Russell Brand, Sharon Jones, Amy’s Mom, And Fans Grieve For Amy Winehouse
A day after learning that Amy Winehouse is no longer with us, Amy’s family, friends, and fans have had time to compose more heartfelt sentiments than can be conveyed via Twitter. Comedian Russell Brand struck a serious note for his friend, citing his own struggles with substance abuse in a lengthy tribute on his website. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (who toured with and backed Winehouse on Back To Black) issued a statement that called her “one of a kind.” And Amy’s mother, Janis, declared it was “only a matter of time” before Amy expired, evidently agreeing with The 27s author Josh Hunter. Hear more of what they said below.
In Brand’s tribute “For Amy,” Mr. Katy Perry says: “Whether this tragedy was preventable or not is now irrelevant. It is not preventable today. We have lost a beautiful and talented woman to this disease. Not all addicts have Amy’s incredible talent. Or Kurt’s or Jimi’s or Janis’s, some people just get the affliction. All we can do is adapt the way we view this condition, not as a crime or a romantic affectation but as a disease that will kill.”
He also calls her a “f***ing genius.” Read his full piece here.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings released a more formal statement:
“We are very sad to have lost Amy Winehouse today. She was one of a kind and we were fortunate to have had the chance to make music with her. She was always gracious and a pleasure to work with in the studio and on the road. She brought a lot of people joy with her voice and her irreverent personality. It is a tragedy that she was taken from us so soon when she had much more music to give.”
And perhaps most mournful of all, Amy’s mother Janis (eerily, the same names as the only other female in the 27 Club), told the UK’s Daily Mail that Amy kissed her and told her she loved her after they spent the day together on Friday. “They are the words I will always treasure and always remember Amy by,” Janis said, after admitting: “She seemed out of it. But her passing so suddenly still hasn’t hit me.”
The official statement from Amy’s family is as follows: “Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece. She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time.”
Meanwhile, fans visited Amy’s Camden home — where she died — to pay tribute with flowers, photos, cigarettes, and empty bottles of alcohol. Check out photos at the Huffington Post.
Further rumors from friends and witnesses of Amy’s last night of partying speculate that Winehouse did, indeed, die of a drug overdose — ecstasy, plus a lot of alcohol. However, we won’t know anything for sure until the autopsy results are in.
