It is only now that I hear, with huge sadness, that bass player John McKenzie has died. John, who defied his illness way longer than his doctors thought he could, loved his family, his friends, his wine, his Arsenal FC and, more than anything, his music. Rest in peace, dear John.

John, who'd played and toured with Wham!, Dr John, the Pretenders and Bob Dylan, didn't think it below himself to sit on a number of sessions for me and our mutual friend Richard Preston in the late 1990s and early 2000s; on this, for example. https://louisphilippe1.bandcamp.com/album/my-favourite-part-of-you

This was typical John: rock-solid, Mr Dependable, with a beautiful, deep tone (he loved his 5-string bass guitar), guaranteed to inject sway and groove in any beat you put his way - and knowing exactly how much to use and project of his art to better serve the song.

Not long ago, we'd planned to go to an Arsenal game together at long last, but illness struck again. Richard and I also set aside a couple of bottles for the next meeting of his private wine club. We'll open them later and raise a glass to his beautiful memory. With love.