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| Feature Articles About Smokie |
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These are tributes from friends, the band and his fans. |
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| John, Sandra, Camille & Jane | It only seems
like yesterday when I had to break the news to everybody that Alan
had lost his fight for life and passed away. For those of you who knew him you will understand that you couldn't have had a more loyal and trusting friend, and for those of you that didn't get the chance to meet him, you missed out on a very special person. Alan once told me that he had done everything in is life that he ever wanted to do, and not many of us can say that. So if there is an after life then I am sure we will meet again. Goodbye my friend, God Bless we all miss you like mad. |
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| Martin | Alan is remembered as a man of great charisma who lived for music. Some of his ambitions were achieved during his lifetime, yet still more were only realised after his death. I believe he would be proud of Smokie’s achievements, for the band has broken new frontiers of which Alan had only dreamed. Such was the driving force which characterised Alan, which gave new motivation to the band as its members grieved for our loss, that we sprang back from our own period of mourning to make an entirely fresh start. To lose a friend in the manner of Alan’s death is a tragedy, yet his death breathed new life into a band which was already standing at a crossroads. I thank Alan for leading the way. |
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| Mick | Ten years down
the line and I can't believe how much I still miss him. He was the one that always thought of the other person first and I still can't believe that it was Alan that died and not me or anyone of us that was in the crash. Goodbye dear friend. You Were A Star and will always be remembered as one. God Bless. |
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| Mike | Be happy he was
here for a while and made us smile. Maybe today is not to be sad he has gone, but to be thankful that he was here at all. |
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| Steve | Where have the last 10 years gone? It is a testament to our friendship that I have missed him and thought about him nearly everyday since. He was a special friend in every way and I feel I was privileged to share 8 years of his full and active life. He left special memories not only for me but for all the friends and fans who knew him. He was full of fun and one of the most hardworking and professional people I ever met, and he made me realise that you could mix business with pleasure. I will always think of Alan as one of my closest friends for the rest of my life. Cheers Al. |
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| Terry | Tonight I am
sitting in my studio trying to contemplate the words that I should
be advocating to you all about the life and times of my great friend
Alan Barton. To the People who had the fortune to have met him I have
to say that you were very lucky - you met a true and genuine man.
I lived and worked with him and was, and still am very proud to have
worked with such a true professional. Although Alan was not there
from day one his heart was in tune with Smokie. Everything was so
evident with his push to succeed and double push forward to enhance
the bands career. I feel that now is the time to make my horrific
memories of the morning of his death public to the people that Alan
Barton touched and for those who knew and cared. Terry Uttley is one
of thousands who will remember him this day. We had breakfast together, the regular things that hotel breakfast provides. He had on the previous night had a disagreement with someone, and that someone will remain nameless simply because of the delicate nature of the text of which I am writing. Alan said to me that that person would never get away with those words which were spoken to him ever again. He was right, but it took his death to make it so only a few days later. I know the contents of his last supper, I know his last words! Bang! The car was overturned and I saw the bottom half of my friends legs underneath the seat in front of me. I knew it was Alan because I was staring at his new snakeskin boots that he had been showing me earlier. It felt like a dream, not really happening to us but so real. When the car stopped rolling and sliding I was fine except for eye and leg damage. Alan Silson had nose damage. Mick McConnell, who was stage tech at that time, had broken fingers. Dean Cooney our lighting tech was taken away with the back seats of the motor and was nearly run over by a truck, and I must thank that driver - he pulled up directly behind us to make sure the accident scene was secured. Wolfie, our driver received shoulder injuries and the poor man had so many insults thrown to him because he was the driver. I still to this day drive with Wolfie and know that Alan's death should never come into his guilty world - it was an accident. We were taken to hospital in the area and counted our fortunes as we passed the pan that you must urinate in. We laughed and joked trying to make a miracle happen for Alan. The pan filled up so many times and the communication with Smokie and Alan's hospital got better. He was doing okay. All the time we were asking for updates on Alan's condition because he was airlifted to a specialist brain hospital. Things were bad, then things looked better. The swelling on the brain was going down which gave him some sort of chance. But it was not to be and the bad news came. Alan had died because of a punctured lung which had touched the heart and caused the heart to fail. Alan touched so many people's hearts and I am one lucky person to have known the real Alan Barton. Alan My Friend, I drink a toast to you. It may be 10 years to most but to me and John it didn't really happen yet. You took the trip that all folks fear and you are, and always will be, right here with the ones who loved you. God Bless, Sleep well. Terry PS Just about to open your beer. xxxxxxx |
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