Chris Rea.

Infidel · **Joined:** Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:20 am **Posts:** 928

Sad news has come out today about Chris, personally I’m a little shocked.

The year I left school and started work ‘Fool If You Think It’s Over’ got played relentlessly on Radio Tees, I was out repointing stone walls on my own and this song was pretty much my soundtrack.

Years later I got to know a lad who played as a guitarist in Chris’ band.

RIP.

Flying Hogans · **Joined:** Tue Nov 05, 2019 10:29 pm **Posts:** 6490

Infidel wrote:

Sad news has come out today about Chris, personally I’m a little shocked.

The year I left school and started work ‘Fool If You Think It’s Over’ got played relentlessly on Radio Tees, I was out repointing stone walls on my own and this song was pretty much my soundtrack.

Years later I got to know a lad who played as a guitarist in Chris’ band.

RIP.

Heard it on the radio as I was driving home. RIP Chris. My own favourite of his is 'The Road to Hell.' Bet he meant the A19

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 40892

Given his various medical condition's over the years, I‘m surprised he made it to 74.

Smokin Joe · **Joined:** Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm **Posts:** 1562

Really sad news, although he has been unlucky with several debilitating illnesses over the last 25 years, IMO probably the best thing ever to emerge from the Boro, he wrote and sang some brilliant songs over a lengthy career. Always kept his feet on the ground and shunned celebrity crap unlike many of today's truly awful singer/songwriters. Apparently he was on the dole when he wrote 'Driving Home For Christmas' whilst his then girlfriend, later wife drove him home from London to the Boro as he had also just lost his driving licence. I recall reading somewhere that the 'Road To Hell' was about being stuck in traffic on the M25 although the song is could be equally as relevant to the A19. RIP Chris.

Bluestreak · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2025 9:22 pm

Yes for me its always the A19.
Great songs. R.I.P.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 6152

Remember him opening the show at the Lindisfarne Xmas concerts at the City Hall and getting a bigger ovation than Lindisfarne just before he became famous. RIP.

Infidel · **Joined:** Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:20 am **Posts:** 928

What year was that, 78?

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 6152

Could've been 78, went to 2 or 3 of the Lindisfarne Xmas gigs in the late 70s cracking nights.

kevin pooles gloves · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:28 pm **Posts:** 11047

Me favourites
I can hear your heart beat and
Stainsby Girls which I listened to last night.
Sad news.
RIP fella.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 6152

Tell me there's a heaven resonates from that period of my life, Fool if you think it's over far better than the Elkie Brookes version.
First album "Whatever happened to Benny Santini" - he was advised by Producers that he'd never get anywhere in the industry as Chris Rea and should change his name to Benny Santini if he wanted a chance of success.

Essex poolie · **Joined:** Wed Oct 12, 2016 7:42 pm **Posts:** 1084

A top singer who because of his mild nature in avoiding the limelight went unnoticed in the music industry you could always identify him by his unique voice. RIP Chris,

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 23134

Essex poolie wrote:

A top singer who because of his mild nature in avoiding the limelight went unnoticed in the music industry you could always identify him by his unique voice. RIP Chris,

and a proper celebrity also unlike many today

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 23134

Bluestreak wrote:

Yes for me its always the A19.
Great songs. R.I.P.

must be the only one who looks forward to the A19. know i,m half way back and the crap single lane roads are behind me.

jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 03, 2025 11:07 am **Posts:** 2023

Great tribute here,
https://youtu.be/42U6rIWkVNg?si=nDfWJE-kAMtG5jk8

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 13260

accrington fan wrote:

Bluestreak wrote:

Yes for me its always the A19.
Great songs. R.I.P.

must be the only one who looks forward to the A19. know i,m half way back and the crap single lane roads are behind me.

The only problem I've had with the A19 is returning home after Tuesday night matches if there are overnight closures. Then I just A689 it to the A1. Otherwise it's a great road for me and has been since 1978. I obviously miss the dodgy periods.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 23134

derwent wrote:

accrington fan wrote:

Bluestreak wrote:

Yes for me its always the A19.
Great songs. R.I.P.

must be the only one who looks forward to the A19. know i,m half way back and the crap single lane roads are behind me.

The only problem I've had with the A19 is returning home after Tuesday night matches if there are overnight closures. Then I just A689 it to the A1. Otherwise it's a great road for me and has been since 1978. I obviously miss the dodgy periods.

thats the reason i have not done a tuesday night game since live streaming came in during covid. the best thing ever and have seen more live pools games since the late 50,s. pop up roadworks where diversion signs run out. good job i knew thirst as i could still be driving around the place.

The Poolie Bunker

Chris Rea.

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