'His heart was open to everybody' Black Country band raise money for hospice in memory of 'kind' musician
Six West Midlands musicians have come together to raise money for a cause very close to their hearts as a tribute to one of their own.
We Were Kings have recorded four songs in honour of 41-year-old guitarist and carpenter Andy Titley from Sedgley.
The band, which includes his brother Chris, 43, was formed after the old friends reconnected to play at Andy’s wake after he passed away following a terminal cancer diagnosis in July last year.
“His funeral couldn’t have happened without live music. Music was a massive part of our teenage years for both of us.
“It was the time of Britpop and indie and that led to playing the guitar and playing in bands.
“Andy was a great guitarist. He was self-taught and although he would make it up as he went along and had no idea what he was doing, the sound he got out of his guitar was incredible,” says Chris, who plays bass.
“When it came to organising the wake, I knew it must include live music.
“I contacted some of our old friends and they agreed to play. They turned up with their guitars and they were outstanding.
“The hearts and talent my friends have is mind-blowing,” explains Chris, who works as a skills and employer engagement officer.
Andy, who had been living in Barmouth, was supported by St David’s Hospice/Hosbis Dewi Sant. Staff organised a wedding for Andy and his wife Karen six days before he passed away.
“Andy fought all the way through and he always had hope.
“When nothing more could be done, the hospice held a beautiful wedding ceremony for Andy and Karen,” says Chris. We Were Kings is made up of Andrew Bowater, Alex Ashcroft, Alex Ohm, Chris Barton, Chris Titley and Dave Boddison.
The musicians have recorded four original songs for an EP, titled Message to a Friend, to raise money for the hospice.
“Andy played in a band called The Black Country Love Affair. The name We Were Kings comes from a song Andy wrote about him and me growing up in Sedgley called When We Were Kings,” explains Chris.
All of the members of the band, which played at Community Fest at the Newhampton Arts Centre earlier this month, hail from Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Dudley.
The EP cover features artwork created during an art therapy session, which Andy attended with Karen at the hospice.
“Andy was very creative and that was his last painting,” says Chris. "The picture is of him in nature/Wales, a place where he loved.
“He placed particular emphasis on his heart in the picture, and as unwell as he was he still felt his heart, and believed in love.
“That was a big message of his – to love one another. We Were Kings have tried to convey that message in our music, and naming the EP was a no-brainer – A Message to a Friend,” he explains.
The EP consists of four original songs – three are from the early 00s and focus on being young and navigating love, friendships, and life within the Black Country.
The fourth track, written this year, was shaped by conversations between Andy and Andrew Bowater. So far, the band has raised more than £1,700 towards their target of £5,000 through sales of Message to a Friend. Chris added: “There is a minimum donation of £10 but we’ve had people – complete strangers – donate £100, which has blown my mind.
“It’s such a warm feeling that people would do that without knowing us or Andy.
“I can’t explain how much it means to be able to raise a good amount of money for the hospice so that they can help somebody else to have the same experience as Andy and Karen,” he adds.
Losing his brother has left a “big hole” in Chris’ life and that of everyone who knew him, he says. “He was the funniest person I know. He was very caring, he never judged anyone and he would always give people 100 per cent of his attention. He was kind, gentle and his heart was open to everybody,” he adds.
He is keen to offer support to anyone who has been through a similar experience.
“I wished I could have talked to someone who was going through a similar experience so I want to help others by making myself accessible to people if they need someone to talk to,” he says.
“Not only are we trying to raise funds for such an incredible hospice, but we also want to deliver a sign and message of strength in friendship, community, love, and music,” says Chris.
Message To A Friend is available as a CD and a digital download. For more information, to purchase the EP or contact Chris, visit we-were-kings.bandcamp.com or see facebook.com/wewerekings
