Chris Rea R.I.P

[delt1c]

Sad news Chris Rea just poassed away. great singer and Deltics will always be one of my favorite tracks

 

[Pegpilot]

Should be "Riding home for Christmas". Behind a "55", naturally. No doubt Captain Deltic will be raising a glass tonight! Did anyone else get a loco class into an album or single title, I wonder ? God bless, Chris.

 

[delt1c]

He mentioned more than Deltics in the track, but will leave it for members check out

 

[DarloRich]

Very sad news. A Middlesbrough legend.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Did anyone else get a loco class into an album or single title, I wonder ?

Well, the Christians did have Hooverville

 

[Pegpilot]

Oh God, that's bad. Springsteen released Western Skies but I doubt that the Boss knows his diesel hydraulics !

 

[brad465]

There seems to be a thing for artists with Christmas hits going in the run-up to Christmas. Chris Rea, Shane McGowan (30/11/23), Kirsty MacColl (18/12/00) and of course George Michael on Christmas Day 2016.

 

[daveid]

Two nights ago in a bar in Wolverhampton I requested the singer do Driving home for Christmas...he didn't unfortunately. Big fan for over thirty years and genuinely gutted.

 

[Harpo]

Chris Rea should be considered a ‘musician’ or guitarist rather than just ‘singer’, although I realise that the Cowell-isation of popular music has banished everyone but singers in his karaoke world.

Rea’s ‘Road To Hell’ stands as one of his finest pieces in my view, brilliantly recorded with a fantastic punchy intro and lovely understated guitar work.

RIP

 

[martin butler]

Whilst Road to hell, Is always the song people remember, he did write many others, such as heartbeat, Stainsby Girls, Windy town, which are IMHO, better songs, RIP, Chris, and stay off that road to hell.

 

[delt1c]

Chris Rea should be considered a ‘musician’ or guitarist rather than just ‘singer’, although I realise that the Cowell-isation of popular music has banished everyone but singers in his karaoke world.

Rea’s ‘Road To Hell’ stands as one of his finest pieces in my view, brilliantly recorded with a fantastic punchy intro and lovely understated guitar work.

RIP

It's actually Road To Hell pt2 few people
Actually realise there is a pt1

 

[martin butler]

It's actually Road To Hell pt2 few people
Actually realise there is a pt1

I knew there's a part 1 actually prefer part 1, but for me Windy town beats everything, if you can find it have a listen

 

[Acey]

I knew there's a part 1 actually prefer part 1, but for me Windy town beats everything, if you can find it have a listen

Spot on, Windy Town is a great track

 

[delt1c]

Spot on, Windy Town is a great track

Agree windy town good but my favorite is Deltics

 

[AlterEgo]

Whilst Road to hell, Is always the song people remember

I am fairly sure he had one more memorable hit than that.

 

[delt1c]

Steel River which to me is aboput his life

 

[Leyland Bus]

Knew about pts 1& 2. Tennis is another under rated tune imo...

 

[yoyothehobo]

"Apparently" the original owner of my Fender P Bass was Chris Rea's Bassist around the late 1980s.

I obviously am sceptical and have only seen one video from top of the pops of a performance of "Road to Hell" in which the bassist is playing an identical instrument to the one i own.

In searching for this though i did listen to quite a bit of Chris Rea and he was a top artist with some underrated tunes.

RIP

 

[Trackman]

Loved his music, proper easy listening.
I saw the 'Deltics' LP in a record shop late 70s, I thought I wonder if it means anything else? I flipped the LP over and the answer was on the reverse of the sleeve.

 

[ainsworth74]

Rea’s ‘Road To Hell’ stands as one of his finest pieces in my view, brilliantly recorded with a fantastic punchy intro and lovely understated guitar work.

Hopefully people won't be "Driving Home for Christmas" on the "Road to Hell"!

 

[Trackman]

Hopefully people won't be "Driving Home for Christmas" on the "Road to Hell"!

Well, I imagine some people are on the M25 right now driving home for Christmas now!
(think it was about the M25)

 

[martin butler]

Hopefully people won't be "Driving Home for Christmas" on the "Road to Hell"!

I will be driving, but not on the Road to Hell, I avoid the M25 like the preverbal plaque, I take the scenic route going cross country using the A roads

 

[adc82140]

Nobody's mentioned "On the Beach" (the full 6 minute version), 'Looking For The Summer" and "Girl In A Sports Car". All fantastic works.

 

[Acey]

" Hello Friend " hits harder as you age .

 

[JKF]

Well, I imagine some people are on the M25 right now driving home for Christmas now!
(think it was about the M25)

Seem to recall it was the M4 in South Wales, but not sure why I have that fact stored in my brain or if it is correct or not.

 

[Clarence Yard]

I always thought it was the A1. A journey I occasionally had to do on Xmas Eve from Hornsey Depot, only to Boston (branching off at Norman Cross) rather than all the way to the North East as Chris Rea and his missus had to do that day! That’s why Driving Home for Xmas is one of my favourites. It strikes a personal chord.

In railway terms, one very snowy morning in December 1981 saw me walking into Finsbury Park Depot for work via the tracks from the station when I heard a familiar sound coming up Holloway bank. In a swirl of snow, No 2 appeared with its train and I took a side on shot of it as it passed by the site of Western Sidings DMU shed.

That was the last time I saw it in BR service but every time I look at my pic, I think of it as my “Driving Home for Xmas” Deltic shot!

 

[ainsworth74]

I always thought it was the A1

Yes which be logical as he apparently wrote it on a trip home to Middlesbrough from London so the A1 would make a lot more sense than the M4 or M25 (probably, I guess he might have driven part of it!).

 

[DarloRich]

Steel River is an excellent piece. I have think my favourite of his works as it feels like a folk song rather than a popular music work (it is like a vin garbutt song but in a different style)

The Road to Hell ( part 2) must be his most well known though mainly because it is excellent

 

[side effect]

Can't get that Christmas song he done out of my mind. I remember he was in a drama where he got a wrong diagnosis and I think he got a hit man to finish him off. It was a long time ago so I might have it wrong but it was a good watch.

Sad news indeed and still getting over Billy Bonds. Thought he would have gone on for ages. Probably ran his heart out for West Ham.

Rip both legends

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2025 ==

Parting shots is the film. Comedy with John Cleese. Just showed up on my youtube feed.

 

[317 forever]

Nobody's mentioned "On the Beach" (the full 6 minute version), 'Looking For The Summer" and "Girl In A Sports Car". All fantastic works.

I'm glad you mentioned these, as he had plenty more good songs in addition to Driving Home for Christmas.

My own favourite of his is Stainsby Girls.