It’s a year ago today that my friend, Paul Read, passed away after his second battle with cancer. Like so many genuinely gifted musicians, he was virtually unknown by the world, except for those lucky few to have heard his work with the underground bands Vauxdvihl and Where Echoes End. I didn’t know him for all that long, but he was the perfect antidote to the seriousness of the people around him - he was always first in with a disgusting, juvenile joke, or the right line to lighten everyone up.
I’ll never forget the last night I spent with him and a couple of other mates, just before he had to go back to hospital, watching old Judas Priest and Metallica videos, and laughing along at how crazy they seemed, and how much fun we’d always had listening to that music. I’ve got songs of Paul’s going through my head still, that the world will never hear, because he never got the chance to teach them to anyone, or record them properly.
I just ask all fellow dopers, not to bother with a minute of silence, but if you own a Kiss record, play it as loud as you can in his honour (they were his favourite band), or otherwise check out the website, where the story of the last couple of years of his life is documented (start at the bottom and work up).
HenrySpencer
