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.<\/p>\n
The Middlesbrough-born musician was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke.<\/p>\n
Rea found fame in the late 1970s and 1980s with hits such as Fool (If You Think It\u2019s Over), Let\u2019s Dance and The Road To Hell.<\/p>\n
![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/wp.thenewdaily.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766433102-Chris-Rea.jpg?resize=1024,762&quality=80\")
<\/div>\nDriving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has died at the age of 74. Photo: AAP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A statement on behalf of Rea\u2019s wife and two children said he had died in hospital on Friday after a short illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rea\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The track Fool (If You Think It\u2019s Over) went on to be nominated for a Grammy.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Two of his studio albums \u2013 The Road To Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991) \u2013 went to No.1 in the UK.<\/p>\n
His most famous song, Driving Home For Christmas, released in 1986, features in this year\u2019s M&S Food Christmas advert, with comedian Dawn French sing along to it in her car.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on the dole when I wrote that,\u201d told comedian Bob Mortimer of the song during the 2020 Mortimer And Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy manager had just left me. I\u2019d 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\u2019s when I wrote it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rea was good friends with Mortimer, who is also from Middlesbrough. In 1997, they recorded Let\u2019s Dance for Middlesbrough Football Club\u2019s FA Cup final.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea. A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris,\u201d Middlesbrough FC said in a tribute post on X.<\/p>\n
Rea had two daughters, Josephine and Julia, with his wife Joan, who he had been with since they met aged 16.<\/p>\n
He credited his family with helping him to cope after his ill health.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s music and family with me. I\u2019m only one of four, that\u2019s how I am. I\u2019m 25 per cent of a unit. It\u2019s always been that way and we like it that way. In between that, there\u2019s music,\u201d Rea once said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeautiful soul\u201d Mani farewelled<\/h3>\n
Stone Roses singer Ian Brown has paid tribute to bandmate Gary \u201cMani\u201d Mounfield as \u201calways a beautiful soul and spirit\u201d as hundreds gathered for the bass player\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n
Brown spoke at the service at Manchester Cathedral on Monday (British time), along with Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie.<\/p>\n
Before both men later helped carry Mounfield\u2019s coffin from the church as fans packed the street outside.<\/p>\n
Brown and Gillespie were joined carrying the coffin by the other two members of The Stone Roses\u2019 classic line-up \u2013 John Squire and Alan \u201cReni\u201d Wren \u2013 as well as Oasis singer Liam Gallagher and Primal Scream guitarist Andrew Innes.<\/p>\n
![\"Mani](\"https:\/\/wp.thenewdaily.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766433407-Mani-2.jpg?resize=1024,630&quality=80\")
<\/div>\nGary \u201cMani\u201d Mounfield\u2019s coffin was decorated with artwork from The Stone Roses\u2019 first album. Photo: AAP\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne 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,\u201d Brown told the service.<\/p>\n
\u201cMani was like a brother to me. A dream as a friend. A true musical comrade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know Gaz lived his life laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd laughing was his No.1 pursuit \u2013 always looking for the next laugh, a non-stop laugh machine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMani\u2019s been in my corner whatever the situation, for 45 years \u2013 non-stop, unconditionally. Always a beautiful soul and spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Stone](\"https:\/\/wp.thenewdaily.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766433551-Beckham-.jpg?resize=1024,679&quality=80\")
<\/div>\nFormer Manchester United players Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville at the star-studded funeral. Photo: AAP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Brown told the congregation how his friend had loved the same things all his life: \u201cHis family, his pals, fishing, football, [Manchester] United, music, Lambrettas, dancing, clobber, town, and all the usual gentlemanly pursuits.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe lived a full, a fulfilled and a blessed life, going round and round the world lifting people up with his bass guitar skills.\u201d<\/p>\n