For Harvey James

stealing away ... For Steve Prestwich

Death doesn't mess around ... Except when it does. Age's sombre march can have many mis-steps. Lost two old friends recently, both in their 50s. Harvey James's loss we saw coming, his lung cancer spreading. Steve Prestwich's second, fatal bout with a brain tumour came out of left field.

Writing obituaries is an honour and a fierce challenge. You deal with the fresh grief of those closest. There's often family dischord, and people are angry and easily upset. Yet with luck the tribute stays up on the net for people to read from anywhere, for a long time. Like a vitual headstone in space. It's an important memorial to read about the marks artists make on the wall of life.
Artists can get too easily forgotten in this country, in my opinion. Vale.