Tuesday, January 31, 2017
"...John flew away at 05.25..."
RF’s diary - January 31, 2017
Bredonborough.
20.06
Waking c. 01.38 and unable to go back to sleep for two
or three hours. John was
very much on my mind, having spoken to Lisa yesterday
afternoon and who
continued to keep me up to date. Thank you.
Rising at 09.00, from a NightWorld series of
adventures from I’m not sure where,
to an e-mail from Lisa Wetton sent at 08.49: John…
died very peacefully,
without pain. Gratitude for this. Martin Darvill, John’s manager for the
past twelve years, was also in touch and we spoke:
John flew away at 05.25.
John was a pal over almost forty-two years, beginning
at
Bournemouth College in 1965, two teenage students and
local gigsters.
We continued in touch during our early professional
lives in London,
speaking from time to time, before John joined King
Crimson in 1972-74 with
David Cross, Jamie Muir and Billy B. JW was, for me,
the leading
bass player of his generation, a player of international class,
before John
moved increasingly
to the front as singer and songwriter: Asia’s debut
album was the world’s
biggest seller in 1982.
We continued as chums, working together when
John lived in LA in 1992; and increasingly met for
coffee and cakes
after John moved back to Bournemouth in the Noughties.
During the past decade, JW became a hero of mine,
courageous and
exemplary in dealing and speaking frankly of his
alcoholism http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/show_interview.php?id=153.
Visiting John
during not-so-good times, and then good times, we became closer
than in the three previous decades; John’s
conversation was wonderfully
clear, honest, positive, encouraging. And then Lisa.
Hooray! to whom thank
you for making my friend a happy man.
Our last correspondence…
I
Tuesday 13 Sep 2016, at 11:01 RF>John Wetton
Subject: Re: wasson my mushy!
dear JW,
on a coach driving from east berlin to prague; and listening to Fallen Angel
with your smoky
vocal and bass of beastliness!
these young characters delivered something here, i
think. i don't have much in
the way of
happy memories from the first 45 years of KC; but quite a lot
in the way
of satisfaction. it was too hard, too pressured, too much all the time
for me.
but there is a certain-something i feel for our time
together in 1973-74
that isn't quite nostalgia; and you are probably the
only person i can now discuss it with.
and on we go, and hoping to have a Christmas visit
with you upon
the completion of touring this december.
meanwhile, i love you!
xxx robert
II
Tuesday 13 Sep 2016 14:22 JW>RF
Dearest Roberto
very much looking forward to seeing you in December.
In fact,
you were crystal clear in a dream of mine last night,
so very
much at the forefront of my thoughts this
morning—strange how
psychic connection works.
Travelling always takes the enjoyment out of
travelling, I find,
particularly on a bus——but Prague is an extraordinary
& beautiful city,
if a chap can avoid the beer tourists and Hen Night
gangs.
Always—love you too, Robert!
Jw
III
Tuesday 13 Sep 2016 14:27 RF>JW
JW - well! the boys are out in NightWorld adventures.
xxx roberto
IV
Wednesday 30 Nov 2016 23:51 RF>JW
yo! JW -
here in vienna. and i dreamt of you last night; you were suggesting
i visit. this
preceding me e-mailing you and wondering whether a
visit to you; on
thursday 15 december early afternoon, would be convenient?
v happy to learn that you are home after three weeks
away.
xxx
roberto
V
Thursday 1 Dec 2016 11:36 JW>RF
That would be perfick, R---yes, I was back in hospital
with Sepsis for a few
weeks, but have now been home for another 3 weeks…
Lisa and I
were married on Tuesday, we're both very happy about
this,
and look forward to seeing you on 15th. I'll check out
your KC
itinerary, see where my own night adventures might be
taking me between now and then! Love jx
VI
Thursday 15 Dec 2016 19:23 JW>RF
Absolute blast to see you so happy and healthy this
afternoon, Roberto.
Let me know when you're next in Darzet. Please send
over a
couple of selfie shots of the 2/3 of us from your
marvellous
new camera if you have a moment , and please look
after your
dear self. Xxxxj
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Sunday, January 15, 2017
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