The music world is in mourning following the death of legendary singer-songwriter Chris Rea at the age of 74. The Middlesbrough-born musician, best known for his perennial festive anthem 'Driving Home For Christmas', passed away in hospital after a short illness, his family confirmed.
A poignant final television appearance
In what now stands as a heartbreaking final television interview, Rea recently appeared on 'Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing'. During the programme, he shared the humble and difficult origins of the song that would define his career for decades. He revealed he composed the classic track while unemployed and disqualified from driving.
"I just thought I'd drive home for Christmas, I was on the dole when I wrote that," Rea told hosts Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. He described a period of profound personal struggle, having just been left by his manager. "I'd been banned from driving, my now wife Joan, she had to drive down to London, pick me up in the Mini and take me home. And that's when I wrote it."
A lifetime of health battles
Beyond his early career hardships, Rea faced a series of severe health challenges. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2001, leading to the removal of his pancreas, duodenum, gall bladder, and part of his liver. The surgery left him a Type 1 diabetic, requiring 34 pills daily.
Reflecting on his ordeal, he said, "That to me, well, I have never really got over it." He also suffered a stroke in 2016 and later experienced kidney failure, though he maintained a dark humour, joking that he still had a "very good heart".
A legacy of iconic music
Chris Rea shot to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s with a string of hits. His debut single, 'Fool (If You Think It's Over)' from 1978, earned him a Grammy nomination. He achieved massive commercial success across the UK and Europe with albums like 'On The Beach'.
However, it was 1986's 'Driving Home For Christmas' that cemented his place in popular culture, becoming a staple of the festive season. His family announced his death in a statement, saying: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family."
In a poignant final post on social media, shared just hours before his death was made public, Rea posted an image of a snowy motorway with the caption: "Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories." The post serves as a fitting, if tragic, farewell from the artist who soundtracked the journeys of millions.
