Chris Rea, ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ singer, dead at 74
Chris Rea, the singer best known for his festive anthem ‘Driving Home For Christmas‘, has died at 74.
His death has been confirmed by a spokesperson, who revealed, “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris.”
The message continued, “He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Rea was born in Middlesbrough in 1951 and released 25 studio albums over the course of his career, which lasted more than 50 years.
In the late 1980s, he established himself as a huge star in the United Kingdom and scored two consecutive number one albums with 1989’s Road to Hell and 1991’s Auberge. In total, he sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
For many, Rea is known primarily for ‘Driving Home for Christmas’. The festive track was originally released in 1986 as a B-side, but two years later, he released a re-recorded version on the compilation, New Light Through Old Windows, which helped it become a cherished Christmas favourite.
Remarkably, it took over 30 years for the song to finally enter the top ten of the UK chart in 2022. It is currently at 30 in the UK Singles Chart, which was announced on December 19th, after a resurgence in streaming during the build-up to Christmas Day.
In a recent interview with the Daily Express, Rea reflected on the track, admitting, “It’s a frustrating song, but it’s also hopeful and comforting.”
Hilariously, the Middlesbrough native also revealed that he was banned from driving when he wrote the beloved Christmas song, sharing, “It’s funny, because I’d just been banned from driving when I wrote it. But I was feeling good at the time too, and people say they can hear that infectious feel-good mood when they hear it.”
Rea had taken a step back from performing in recent years after collapsing on stage in Oxford in 2017, which sadly proved to be his final live performance. He had previously suffered a stroke in 2016.
Prior to his recent health issues that led to his retirement from touring, Rea had survived pancreatic cancer after being diagnosed in 1994.
During the Christmas special of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, Rea made a guest appearance and opened up about his health issues, noting that 1994 had been his “most successful year” in terms of his career prior to the diagnosis.
“That took me…Well, I haven’t really got over it,” Rea admitted to the hosts after sharing the details of his surgery before adding of his other health woes that came after cancer, “Type 1 diabetic, I have to take 34 pills a day, and then, after all that, kidney’s gone.”
His last recorded studio album, Road Songs for Lovers, arrived in 2017. However, he later shared, One Fine Day in 2019, but it was comprised of tracks that had been recorded in 1980.
During an interview with Saga, Rea said of his career, “I gave up, years ago, trying to predict hits. My career is like a mountain range – up and down, without time for the occasional plateau. I must have written thousands of songs. But I don’t want to fall in to the trap of thinking that it proves anything.”
He also explained why he was never swayed by the bright lights of the showbiz industry, “I was never a rock star or pop star and all the illness has been my chance to do what I’d always wanted to do with music. And I don’t keep any posters or memorabilia in the house. I’ve given most of my gold records away for charity, so there’s nothing on the wall.”
Rea heartwarmingly added, “I have learned, over the years, to be happy.”
Rea is survived by his wife, Joan, who met when they were both 16, and their two daughters, Josephine and Julia.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.