TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

From Swarb on FB:

No easy way to say this: the great Bruce Rowland of the Grease band and fairport Convention fame is in a hospice and ebbing away, he has cancer.His wife Barbara has asked that I make this known to as many people as I can. would any of his friends please message me and especially any of his musician friends. and would you please share this so that as many people as possible may get to hear this terribly sad news

Swarb has just shared this on Facebook:

No easy way to say this: the great Bruce Rowland of the Grease band and fairport Convention fame is in a hospice and ebbing away, he has cancer.His wife Barbara has asked that I make this known to as many people as I can. would any of his friends please message me and especially any of his musician friends. and would you please share this so that as many people as possible may get to hear this terribly sad news


[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

Looks like we saw/posted that at the same time...can a Mod tidy up please.

Terrible news.

Very sad to hear this  :(

very sad to hear this. Pull through, Bruce!

done!

Damn, what a sh*t week.

B*gger!  >:(  Effing cancer!

Sadly, from what Swarb says, it seems it may be too late to hope for recovery... my thoughts are with Bruce and his family - if his time has indeed come, may he not suffer...

Oh dear, such sad news...

So sad news.
My thoughts are with him and his family.

Ach, man, this is not good.

Sending love and strength to Bruce.

Jules

So sad. I hate cancer.

Very sad news.

More from Swarb:

An update on Bruce Rowland: after a bad day yesterday he has improved enough for a conversation today, he was cheerful and humorous.

That's good.  I take it they're talking via phone, rather than Swarb being over there?  Or is Bruce back in Blighty?

Jules

I thought he'd moved back a couple of years ago, but I might be wrong about that...

Yes, I'm sure you're right. He did move back

Again from Swarb:

Anyone wishing to send Bruce a card can do so to

Bruce Rowland
Rowcroft Hospice
Avenue Road
Torquay
TQ2 5LS

Latest from Swarb:

Bruce Rowland update : Bruce remains relaxed and in good spirits and chatted with old friends.

Sad news. Hadn't realised he was the drummer with Cocker at Woodstock!

Now there's a legendary event, and a performance that has gone down in history!

Jules

More from Swarb on FB this morning:

Bruce Rowland updates. Bruce had a good day and the wonderful hospice continued to treat him with kindness and respect. He is amazed at all your kindness and thoughts. Not being on facebook it's all a surprise to him. Please keep your thoughts coming and if you have memories of Bruce please share them with us all.

With all the somewhat negative feelings about Swarb in recent Fairport threads, it's worth mentioning one of the truly positive things about him - what a truly great friend he can be.  His loyalty and love for Bruce really shines through.  Good man.

Jules

Couldn't agree more!

I was very surprised to receive a lovely email from Barbara Rowland (not sure if this is wife/daughter?) thanking me for my card.  They're definitely getting through :)

Sadly, today's update from Swarb:

Bruce Rowland update: Bruce is drifting away, he is miraculously still with us but is beginning his journey now

So sad.

Jules

Fare thee well, Bruce.

According to Swarb's Facebook, Bruce left us today. Terribly sad news.

RIP Bruce. And thanks to Swarb for keeping us informed and passing all those good wishes to Bruce and his family. Royal Seleccion and a Jim Beam in Bruce's honour & memory this evening. :'(

Rest in peace, Bruce.  Gone, but not forgotten.

Jules

Sad news. Will be listening to his playing tonight in his memory.

MY Fairport (the 4 piece) are now a man down.  Too sad.  RIP Bruce, and thanks for the great great music.

RIP Bruce - Bonny Bunch Of Roses and Tippler's Tales are two of my favourite FC albums - delightful, homespun and deceptively uncomplicated.
Mustn't forget Bruce's contributions to Farewell, Farewell, Gottle O' Geer and half of Rising For The Moon either...

I don't know what to say really. I was at a prog gig on Sunday when Chris Squire's passing was announced, and now I'm listening to Tippler's Tales whilst having a tipple and cooking away, have a break to check emails and this.........

Philip

R I P Bruce. Mattacks was a hard act to follow, but he did so with style & panache.

He did indeed.

Not to mention his outstanding contributions with Joe Cocker and Ronnie Lane's bands.

Jules

And the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar too. (and if you remember the old thread I began a few years ago, he was the first member of Fairport to have ever appeared on an album-a Pipe and Drum band)

Sadly, Swarb reports on his Facebook that Bruce has very recently passed away.   Bruce died peacefully with his wife by his side, according to Steve Ashley on his FB.

RIP Bruce Rowland.

Oh so sad. Sad. Listening to the Vertigo albums tonight.

Just read Peggy's comments on the FC site... Bruce said "no tears"... Sorry Bruce, I shed a few this evening. Another of the FC family has left us, but with lovely memories. Love to all his own family.

Just read that myself. Didn't know about him teaching Phil Collins the drums

Seconded : lovely, lovely words from Peggy...

Can a Facebooker do ye olde cutte and paste?  I'd like to see what he wrote.

Jules

Here you are :

Peggy - "Bruce Rowland was a lovely man and a great drummer. He saved the Rising for the Moon album recording sessions by joining us after Dave Mattacks left. His playing and "feel" for music was superb.

"His track record is remarkable. Playing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo with The Guards band, teaching a young Phil Collins the drums, doing the recording sessions for "Jesus Christ Superstar" - for a fixed fee rather than accepting a royalty (something he always regretted) - and playing at Woodstock with Joe Cocker. Helping Ronnie Lane out on his circus tour and his great work with Fairport . More...

"When we split up in '79 he married Birgitte Swarbrick and they moved to Denmark.

"For the last 25 years he and his partner Barbara have lived in Devon. They were married at Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay soon after he moved there suffering from cancer.

"I spoke to him on the phone a couple of weeks ago when I heard that he was terminally ill and I was scared to make the call. Bruce said - "No tears Peggy. I've had a great life and have wonderful memories. This hospice is the best hotel I have ever stayed in and the staff are wonderful. No tears".

"We will miss you Bruce." - Peggy

As above, it's on the Fairport website, not FB.

That's lovely.

So Bruce married Swarb's ex?!  I had no idea.

Jules

Swarb's had quite a number of exes, hasn't he?  I seem to remember a comment on a live album some time with him saying he was looking for ladies with names starting with certain letters, because he only had a few to go to complete the alphabet!

Yes, I believe it is on the splendid Cropredy set from 1997 which I think Bruce also fleetingly appeared on. I don't have it to hand to check.

The Cropredy Box?  Yes, now I think about it, I believe you're right, Al.

Yes you are both correct, that comment is on the Cropredy Box as introduction to Angel Delight. Bruce played tambourine on John Barleycorn and MOTL I believe

Terribly sad news. RIP

Bruce Rowland and Chris Squire in the same week. That's a rhythm section made in Heaven

I thought that was a very odd thing to include in the very limited biography of that otherwise moving little statement.  

Yes.  Yes it is.

Jules

I read it more as letting people who may not have known what Bruce had been up to post-Fairport, which correct me if I am wrong was very little musically speaking. I didn't see it as salacious in any way, not to mention that one doesn't always think so clearly after the loss of a friend.

I'm always sad when good friends leave us. I am conscious that we are all going that way.
I am always hopeful that differences can be settled with remaining friends .
Its natural to disagree but its even more important to take the opportunity of losing friends
to realise that differences between us are merely pride and prejudice (as Jane so eloquently wrote)
Take the opportunity to rejoice in Bruce's life and achievements to reseal friendship and comradeship  

Beautifully and eloquently put, Dave!

RIP.

Those albums Bruce Rowland played on are amongst my favourite FC albums, especially Tippler's Tales.