I don't recall our first meeting but I'd imagined, hoped for and begun looking for Spike sometime before we met. He was the best bass player I'd ever seen, a lovely man to be with & so the Snapdragon who finally completed the bunch. He was intense, creative, funny, at times elusive and at others, game for hilarity. So we took an immense trip together, immersed ourselves in a full screen viewing of 'Sign of the Times'  and giggled as peach and orange stretch out into the night. We played backgammon far too early in the morning with Graham C and John like our lives depended on it; which they probably would have done if we'd continued to chain smoke at that rate. We rode round in the Dragon Wagon, an old two tone VW camper packed with instruments and promise and lobbed pebbles at the old pier in Brighton dreaming that a hit would lead to a record deal. We hurridly arranged our first single together in the side of the van, double excited, as we waited to support the Las on the day of their first release. We listened to his his zeal for Bernard Edwards as our soundchecks grooved to his delighted renditions of Sly Stone's 'If you want me to stay'. He had Taste. He had Talent and he most definitly had tha Funk. (And I'm pleased to see his shirts didn't quieten with age.)

Spike was gentle and thoughtful person to work with; always focused on the song, never himself. He was a creative arranger and would find the backing vocal or keyboard part that everything together. He, Pel John and Nigel were endlessly brilliant  at making real the sounds I could only hear in my head. They were great innovators. When we were totally skint and needed a dulcimer, they disappeared into a grand piano with a mic guitar picks to make 'Admit to me I love you.' When the dulimer was finally made, it was Spike who learnt how to play it and how! So I'm going to share this little tune we recorded for a Peel Session as part remembrance and part elegy.On the way to a gig I'd met a woman on a train who'd lost her beloved husband 6 months before. Her story moved me so much I sat down and wrote 'Quick to the dead.' Spike 'got it'. The whole band got it and I couldn't be more sad that the song he so beautifully played on is now a message of love and loss for him.

When I think of Spike I feel warmth within me. He was a really good man. He saw what needed to be done in his neighbourhood and worked so hard to do it. He made a beautiful family with Mel. He brought good to the world even when he had his own great struggles to manage. I will carry the memory of him with love always within me.

Before my wife passed in 2012 she gave me this beautiful poem. It helped me through those times. So, i offer it to all of you beautiful people who have loved and lost this beautiful man.

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

His work and legacy seem beautifully summed up by Rabidranath Tagore:

'I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.'

Shine on you crazy diamond x