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In Memoriam: Celebrities

Fans' Glen tribute to local hero, and Big Country legend, Stuart Adamson

A COMMEMORATIVE bench paid for by music fans will be installed in Pittencrieff Park in a touching tribute to Skids and Big Country legend Stuart Adamson, as the 10th anniversary of his tragic death approaches.

Devoted fans from around the world are expected to attend the unveiling in the Glen on Saturday 24th September with events planned to celebrate Stuart's music later in the day.

Fittingly, the bench will be in the shadow of the Glen Pavilion where Big Country played their first ever gig in 1982.

The driving force behind the tribute is Gwenda Matthews, who lives in Wigan and has been a fan of Big Country since their early days.

She travelled to Dunfermline last week to meet council officers and finalise arrangements for the bench to be installed at the picturesque setting of the Glen lily pond.

Gwenda also met Stuart's family to make sure they were fully supportive of the memorial.

Gwenda had spent several years living in Dunfermline working at a local hotel in the 1990s.

When she came back for a visit earlier this year she was disappointed to see nothing had been built to recognise the achievements of Stuart, who died in December 2001.

There is a mural tribute to Stuart at East End Park but it's not something fans coming to Dunfermline can visit outwith football matches.

Gwenda (42), said, "When I took a day trip to Dunfermline earlier this year I was saddened and dismayed there was still no official memorial in Stuart's beloved hometown.

"A place where fans could show their respect and love of this great man."

After posting on the websites of Big Country and the Skids, as well as on Facebook, she was buoyed by positive feedback from other fans.

"As a fan I believed so strongly, as indeed other fans did, that there should be a fitting memorial in Stuart's name in his home town and more importantly that we as fans should organise a serene and fitting tribute," she explained.

"Stuart left his fans with a legacy in his music and we the fans wanted to give something back."

Gwenda came across a tribute to the late Kirsty MacColl where fans raised funds for a bench in London's Soho Square. "That seemed to be such a beautiful and fitting idea," she said.

There were some people who disagreed with the idea of a bench and would have preferred a statue but it was important to have something that was achievable through the fans' own efforts and in time for the 10th anniversary.

"From the flash of a spark ignited by the desire to see a memorial to this great local man came a campaign initially on Facebook.

"I was overwhelmed by the thousands of fans from across the world who pulled together and became friends giving generous donations to help the cause. A cause so just and fitting.

"In recognition of the sheer passion and lyrics which guided and spoke of a beautiful landscape, the fans put forward a suggestion that lyrics be engraved into the memorial bench.

"This was such a heartfelt response by the fans who had been so affected by the unique music and the stunning beauty of the songs."

Gwenda said of the much-missed singer songwriter, "That his roots lay firmly with the working person can be heard and felt throughout his lyrics.

"His was a landscape of emotion and above all a pride in his Scottish roots. A pride that grew with hardship."

Gwenda, a part-time student at Bolton University, said, "There are fans coming from Germany and all over the world."

Lines from Big Country songs 'East of Eden', 'In a Big Country', 'Eiledon' and 'Scared to Dance' by the Skids will adorn the bench.

Gwenda added, "Stuart was so proud of his hometown in Fife, his lyrics reflected the very depths of it."
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RIP Steve Jobs.

He really was an innovative mind.







This was posted from an Apple device.
 
Wow...Heavy D died. Never been big on rap fan, and he's not the exception, but I remember him having a few acting roles in films/TV shows that I liked. Particularly liked Big Trouble. It's a shame he died as young as he did.
 
RIP Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern Dragonriders series.
 
RIP Myron Cope, who died only a couple years ago or so. He's the only dead celebrity I care for atm (though I did really like one of Michael Jackson's songs). I wouldn't be surprised if no one else here has mentioned him though. It seems like he's only famous with people from Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Steeler fans, like me. He created the Steelers' trademark Terrible Towel, which many Steeler fans wave at Steeler games.

We still miss you, Myron. :[

EDIT: Oh, I posted in here already... I can't believe I completely forgot. xP
 
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Simon Cowell leads the tributes for former X Factor finalist Kerry McGregor who died of cancer aged 37

Simon Cowell has lead tributes to late X Factor contestant Kerry McGregor following her death from cancer.

The Scottish singer, who appeared on the TV talent show in 2006, lost her battle with the disease aged just 37.

The wheelchair-bound singer and actress was first diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago.

But it was thought she was beating the killer disease after undergoing three months of gruelling chemotherapy which almost left her deaf.

The singer leaves a son, Joshua, seven, with property developer partner Dean Robertson, 36.

