Taken all too soon

The tragic early death of Amy Winehouse could have surprised few, but has affected millions of her fans left with a frustratingly meagre back catalogue from such an era defining artist.

A voice and a talent like hers should rightly have a far more substantial legacy than just two albums, 2003's promising Frank and Back To Black, which was an utter masterpiece that catapulted her to worldwide fame in 2006.

New material since then has been limited to a couple of covers, including the hugely successful Zutons cover Valerie with Mark Ronson, as she attempted to battle her demons.

I witnessed her struggles first hand back in 2007 during a fairly shambolic appearance at Southampton Guildhall in which she forgot her lines, left the stage several times and looked generally uncomfortable.

Later that year, she cut a forlorn figure backstage at Isle of Wight Festival.

Looking tiny and far too thin in a white vest and denim hot pants with her trademark beehive haircut, she appeared so nervous and so lost that I just wanted to give her a cuddle.

But then, just hours later, her set was so incredible that The Rolling Stones asked her to join them on stage for a quite spectacular festival finale.

That would be my final encounter with the songstress after her planned appearance at BIC in late 2007 was cancelled on doctor’s orders – and it is one I will never forget, a masterclass in soul.

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