Paul Hester 1959 - 2005

It really hit me hard, the passing of Paul Hester; a very sunny, kind man. His drumming was the supple backbone to Neil Finn's songs in Crowded House. Their music (including Paul's witty, wry "Italian Plastic", Woodface) helped (along with XTC and other fellow travellers) get me through the 90's, and remain one of the very best modern groups (although disbanded, the Finn Bros. carry on the tradition). As someone who has wrestled with depression, I am grateful to those who, in my life, have reached out to me when the "black dog" had his teeth around my ankle...I'm sorry Paul had to have such a terminally down moment.