Atrax Records: The Swarb Archive: The Obituary Files: The Mirror
Reports of My Death....
The Mirror - 21 April 1999
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REPORTS
OF MY DEATH HAVE Folk
star reads own obituary By OONAGH BLACKMAN LEGENDARY folk musician Dave Swarbrick was recovering from a serious chest infection yesterday - while reading a report of his own death. The ex-Fairport Convention violinist had come off a ventilator and moved out of intensive care at a Coventry hospital when he read his obituary in The Daily Telegraph. The 58-year-old performer, who has fought a long battle against lung disease emphysema, joked to wife Jill: “Tell everyone it’s not the first time I have died in Coventry.” Jill added: “I am happy to report he is not dead. I saw Dave this morning and he was smiling and eating breakfast. “He has been very ill but he is in an ordinary ward now and he is fine. He read the obituary and didn’t quarrel with any of the spelling or the facts - apart from the obvious. He’s trying to see the funny side but it is very upsetting. “The phone has been red hot with all the musicians who know him ringing up to find out how he died and offer their support.” Former Fairport Convention colleague Dave Pegg said yesterday: “It is a glowing obituary and Dave will be very pleased with what they have said but it is unbelievable it has been published now. “Thank God I spoke to Dave’s wife last night. She was telling me how he was recovering and was now in an ordinary ward. |
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Influential
“If I didn’t know that I would have freaked out this morning.
“It has caused a lot of people a lot of stress. He’s been very ill but he’s not on his way out yet.”
The lengthy tribute to his life and musical career began: “Dave Swarbrick, the violinist and singer who has died aged 58, was one of the most influential folk musicians of the 1970s and 1980s.”
A spokesman for The Daily Telegraph said: “I have spoken to Mrs Swarbrick and apologised to her and we will be printing a full apology.”
Dave, known as Swarb, was rushed to intensive care in Germany five weeks ago.
A formidable figure on the British folk scene for four decades, he left Fairport Convention, an electric folk group, in 1984 but still plays the acoustic violin around the world.
He is expected to leave hospital this month for a reunion with the group at the Cropredy Festival in Oxfordshire in August.
Last updated on 26 September 2002
