Christopher Anton Rea - 4 March 1951 – 22 December 2025

Now this is sad. It was known his health was bad, very bad. He survived, survived... until...

We met for the first in Paris at "Studios des Buttes-Chaumont" (1988?). The waiting - for the show - was so long... we chatted, chatted, must have been for 1h30+. Which changed my view(s) on the business (I was a rookie, I learned MUCH in that talk).

Two months ago, I was asked to remaster 'Do You Still Dream' (Chris Rea – 1981). I can't praise the album enough ('Goodbye Little Columbus' is also fantastic). At that first chat, I sincerely believed he'd sold millions of albums. But he then explained that despite his successes, he was far from rich and had been riddled with debt to his record label(s) until very recently.

Second lesson: he left me for some minutes several times to call home, his family. This was more important to him than a television appearance.

The last time I saw him was in Basel, where he was performing in "Baloise Session" (2017). Thirty years later. Pure coincidence (?), I was around there for a few days of vacation and to see my elderly mother.

Life is sad, truly sad.

[ I hope my English is approx. OK. That's a terrible blues now... ]

 

Last edited: Dec 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM

May he will rest in peace... on the beach.

 

Chris Rea - The Road to Hell

Chris Rea - On the Beach

Chris Rea - Live At Rockpalast (1985)

Chris Rea consciously described himself as a musician and not a rock star. "They (rock stars) worry about their hairstyle. They're constantly having work done on their faces," Rea said. "How you look and how you sound is everything. It's narcissistic. That's not me." Chris Rea died on December 22, 2025, at the age of 74.

Rest in peace

 

I remember the first time I heard his voice on the radio. I gotta check this artist out was my reacton.

Rest in peace

 

So sad. I remember that beatiful simple lick on "I can hear your heartbeat". on his first(?) album Water Sign , from 1983 I guess .
Got me wanting more. Then all those studioalbums with that singing Fender ...and such an unique Voice.

Now go jam with all the Kings of Blues up there Chris.

Rest in Peace

 

I know that Chris is driving home for christmas...
Rest in Peace

 

A one of a kind, RIP.

 

He was always the man of the seasons to me and my brothers.

"On the beach" in summer
"Road to hell" for Autumn
and "driving home for Christmas" really had the whole year covered.

 

Christmas shall never be the same without you Christopher... Thank you for your beautiful music and inspirations!
R.I.P. dear Chris.