“RIP Ranking Roger who sadly past away peacefully at home with family by his side early today. Roger was a fighter” > The Beat
“This is difficult. Words cannot express our sadness at the loss of our friend & brother. A loss to the world and to music certainly, but most keenly felt by those who loved him best. Deepest condolences to his family & to our Beat family worldwide”. > The English Beat
Un’altra dolorosa perdita. A 56 anni scompare Roger Charlery cantante dei The Beat e dei General Public. Ad inizio anno era stato sottoposto ad un intervento chirurgico per rimuovere due tumori alla testa e un cancro ai polmoni mentre solo un anno prima era stato ricoverato per un piccolo infarto. Dopo lo split degli (English) Beat – siamo nel 1983 – Roger forma i General Public con Dave Wakeling e membri di Dexys Midnight Runners e The Specials. Due gli album live realizzati come Special Beat (ancora una joint venture con gli Specials) e tra le tante collaborazioni spicca anche quella con i Big Audio Dynamite. Il figlio Ranking Junior (Matthew Murphy) seguirà le orme del padre e lo ritroviamo nella successiva incarnazione The New English Beat. A gennaio i Beat avevano pubblicato il nuovo album ‘Public Confidential’ tre anni dopo ‘Bounce’. Mentre è attesa anche l’uscita della sua autobiografia: “While Roger has been dealing with his health challenges, he has still found time to finish his biography with his co-writer, Daniel Rachel, and thus he is very proud to announce that it will be published by Omnibus Press this spring or early summer (exact date TBA)”.
Dave Wakeling > This is difficult. Words cannot express our sadness at the loss of our friend & brother. A loss to the world and to music certainly, but most keenly felt by those who loved him best. Deepest condolences to his family & to our Beat family worldwide
Billy Bragg > Very sorry to hear that Ranking Roger has passed away. Rest easy, Rude Boy
Mike Mills > So sad to hear about #RankingRoger. We loved the (English) Beat, and opened for them on multiple tours just so we could watch, listen, and learn. He and his mates brought a lot of joy into the world. R.I.P., Roger.
Lol Tolhurst > Unfortunately, too many of these to report lately – RIP Ranking Roger, a lovely man gone way too soon.
Flea > So sad to hear about Ranking Roger leaving us. I saw him perform with the English Beat and I was absolutely gone in the rhythm and the melody. 💔💔💔 what a great performer and singer. Loved his ‘Tears of a Clown’ so much and of course ‘Mirror in the ‘Bathroom. ‘ he took time to talk with me when I was a teenager and I felt like I was at the center of the universe. The rhcp opened up for general public on our first tour too. ahh man Rest In Peace Roger. He was a true rocker.
The Selecter > RIP Roger Charlery aka Ranking Roger. “Goodnight sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.
UB40 > R.I.P Ranking Roger. Big Love. UB40
Neville Staple > I’m devastated to lose Roger, my Special Beat partner! @SugaryStaple & I have been privately visiting him & his family, at every opportunity over the last 2 of wks, willing him the strength to recover again. Sadly the fight of the lion’s fire has gone out. My whole band and I are so saddened and I will miss Turbo so badly. Rest up Turbo (personal name we had for each other, or Double Turbo when we performed together)