The mother-of-one had been spurred on by messages of support from her X Factor mentor Sharon Osbourne and Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) star Susan Boyle, who hailed her as an inspiration in her autobiography.

Last night, it was revealed that Kerry and Miss Boyle were about to go into the studio together to record a duet until the project was halted just days ago by the former’s ill health.

Kerry, of Pumpherston, West Lothian - who broke her back in a fall when she was 13 - was diagnosed with cancer in September 2010 after suffering two years of stomach pains.

When details of her illness were first made public in April last year, she said: 'It was small cell cancer, one of the fastest-spreading. I wasn't surprised. The fight is long, but I want to live. I've got so much more to give.'

However, last night, a brief statement from her management company said: 'It is with deep sadness we announce that Kerry passed away at home, earlier today following a battle with cancer. At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.'

Her manager, Ewan Gallagher, said: 'This is a desperately sad time for all Kerry’s friends and family. She was such a gifted singer and song-writer. She left more than 40 of her own songs unrecorded at her death.

'And she had forged a close friendship with Susan Boyle, who became very attached to Kerry because both are from West Lothian.

'Susan wrote in her autobiography that Kerry’s appearance on X Factor was what gave her the courage to appear on BGT.

'The pair were about to record a duet of Wings To Fly, which has only appeared as a bonus track on an album released by Susan in Japan. I’m sure it would have been a huge hit and the words have such poignancy. I don’t know what will happen with that project now.'

Born in 1974 into a musical family - her late grandfather, Bobby McKerracher, was known as 'the Scottish Bing Crosby' – Kerry was aged five when her father was killed in a road crash.

Raised by her mother, Margaret, also a talented singer, she showed early promise as a gymnast at West Calder High School before she fell from a tree aged 13 and broke her back, leaving her partially paralysed from the waist down.

Determined to remain in mainstream schooling, she re-learnt how to walk with crutches and leg braces in just six weeks, earning a Child of Achievement Award.

Of her disability, she once said: 'Life changed completely for me from an early age. In some people’s eyes it could be a hindrance but in my eyes it’s not. If anything, it gives me all the more reason to kick my heels in and go on. I am determined and I will achieve.'

After studying music and drama at Jewel and Esk Valley College in Edinburgh, she formed the dance band Nexus in 1993 before leaving to join QFX, whose album Freedom reached Number 21 in the UK charts.

Talent spotted by Kenny MacDonald, manager of The Proclaimers, she was selected to record a song for the UK´s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997, coming second to Katrina and the Waves, who went on to win Eurovision with Love Shine a Light.

In 2006, Kerry secured her biggest break after making the finals of series three of The X Factor, which was eventually won by future Grammy award nominee Leona Lewis.

She managed to last until Week 3, when she was voted off by Louis Walsh.

Kerry later concentrated on her acting career and songwriting and had more than 40 songs still unrecorded at her death.

As an actress, she performed on stage, radio and television productions, with notable appearances as Carol-Ann in Annie Griffin’s Channel 4 series The Book Group, and in the award-winning BBC children’s drama series Grange Hill.

Last month, she accepted a role as an ambassador with Action for Bladder Cancer (ABC), the UK’s only charity dedicated to fighting bladder cancer, the fourth most common cancer in men and 11th most common in women with around 10,000 Britons diagnosed with the disease every year.

Colin Bunce, chair of Action on Bladder Cancer, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the news about Kerry. She was a truly inspirational person and we were delighted when, before Christmas, she accepted our invitation to become an Ambassador for Action on Bladder Cancer.

'She was deeply committed to helping raise awareness about bladder cancer and our thoughts are very much with her family at this time.'
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I couldnt believe this when I seen this, and she was only 37 too. RIP Kerry x.
 
Whitney Houston dead aged 48

US singer and actress Whitney Houston dies aged 48

American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48.

A spokesman for Houston's family confirmed the news, telling Reuters: "Unfortunately, it is true."

The cause and the location of her death were unclear, Houston's publicist Kristen Foster told the AP news agency.

Regarded as one of the most celebrated female acts of all time, Houston's later career was overshadowed by substance abuse and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.

Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music.

Her mother was gospel singer Cissy Houston and she was cousin to singer Dionne Warwick, and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin.

Having grown up in New Jersey, she began singing in church and then in the night clubs of New York, and was a model before being signed by Arista Records.

At the height of her career in the 1980s and 90s she won many awards and enjoyed several number one singles and albums.

Houston also enjoyed success acting in films such as The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

In recent years drug use took its toll on the star and her voice - once acknowledged as one of the finest in pop music - was badly damaged.
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Poor woman was only 48, did not see this coming. RIP.
 
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