“Rafferty had battled a drink problem and spent time in hospital in Bournemouth with liver failure.”
A sad end to a fine singer.
Bummer. I guess there’s a viewing of Reservoir Dogs in the near future for me.
That sucks.
Remember a year or two ago when he went missing for a while and he was briefly assumed dead?
Merged two obit threads.
Could a kind Mod close (or merge) this thread ?
“Baker Street” is one of the great songs. Even that sounds like damning it with faint praise. A pantheon song. From a very fine album, BTW.
It’s a busy week for celebs dying. Wonder what’s up.
For those haven’t gone looking for it, here’s the song, “Stuck In The Middle With You” which was a large part of my teenybopper years.
RIP Gerry.
A more detailed obituary. This is sad. He was so talented, and it seems, so tormented.
I knew this was going to happen soon…he had a serious problem with drinking. I think I read he used to piss in the plants in the lobby of the hotel he lived in.
Too bad, he had a really incredible talent. I always liked the sound of his voice.
Sad day. Stuck In The Middle With You, Get It Right Next Time and Baker Street are great; Right Down The Line is one of my top 3 songs ever.
Probably a little inappropriate to lift a glass in his memory. Oh well … I’ll be a little inappropriate.
I always thought Rafferty wrote his own ending with Baker Street
You used to think that it was so easy,
You used to say that it was so easy
But you’re tryin’, you’re tryin’ now.
Another year and then you’d be happy
Just one more year and then you’d be happy
But you’re cryin’, you’re cryin’ now.
He’s got this dream about buyin’ some land
He’s gonna give up the booze and the one night stands
And then he’ll settle down, in some quiet little town
And forget about everything.
Sounds more like he wrote that for his poor wife. That article linked above said she finally left him in 1990, when his alcoholism seemed hopeless. Yet he managed to live another 20 years as an endless drunk. What a bottomless sink of human misery must be involved.
Good to see some love for Right Down the Line. Also a favorite of mine. It’s an underrated song…overshadowed by *Baker Street *among Rafferty’s works.
Neer, neer - neerneerneerneeerneeeeeerr
Hell, I didn’t know they ever found him. I always thought he took a bridge and would never be found.
The man had talent. It’s amazing how so many very talented people don’t find that to be enough, and need drugs and alcohol. But then, I suppose everyone has their demons, and perhaps their gifts have a high price. Or maybe they’re assholes.
I think if I became an overnight millionaire and then received a royalty cheque of £80,000 a year for doing nothing, I might have a few demons myself.
ETA: Just sayin.