Watching Your Heroes Die

Casdon

sunglow12

Love The Travelling Woodbury’s and sadly only Bob Dylan left of the 5

Jeff Lynne is still alive too, thankfully, but three of the five have gone. I really loved Tom Petty, that was a sad day.

I’ve just read that Tom did his last tour just before he died with a fractured hip but didn’t want to let the fans down so did the whole tour. Thankfully my SIL went to see him.I discovered their music quite late on and his death really upset me. One of the few bands that kept their original line up throughout their career.Early on a recording company only wanted Tom but he refused unless they signed up his band, too.

I see in the news that someone has passed on and I think of their age. It makes me think if I lived that long how many years I have left. Then there are the younger ones which give me a different feeling.

Had and do have certain people I admire and enjoy them as entertainers but they are not my heroes. Was very shocked and upset at the death of Diana, too soon and leaving her boys without their mother. Shocked when Eric Morecambe died, but his laughter lives on.

Cabowich

According to Google, Eric Faulkner's still alive! If we're talking about the Bay City Rollers Eric, that is.

I know what you mean about heroes/former crushes dying. David Cassidy and John Hurt spring to mind for me.

Oh, yes, I was so sad about the deaths of both of them-adored David Cassidy when I was a girl, he had a lovely voice-and I was the biggest fan of John Hurt, from "Naked civil Servant " days onwards through his whole career-amazing actor. He died of pancreatic cancer, as did my lovely older brother, a year ago.

I think the death of anyone famous is memorable. When Elvis died in 1977 I was only 15 but was sad to think he would never perform in the UK.

When Pauline Collins died I was sad as she was the same age as my dear Mum and I loved her films.

SillyNanny321

At 81 I’ve had a lot of my ‘Heroes’ die recently. Tony Head has hit me hard as he was the best part of the Buffy series that I loved. Have all the series so rerun often. Band Candy being my favourite. Guess many Gransnetters wont have watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer as do not know who Tony Head was. Shame missed a lot of good actors! Another of my Heroes was 77 a while ago so hope he keeps on for a long while yet, Francis Rossi keep on going please?

Thankyou for this comment SillyNanny321 I was beginning to wonder if anyone on here had heard of Buffy let alone watched it!
I loved the series, reran it often and bought all the episodes on video from Woolworths when they were released, later on dvd.
Yes Tony Head as Giles was excellent, my favourite episode is Hush, with the Gentlemen.

The Bay city Rollers were not my faves tbh, but having read the above, i looked it up, and No, Erik has not died,in fact he is the only living member i beleive.

Antony Head certainly did'nt look 72.

sunglow12

Love The Travelling Woodbury’s and sadly only Bob Dylan left of the 5

Jeff Lynne is still alive too, thankfully, but three of the five have gone. I really loved Tom Petty, that was a sad day.

Love The Travelling Woodbury’s and sadly only Bob Dylan left of the 5

Yes, it is sad when people like Alan Rickman die. When you enjoy their work they almost seem part of your life, though of course they aren't. It is strange to be one of the age group that are dying now, when most of us still feel young inside!

Sad but that's life...how are they heroes?

SillyNanny123 I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my two boys, 46 and 56, talk of it still.
I am nearly 80 and and all my near relatives have died, also my friends. I have only recently felt this vulnerability and know exactly what you mean.

Yes, it’s the end of eras losing particular heroes. I’m 72 and was 31 when Margot Fonteyn died. Then two years later, Rudolph Nureyev passed. Being a ballet fan, it felt like something special had left the world. There have been others, Meatloaf the rock legend, Tina Turner, Maggie Smith, my best friend and my special little dog Max. I still have a couple of heroes left, so long may they continue to inspire.

Such is life.

Padstow13

Fallingstar

Oh yes, so many have gone, the band members/singers, the actors, the TV presenters, and am sometimes caught off guard believing so-and-so had already died. Is hard to keep track, and of course in my minds eye I see them as their younger selves.
I believe Frankie Valli is still alive, have started counting those still with us, it feels more uplifting.

Frankie Valli still here? Wow!

Until a couple of years ago we went to see Frankie Vali at the Royal Albert Hall every other year when he was over here. He was in his late 80s and he was amazing. His voice was a good and strong as ever. He is now 92

I managed to live in the same place at the same time as Anthony Head not once but twice. We lived in the same village in the early 2000s and in fact he presented a golden jubilee fete prize to my daughter. But on looking him up when he died, I discovered we had spent our early teens very close (within 100 yards) to one another - probably went to the same youth club and parties.

I agree!

Fallingstar

Oh yes, so many have gone, the band members/singers, the actors, the TV presenters, and am sometimes caught off guard believing so-and-so had already died. Is hard to keep track, and of course in my minds eye I see them as their younger selves.
I believe Frankie Valli is still alive, have started counting those still with us, it feels more uplifting.

Frankie Valli still here? Wow!

Schnackie2

Doodledog you described so perfectly the importance of 'shared experiences' from your youth. I moved to England in 1999 (from USA) and have made many very good friends here that I feel close to, but every once in a while, I have a real need to call my friend from childhood in Iowa, just to chat and reminisce. She is the only person (besides by children) who remembers my parents, for example. And in fact, her own mother who was a huge influence in my life and lived to be 92, but has now been gone for many years.
On another note, when I turned 70 a few years ago, I told my children that this is the age where no one seems shocked if you die. Anyone in their 60's - people will say "Oh, so young!!" But if you are even 71, they will say "Well, they had a good life." Others may disagree.

I don’t think that’s the case anymore. I think it’s more 80s now, people who die in their 70s, like Anthony Head, shock me.

Yes Hobbycat I've had that exact feeling recently. I'm going to try to enjoy and appreciate some younger personalities who hopefully won't disappear before me!

I loved Anthony Head and Sharon Maugham in the Gold Blend ad - one of the few ads I remember!

Talking of the death of public figures reminds me of being at the in laws for tea; the talk went over 3 year old M’s head until he suddenly piped up, “Don’t you know a lot of dead people, Grandma?”. This thread reminds me of how right he was!

Doodledog you described so perfectly the importance of 'shared experiences' from your youth. I moved to England in 1999 (from USA) and have made many very good friends here that I feel close to, but every once in a while, I have a real need to call my friend from childhood in Iowa, just to chat and reminisce. She is the only person (besides by children) who remembers my parents, for example. And in fact, her own mother who was a huge influence in my life and lived to be 92, but has now been gone for many years.
On another note, when I turned 70 a few years ago, I told my children that this is the age where no one seems shocked if you die. Anyone in their 60's - people will say "Oh, so young!!" But if you are even 71, they will say "Well, they had a good life." Others may disagree.

At 81 I’ve had a lot of my ‘Heroes’ die recently. Tony Head has hit me hard as he was the best part of the Buffy series that I loved. Have all the series so rerun often. Band Candy being my favourite. Guess many Gransnetters wont have watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer as do not know who Tony Head was. Shame missed a lot of good actors! Another of my Heroes was 77 a while ago so hope he keeps on for a long while yet, Francis Rossi keep on going please?