Book of Celebration

We’re aware that some people couldn’t make it to the memorial service in Liverpool. We set up this online book of celebration to give anyone a chance to share their memories of Colin and his music, along with any messages for the family.

We have now closed the Book of Celebration to new entries but all previous entries remain below to view. 

589 entries.
andree barberat from pamiers wrote on 31st March 2016 at 4:16 pm
je suis effondree et triste
Roman from Saint-Petersburg wrote on 30th March 2016 at 9:30 pm
R.I.P. So sad
Rock07 from Aubenas wrote on 27th March 2016 at 5:19 pm
La chanson Wonderful life m'a accompagné pendant de nombreuses années. Je suis très triste en apprenant aujourd'hui la mort de Black.
Phil from Metz wrote on 26th March 2016 at 9:13 pm
So sad :(
RIP
David Joffe from Cape Town wrote on 22nd March 2016 at 9:07 pm
Loved Colin's music as a child in the 90s - it was a real solace to me. Music with depth, capturing a broad range of moods. Sad to hear of his passing.
Ricardo Iturra from Santiago, Chile wrote on 20th March 2016 at 9:00 pm
From Santiago Chile in southamerica, Black is part of my life. fly with angels and thak you for all!!!!
Jono from Berkhamsted wrote on 20th March 2016 at 6:33 pm
Stephen and Hey Presto are 2 of the songs which provided the soundtrack of my teenage year.Crafted to perfection and not really broadcast to a wider world.
Gone but will never be forgotten.
Dominion Theatre supported by Furniture the gig of my life.
RIP Colin
Thorsten Schneider from Hamburg wrote on 19th March 2016 at 9:00 pm
It is such a sad loss.
Every time I think of it, I just can not believe it.
So many years and so much love.
Your beloved family... - it just breaks my heart.
It´s hard to find the right words.

No one KNOWS why humans exist.
You could have your belief.
Some people do so, some don´t.
Some get it back. Some early, some late.
And some people never.

But what I do KNOW is,
that this world was much better with you, Colin.
So thank you for all the love and life you gave to the world.
Your friend in mind,
Thorsten

PS: sorry for my bad english or wrong grammar.
Isabel Mallart from Mijdrecht wrote on 18th March 2016 at 11:20 am
I'm so sad! But I'm glad we've a piece of him in his music.
N TIBBELS from NEWBURY wrote on 14th March 2016 at 10:06 pm
I been a fan of Colin s work since his first ep, and the wonderful life is one of my all time favourite records. I wrote to him once to complement him on the songs on 'are you laughing yet' and I'm honoured to say I got a hand written letter back telling me about the recording process and a wry couple of lines at the end. If I find the letter I will scan and send it to you. His music meant a lot to me. Lots of love to the vearncombe family. Fly up to the moon Colin..
fernandez marie-carmen from villers sur mer wrote on 10th March 2016 at 5:49 pm
Colin Vearncombe was and always be a beautiful artist, deeply human and unique. So talented... We will miss him terribly, we will miss his music and his wonderful deep voice. RIP Mr Vearncombe and thanks for all the joy and wonderfull songs you've offered us
Pawel from Sopot wrote on 10th March 2016 at 12:25 pm
I remeber You when I was 13 in 1987 and I still have the same feeling while listening "wonderful life"- hope, feeling of journey somewhere to unknown, and most of all feeling of beeing young.... it's funny I came back to Your songs recently mayby last year and I was surprised and happy that You still perform your music.....but now I read that You are gone....I am deeply touched by it
TG from LA wrote on 10th March 2016 at 5:53 am
Just feel empty. A friend in my head. Will ALWAYS be one of my top favorites. Gorgeous voice. Gorgeous lyrics. Fly like a bluebird with Bowie ❤️
c. wrote on 10th March 2016 at 2:15 am
Colin's music has been an anchor in my life, especially "History of rock & roll", and it will always mean the world to me. Thank you so much.
Gary Darbyshire from Worcester wrote on 9th March 2016 at 10:37 pm
I was deeply upset when I heard the news of Colins accident. I think it came not long after Bowie, however I wasn't a big Bowie fan but Colin, well that's another story.

My wife and I saw Colin only once @ Ron Scott's in Birmingham. It was a tremendous gig, I think I had a tear in my eye for most of it, on the one hand because of the voice live and one the other for a talent largely unrecognised. We had a quick chat with Colin after the gig and found him to be charming and genuinely nice.

We've been listening for over 30 years and will continue to do so until our last breath. For the record "Let Me Watch You Make Love" is one of my top 5 tracks of all time.

I hope Colins family find comfort in the love that the fans had for him and the place he has in our hearts.

Love and best wishes, Gary & Loraine
Paul Emery from Oxford wrote on 9th March 2016 at 1:36 pm
Hi, I bought the Wonderful Life album in release and then never looked back. I still return to a lot of Colin's work but mostly the album Comedy which is one of many overlooked classics by him. My favourite song by Colin is Sweet Breathe If Your Rapture from the Black album. It always makes me smile. I always think "Wow! That really should have been a hit single " on every listen like I do with many songs by Colin. I'm a songwriter who's never experienced fame. A source of frustration and contentment similtaneously for me. I got how Colin seemed to sound frustrated that his later work got ignored by the masses but equally I understood that he was happy to continue just writing from the heart and not be a slave to the pop industry. I think I got him a lot from interviews but ... Maybe not. Anyway we've lost a lot of great songwriters this year and I think I'll miss Colin probably more than I miss Bowie. He was a voice from my youth who I really could connect with. I hope his family find some small piece of strength knowing that Colin made an impression and that people did not forget him after the hits. He was writing magic right until the end. Rest in peace Colin and thank you for breaking into my life with your melodys and staying in my soul still now you're gone.
Janine Smith from Blandford Forum wrote on 9th March 2016 at 11:46 am
A tragic loss but a remarkable legacy, thank you for your music, you are greatly missed.
Tim from Kiel wrote on 8th March 2016 at 8:15 pm
Wonderful life is one of the best songs of the 80ies. I heard it a 1000 times and it`s get better and better. A song for the Eternity....
Poly wrote on 6th March 2016 at 11:51 pm
Saddened to learn of Collins passing. This is a most tragic turn of events and he will be missed. My brother Michael knew Collin during the 80's and they worked together on several projects. I still have the record that my brother brought me from England, "It's a Wonderful Life" and I have been hooked ever since. Sadly we have now lost both, my brother Michael and now Collin. My deepest condolences go out to everyone who is suffering this heartbreak. We have lost yet another great artist. RIP Collin, you will forever be remembered, loved and appreciated.
paul troalic from st lawrence wrote on 6th March 2016 at 12:47 pm
I was and still am a massive fan of Black and Colin. Wonderful Life started it all and has remained my favourite of all. His albums just got better and better and were always so thought-provoking. Sat in bed listening to Comedy the other evening and it made me very emotional, not only because of his death but the words of the songs are so acute. We'll miss you Colin aka Black. RIP.