Thetownend.com

Funnily enough, I was going to post this topic yesterday, but today will do.

Lots of people talk about their heroes, legends, role models. I think the only public person who I could say changed my life was John Peel, the only one whose death brought me to tears.

Who was that important for you?

He's still alive, but I'll find it hard when David Attenborough goes.

 I've 2 JFK moments....you know you always remember where you when....  Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon.

 

David Attenbrough. In football terms growing up it was Matt Le Tissier

Springsteen & David Jason

James Gandolfini was the only celebrity death that really given a proper shit about, i was such a massive fan

As a kid and a goalkeeper I always had a bit of interest in Eddie Niedzwiecki, I think just because his name was interesting. Even wrote him a letter asking for tips and got a 2 page hand written response so always had a soft spot for him, Equally Pavel Srnicek hit me quite hard, but that was combined by the fact that he wasn't that much older than me.

Cannot really think of any 'celebrity' that has bothered me that much however I do suspect the whole country may fall to pieces when Bruce Forsyth dies (although I would have have expected the same about Rolf Harris until quite recently).
 
Only JFK moment was when Di died and that has more to do with the surreal day and week following rather than the event or person themselves.

John Peel is an interesting one as he remains part of the establishment even though he was caught up in all the Saville stuff and also the stuff that happened in the states?

Springsteen and Gazza

Freddie Mercury

Billy Bremner

Don Rogers, and Sid Vicious affected me greatly as a 15 year old punk

Seve for me. Can't explain it other than he was in the era when I was growing up and his legend lives on even today - you only have to look at the miracle of Medina to see this.

Phil Lynott

Shaun Taylor was my football hero as a kid.

Dreading the death of neil young and don rogers

Just the Don for me

Genius with humility.

Billy Bragg and Snufkin from the Moomins.

I think it depends on your age who your heroes are. When I was little kid it was Derek Griffiths and Brian Cant. When I got into my teens it was Robert Smith. Now (family excluded) it's nobody.

I got into trouble at school for wearing a black tie when Bon Scott died.

My two favourite Town players are the Don & Andy Rowland

Being a drummer, Steve Gadd has to be one of mine.

I really like Travis Barker as a drummer too, but I don't think I could consider him a 'hero' as such.

Dave Grohl, speaking of drummers.
bell hooks
Jimmy Greaves


..Hell of a dinner party that'd be!

John Peel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tfy8f9lDD0

Me too

No, just Freddie Mercury

Oh come on, you will at least well up a little when I am gone...

Where you going?

Where everyone ends up eventually, in the compost heap or the ashtray..

Fraser Digby (or Frigby Daser as I mistakenly called him when first watching Town).

The first and best goalkeeper I've seen play for Town. He made every save look good. He had the Sondico gloves, the green GWR keeper top (if anyone has one, please name your price) - perhaps our best kit ever. The slick back hair (I was unaware of the tortoiseshell comb).

I pretended to be him (or a right footed version) in the park playing football for most of my early childhood. I've never met him. Maybe you should never meet your heroes.

When I was at university about 10 years ago, I found a Shaun Taylor pen pic in a shoebox that I'd had for years. Taylor was assistant manager at Forest Green Rovers at the time so in my nerdy haste I sent him a letter asking for it to be signed. In truth it was an small essay criticising Steve McMahon.

A month or so went by and I'd completely forgotten about sending it and then one day, there was an envelope on the doormat. It may be revisionism but the envelope seemed to glow from a distance.

The picture was signed and there was a little reply on the back. Hero status signed and cemented.

I also hero-worship Christopher Guest but he's a notoriously miserable sod so he's a hero I'd be reluctant to meet.

Yeovil Red.

Wilko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMlhWvIh7U4