Founder member of Jethro Tull, Mick Abrahams, died on 19/12/25. He only played on Tull’s first LP This Was before leaving the band due to wanting to pursue more in the line of the blues than flautist, singer and main songwriter Ian Anderson.

This, from that LP, is a song he co-wrote with Anderson.

Jethro Tull: Beggar’s Farm

Abrahams went on to form the unforgettably named Blodwyn Pig. Their first single was Dear Jill.

Blodwyn Pig: Dear Jill

Michael Timothy (Mick) Abrahams: 7/4/1943 – 19/12/2025. So it goes.

Perry Bamonte’s death on Christmas Eve came somewhat out of the blue.

He started as one of the The Cure’s road crew and took over guitar and keyboard duties in 1990.

This is a single from their first album with him as full member, Wish, and was a no 8 in 1992.

The Cure: High

Perry Archangelo Bamonte: 3/9/1960 – 24/12/2025. So it goes.

They’re coming thick and fast.

Raul Malo of US band The Mavericks died earlier this month, but his obituary was only in the Guardian last week.

I featured their biggest UK hit, the joyous Dance the Night Away (a no 4 in 1998,) here.

This one (ther second biggest) reached no 27 later that year.

The Mavericks: I’ve Got This Feeling

Raul Francisco Martínez-Malo: 7/8/1965 – December 8/12/2025. So it goes.

Yet another one gone. This time Chris Rea. It somehow seems crueller at this time of year.

Rea is perhaps best known for Driving Home for Christmas and The Road to Hell, jointly his highest chart placing songs but neither of which is appropriate here. His back catalogue is long.

This was his second top 30 hit (no 26 in 1985) and predates both of the above.

Chris Rea: Stainsby Girls

Christopher Anton (Chris) Rea: 4/3/1951 – 22/12/2025. So it goes.

So here it is, the final track from Tull’s Christmas Album that I haven’t yet featured, a version of Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane in F Sharp Minor.

Merry Christmas.

Jethro Tull: Pavane:

I haven’t done a Marillion track in a while.

This was the second single from their first post-Fish album Seasons End, but it barely scraped the charts. I find it lyrically interesting, though.

Influential guitarist Steve Cropper died last week.

He made his name with Booker T and the MGs on such songs as Green Onions, Time is Tight and Soul Limbo.

Over his long career he was invited to contribute to the work of various soul and rock luminaries.

He co-wrote (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay for Otis Redding, Soul Man for Sam and Dave and the following two for Wilson Pickett and Eddie Floyd respectively.

Wilson Pickett: In the Midnight Hour

Eddie Floyd: Knock on Wood

Steven Lee (Steve) Cropper: 21/10/ 1941 – 3/12/2025. So it goes.

Blur’s first top ten hit. It reminded me of early Pink Floyd.

Blur: There’s No Other Way

And now Jimmy Cliff also has gone.

Cliff was among the first artists to bring Jamaican music to the wider world.

This was his first big UK hit and his highest chart placing – no. 6 in 1969. Joyful stuff.

Jimmy Cliff: Wonderful World, Beautiful People

James Chambers (Jimmy Cliff:) 30/7/1944 – 24/11/2025. So it goes.

The news of this came too late last Friday for me to post this then, but Mani, the bassist for The Stone Roses, died last week.

The late 80s were a musical era I kind of missed as my children were infants then and time for listening to music was limited. There is no doubt, though, that The Stone Roses were an important influence on later bands – not least Oasis.

Mani’s playing is the propulsive force behind this track, a no 8 in 1989.

The Stone Roses: Fool’s Gold

Gary (Mani) Mounfield: 16/11/1962 – 20/11/2025. So it goes.