By Monk
Guy Bailey, co-founder of the ÜK rock institution that would become known as The Quireboys, has died, after a short illness.
Bailey joined long-time Quireboys frontman ‘Spike’ Gray in forming the band in 1984, co-writing and playing on the band’s first two albums, ‘A Little Bit Of What You Fancy’ and ‘Bitter Sweet & Twisted’ before leaving the group when it initially split up in 1993.
Choosing not to take part in the band’s reunion in 2011, Bailey once again teamed up with Spike last year, after the singer was controversially fired from the act in which he remained the only founding member. Alongside fellow original members Chris Johnstone and Nigel Mogg, as well as drummer Rudy Richman, they had been writing and preparing for a new album, planned to be released under the name ‘Quireboys’.
In the interim, Bailey had been involved in a myriad of projects, including Thirsty, The Peckham Cowboys and The Hot Knives.
Perhaps the best tribute that could be paid to Bailey came from his long-time partner-in-crime Spike, who wrote:
Guy was the kindest, funniest man you could have the pleasure of being around. He was loved by everyone who he ever worked with, all the bands he ever toured with and all the Quireboys fans he ever met. He certainly loved you all more than you will ever know.
I have so much I would like to share and say to everyone about him but this is just such a hard time for me and everyone close to him. I hope you all understand.
But for the Quireboys fans out there I would just like to say, me and Guy Bailey have written the songs for a new album, and me and Chris, Nigel and Rudy will fulfill his wishes that these songs are recorded and a new Quireboys album will be released this year.
So everyone raise a glass for Guy Bailey and lets keep rock ‘n’ roll alive for him. I love you mate.
I know you’re having a drink with our dads now and looking down and watching us bubble.
