Farewell my friend

DOING WHAT HE DID BEST . . . Craig with drumsticks in hand

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THERE is a notion that you just don't realise how great, or how loved, someone is until they've gone.

That has certainly been borne out this last week given the overwhelming outpouring of loving tributes and memories following the awful and truly shocking death of my friend Craig Gill at the age of only 44.

I began writing this piece last Thursday, it was more than 48 hours since I first caught sight of that fateful band statement on Facebook, yet my social media accounts, and my phone, were still buzzing.

To be perfectly frank, in the grand old scheme of things, I didn't really know Craig as well as many people may think.

Graham Lambert has always been my closest friend from Inspiral Carpets, but as I had got to know Craig more and more over recent years, I'm proud to say he did become a genuine friend and we always chatted enthusiastically when we met up.

I'd been closer mates with his brother Denny too, I guess because we're the same age (50) and we've always been in touch.

But back to Craig, and the impact the news of his death has had, shows clearly the respect so many people had for him, this loving family man who was a brilliant drummer in the best band ever to come out of our town.

What an impact he has made on all modern music fans since first bumping into Graham after riding his BMX bike across the Red Barn car park in Chadderton in May, 1986.

How his wife Rose, and children Georgia, Orla and Levon are going on I don't know, but everyone at the Chronicle sends their deepest sympathies.

It would be easy for me to simply copy and paste some of the thousands of tributes to Craig, directly into this article.

And there has been thousands.

For this talented son of Oldham, our own Inspiral Carpet for more the three decades, heartfelt words came in from across the globe, from the great and the good of so many music scenes.

However, I wanted to hear from music people and fans myself about what they feel about the loss.

Drummer, DJ, Manchester Music Tour guide, or loving husband, father, son and brother, just how much will Craig be missed?

Former Hacienda DJ and now London-based Sony music exec Bobby Langley - a Chadderton pal of Craig's from their teenage years - told me: "Craig was one of those guys who I loved immediately because of his simplicity, because of his nature, because of his naturalness, because of his comradeship, because of his personality, because of his originality."

Oldham-born nightclub king Aaron Mellor - Tokyo Industries MD/owner - added: "It's so sad. Craig was a rockstar in every sense of the word. I knew him not only from the Inspirals, but also as a great DJ, entertaining the crowds at Tokyo Oldham, Tokyo Huddersfield and Factory in Manchester.

"Gilly will be a sad loss as a DJ, musician and a friend. He's still the only person I know to have sacked Noel Gallagher (Noel used to be Gilly's Inspirals' drum tech).

"RIP Mr Gill, will miss you brother."

Athletic football legend Andy Ritchie has long been an Inspiral Carpets fan.

He said: "I'm totally shocked. It's terrible.

"I've been to see the Inspirals many times and they were all such great lads. I've been backstage and to after-shows, and all of them always made me feel so welcome."

Big fan and Gill family friend Pete Heptonstall said: "There will be a lot of people with a much closer connection than I, but as a fan, I am absolutely gutted by his passing. What he's done for music in the town, and the wider area, is immense.

"As a youngster my room was plastered with Inspirals posters and I always went out of my way to get my vinyl signed by the band. When I did this, Gilly or Tom always made sure I got all the band's names on them for me."

It's clear, Craig will so sorely be missed.