This photo taken many moons ago at The Horn Of Plenty in St. Albans I found out last night that, in the run up to Christmas, a friend of mine died suddenly. As the bass player for punk rockers, The Bleach Boys, John Barnett was a local legend in the Hitchin vicinity (which is where I grew up).
While we have been bombarded with news about the loss of the punk movement heroine, Vivien Westwood; John’s passing, at least in my opinion, is every bit as important to acknowledge.
The Bleach Boys have featured many times on this site over the years and I knew of the band long before I knew the individuals in it personally. I became friends with John as a result of his bass playing duties - that was more than 25 years ago.
We kept in touch the whole time; much coffee and/or beer was consumed in conversation over the decades. The last occasion we got to enjoy a drink and a chat was in August when the chaps were performing at a Balstock fundraising event at the Hen and Chickens pub in Baldock.
John was bright, articulate, well liked, had wide ranging interests, was a genuinely decent family man, and a fine bass player. He was always good to me and kept me up to date with the comings and goings of the band.
When I read the Facebook notice posted by his daughter, I was gutted. John was only 66, and the world is a lesser place for his departure.
Back in 2015 I wrote an obituary of sorts for Simon Kelly (the band’s original singer). While Simon was the wildly entertaining front man, John was a little quieter (thank God) but every bit as important to the sound and the creativity of the unit.
John’s death has made me reflect on my own mortality; I need to try harder to wring more joy out of every day because who knows how much time is left.
My thoughts are with Hannah and John’s wife, Catherine, as they come to terms with their loss. And with Bleach Boys members Mark (Rocket), Matt, Mark and John Profit.
Hopefully there will be some comfort to be found in the knowledge that loads of people they don’t know will be mourning too. John was a good guy and will be missed by many.
The music that he wrote will live on.
And on that note, I have been playing “The Four Cyclists Of The Apocalypse” a bit too loudly and trying to celebrate a life well lived. You just can’t be too miserable when listening to the Bleach Boys at full tilt – the music/lyrics will make you smile even when you are feeling down.
Visit The Bleach Boys
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While we have been bombarded with news about the loss of the punk movement heroine, Vivien Westwood; John’s passing, at least in my opinion, is every bit as important to acknowledge.
The Bleach Boys have featured many times on this site over the years and I knew of the band long before I knew the individuals in it personally. I became friends with John as a result of his bass playing duties - that was more than 25 years ago.
We kept in touch the whole time; much coffee and/or beer was consumed in conversation over the decades. The last occasion we got to enjoy a drink and a chat was in August when the chaps were performing at a Balstock fundraising event at the Hen and Chickens pub in Baldock.
John was bright, articulate, well liked, had wide ranging interests, was a genuinely decent family man, and a fine bass player. He was always good to me and kept me up to date with the comings and goings of the band.
When I read the Facebook notice posted by his daughter, I was gutted. John was only 66, and the world is a lesser place for his departure.
Back in 2015 I wrote an obituary of sorts for Simon Kelly (the band’s original singer). While Simon was the wildly entertaining front man, John was a little quieter (thank God) but every bit as important to the sound and the creativity of the unit.
John’s death has made me reflect on my own mortality; I need to try harder to wring more joy out of every day because who knows how much time is left.
My thoughts are with Hannah and John’s wife, Catherine, as they come to terms with their loss. And with Bleach Boys members Mark (Rocket), Matt, Mark and John Profit.
Hopefully there will be some comfort to be found in the knowledge that loads of people they don’t know will be mourning too. John was a good guy and will be missed by many.
The music that he wrote will live on.
And on that note, I have been playing “The Four Cyclists Of The Apocalypse” a bit too loudly and trying to celebrate a life well lived. You just can’t be too miserable when listening to the Bleach Boys at full tilt – the music/lyrics will make you smile even when you are feeling down.
Visit The Bleach Boys
Previous related posts:
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/the-c-word
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/bleach-boys-balstock-beer-buffoonery-and-blimey
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/1/post/2013/08/bleach-boys-and-chron-gen-at-club-85-in-hitchin-a-gig-review.html
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/1/post/2013/05/the-bleach-boys-overload-and-rsi-punk-rock-with-king-billy.html
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/the-bleach-boys-and-the-horn.html
- http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/the-bleach-boys-a-cd-review.html
- Dec 16 - Baldwin, Baldock, Brocker and Bleach Boys
- https://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/brocker-and-the-bleach-boys-rock-baldock-again
- https://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/rip-simon-kelly
- https://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/simon-kellys-memorial-gig-at-club-85-in-hitchin
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