George Martin - d. March 8th 2016

Your desk has many channels;

bass, drums, 2 guitars, 2 vocals,

strings, screams, howls of acid,

plus one for every soul alive

since 1962.

Read about George Martin here

Tony Warren - d. March 2nd 2016

You’re alive; echoing in drains
on dark streets; empty spaces
where words live; in grains
between cobbles; in faces
shining in the Salford rain.

Read about Tony Warren here

Frank Kelly - d. February 28th 2016

The end lies in wait like a nun,

the smell of God in her nostrils.

Then, a creaking gate, a curse,

one less soul on a lonely island.

Read about Frank Kelly here

Douglas Slocombe - d. February 22nd 2016

The scenes of a dead century
tumble in a gust of light.
They are the harvest of the lens,
gathered from the backlot
of your imagination.


Read about Douglas Slocombe here

Umberto Eco - d. February 19th 2016

I live for books;
for what they say,
for what they signify
by what they don't say.
The books that bear
your empty name,
are shelved in eternity.

Read about Umberto Eco here

Harper Lee - d. February 19th 2016

We took the skin

of America,

climbed inside,

walked around,

felt it from the inside.

You didn't do one thing 

except tell a story

for us to enjoy.

Read about Harper Lee here

Norman Hudis - d. February 8th 2016

Was this 
how you scripted it
- scene upon scene
groaning 
with rotten gags?
Some jokes carry on,
improve with retelling.


Read about Norman Hudis here

Maurice White - d. February 4th 2016

Bury me in polyester,
bare my chest 
to the mourners.
Dance on my grave
until the dawn;
whatever you do, groove.

Read about Maurice White here

John Bingham, Lord Lucan - d. February 3rd 2016

In our fascination

we have wrung 

each drop of mystery

from all the obfuscation.

Perhaps you played along,

but now you're history.

Read about Lord Lucan here

Frank Finlay - d. January 30th 2016

In the little theatre
of my hometown
cues are missed,
lines go unsaid,
bouquets wither
in a cold dressing room.

Read about Frank Finlay here

Terry Wogan - d. January 31st 2016

A

And up next, the Irish entry.
Would you look at the eejit,
all whimsy and innuendo,
carrot and schtick. 
Could go far.





Read about Terry Wogan here

Paul Kantner - d. January 28th 2016

Respect, man;

you were always 

chasing rabbits,

feeding your head.

Your life was what you 

were tripping on,

your death 

one more comedown.

Read about Paul Kantner here

Abe Vigoda - d. 26th January 2016

Sooner or later

even the wisest guy

gonna get clipped,

and no good word

will get you off the hook

this time.

Read about Abe Vigoda here

Colin Vearncombe - d. January 26th 2016

The heart is stilled now;

not the black one, racked

by loss, not the one 

made of clay, but the heart

full of comedy, and roses.

Read about Colin Vearncombe here

Cecil Parkinson - d. January 25th 2016

One of us she said

as if you belonged

to some higher order,

but a man is judged

by what he does

after he does 

what he shouldn't 

have done.

Read about Cecil Parkinson here

Henry Worsley - d. January 25th 2016

Out of respect,

the gale holds off,

holds the snow

suspended,

delaying its own fall,

leaving a pair of tracks

uncovered

till the end of the day.

Read about Henry Worsley here

Glenn Frey - d. January 18th 2016

On the cheating side of town

there's an empty room,

walls hung with Les Pauls,

whose owner checked out

but can never leave.

Read about Glenn Frey here

Alan Rickman - d. January 14th 2016

The coming occasion

demands an oration,

suffused with magnetism,

languor, the straightest face.

If you were here

you would be perfect for it.

Read about Alan Rickman here

David Bowie - d. January 10th 2016

News guy wept and told us

No return 

for the Thin White Duke;

the freakiest show is over.

Surely not dead, 

merely rehearsing

the new persona.

Read about David Bowie here

Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart - d. January 9th 2016

You practised 
a peculiar alchemy
in the spinning 
of runaway trains,
elephants, little fishes;
a transubstantiation of vinyl 
into eternal childhood.

Read about Ed Stewart here