Well, we saw the big fella off on Monday there – it was a turnout which I hope made James’s mum proud: family, neighbours, old work colleagues … plus representing The Massive: @el-hombre-malo, myself, Mrs Douglas, @Scottcrae, thee other Scott, Keith and Mrs Keith; and a few of his Sisters of Mercy (Heartland) mates, including one who made a superhuman effort to come over from Belgium for the occasion.
The priest started his sermon mentioning that when some flowers had arrived at the church (from the Heartland posse, it turned out) marked for “James Blast”, he had initially assumed it was a mistake!
@kaisfatdad of this parish did a great job – many thanks! – condensing the dozens of kind comments from this site into a single note which I included in a separate condolences card and gave to Molly. She was touched by the number of people there or passing comments, whom she’d never heard of.
His cremation service had some unintended nice James touches:
– it was at “The Linn Crematorium”, even though no-one in Glasgow uses the “The”;
– The building is wonderfully brutalist in style – just James’ cup of tea;
– The chapel has glass windows in a shape dangerously close to Thee Psychic TV cross.
Afterwards the Massive repaired for a couple of drinks to a hostelry round the corner from the old Victoria Hospital, the site of some pleasant memories for me visiting him on his (unfortunately several) stays there, sitting outside chatting while he happily puffed away several feet from the “No Smoking in Hospital Grounds” sign.
But this isn’t Thee Last Word – the Heartland posse have started up a James Blaast Appreciation Society on Facebook, complete with Patron & Honorary President: Molly. Take a look if you’re interested.
el hombre malo says
Douglas, thanks for co-ordinating all of this and for the lift.
Molly was greatly touched by the attendance from James’s online friends, many of whom (like me) felt we knew him well despite never having been to their house.
We have suggested getting together in the Laurieston, Glasgow to raise a glass in his memory on Friday 30th September, from around 6pm.
We will follow the tradition for these gatherings of compiling a CD (or cassette if that suits you better) for the event. We had a good discussion around this – including one suggestion of “music he would have said was PISH”. That is NOT a narrow field. My suggestion is that we work from the title “BLAST” – and interpret that however you like.
We have also invited those we know of his former colleagues and other pals, and the Heartland posse.
Douglas says
PISH – The Box Set, including:
Teh Be-atles
Hauntology
Dexys Midnight Runners
… and of course …
The Scottish Band
Tiggerlion says
Thanks for the report back, Douglas. You aren’t getting many comments but lots of thumbs up. It’s difficult to know what to say. I hope his mum got through it okay.
Douglas says
I know what you mean @Tiggerlion – I just thought it needed something resembling “closure” given all the kind words over the past few days.
His mum seemed to be as fine as can be expected – I suppose you don’t get to be a 95 year old Glaswegian woman without having some sort of toughness. It’s been noted that those of us in the vicinity should make a point of seeing her every now and then.
Beany says
Was James Blast not his real name? I often wondered…
Johnny Concheroo says
His real name was Bert Skaempfert
Sniffity says
Or Joe Floss?
Johnny Concheroo says
Edmundo Cross?
GCU Grey Area says
He was christened Klaus Wunderlich.
Sitheref2409 says
I won’t be able to make it, because of the travel budget
Can I suggest, from The Scottish Band, ‘Alba’, which is them all over, good and bad, or the rather touching (stop sniggering at the back) ‘In search of angels’?
Vulpes Vulpes says
Thanks for the full update. Really glad his AW chums could show their respects. Best thoughts to the family.
Jorrox says
I couldn’t make it. But 30th Sept is free at the moment so I’ll try for that. Good to see it went as well as these things ever can.
Iainiain says
I’ll keep an eye out for details of the 30th Sept. Should be able to nip through to Glasgow that evening, as things stand.
Cheers.
Jacob S Cracker says
Hi y’al,
This is somewhat late (like James sadly) so apologies about that. I just tried to find JB, hoping for a GFacebok account or similar but….. found this forum and it’s sad content concerning JB. I ‘new’ JB from The Word and later from a residual group that sprang up called Kings of Collapse. Lost touch about 3 or 4 years ago when KoC fulfilled it’s titular promise. JB and I never met and really corresponded privately but his online presence was enormous and warm. You could say anything to him and get a response that made you want to contribute more – always funny, never abusive (well, not so you’d be offended anyway).
He was one of the good guys and I would give him, as my eulogy, one of hos own echoed back “REVEREND”!
Junior Wells says
Good of you to post this – cheers Mr Cracker