tribute to bandmate Gary “Mani” Mounfield as “always a beautiful soul and spirit” as hundreds gathered for the bass player’s funeral.
Brown spoke at the service at Manchester Cathedral on Monday (British time), along with Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie.
Before both men later helped carry Mounfield’s coffin from the church as fans packed the street outside.
Brown and Gillespie were joined carrying the coffin by the other two members of The Stone Roses’ classic line-up – John Squire and Alan “Reni” Wren – as well as Oasis singer Liam Gallagher and Primal Scream guitarist Andrew Innes.
Gary “Mani” Mounfield’s coffin was decorated with artwork from The Stone Roses’ first album. Photo: AAP
Among the other mourners to pack the cathedral were music legend Paul Weller; footballers Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville; Bez from the Happy Mondays; and former New Order bassist Peter Hook.
“One thing we can all agree on is Mani was one of the greatest lads we ever met, one of the greatest men we ever knew. Lucky us,” Brown told the service.
“Mani was like a brother to me. A dream as a friend. A true musical comrade.
“We all know Gaz lived his life laughing.
“And laughing was his No.1 pursuit – always looking for the next laugh, a non-stop laugh machine.”
“Mani’s been in my corner whatever the situation, for 45 years – non-stop, unconditionally. Always a beautiful soul and spirit.”
Former Manchester United players Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville at the star-studded funeral. Photo: AAP
Brown told the congregation how his friend had loved the same things all his life: “His family, his pals, fishing, football, [Manchester] United, music, Lambrettas, dancing, clobber, town, and all the usual gentlemanly pursuits.”
“He lived a full, a fulfilled and a blessed life, going round and round the world lifting people up with his bass guitar skills.”
Brown said there had been a “tsunami of love” for Mounfield since his death at the age of 63 last month, adding: “He loved everyone and everyone loves him”, and that “he was the life and soul of wherever he was, making every room he was in brighter”.
“Mani wouldn’t want us to be broken-hearted. But we all are,” he said.
“We’ll never fill the Mani-sized hole that we’re left with. It’s such a big loss, it’s hard to find words.”
Gillespie told the mourners how much he cherished Mounfield’s time in Primal Scream after he joined in 1996.
“He was a funky little mother, with a rock’n’roll heart,” he said.
“He stalked the stage with the stealth of a panther, with the grace of a dancer.
“How fortunate we were to have him in our band and in our lives.”
“Mani’s not dead, he’s just gone.
“He will always live forever in my soul and in my mind. I carry his spirit in me – the things he said, the thing he did.
“I will remember them forever, mostly with a smile on my face and a chuckle.”
Mounfield was part of The Stone Roses’ classic line-up before joining Primal Scream after the Roses split.
His coffin was decorated with the classic artwork from The Stone Roses’ first album. In the hearse, it was surrounded by flowers in spelling out “Mani”, “R Kid” and “Dad”.
The cortege arrived at the cathedral, led by an honour guard of scooter riders, to The Stone Roses track I Wanna Be Adored and left to another – Made Of Stone.
-AAP
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.indailysa.com.au ’
