Singer Chris Rea Last Video Before Death at 74

#chrisrea #drivinghomeforchristmas

Chris Rea, the singer-songwriter behind the beloved festive classic Driving Home for Christmas, has died at the age of 74 following a short illness.

https://youtu.be/rwrjHASPYlE?si=3W7p-DKkh181Jdas

A statement released by his wife Joan and their daughters, Josie and Julia, confirmed the news on Monday:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris, who died peacefully earlier today following a short illness. Chris’s music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind.”
Following the announcement, tributes quickly poured in across social media, with fans reflecting on his distinctive voice, his love of cars, and the poignant irony of his death coming so close to Christmas.
Just 22 hours before his passing, Rea shared what would become his final social media post: an image of a car driving along a snowy motorway beneath a road sign reading, “Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories.”
He captioned the post: “Top to toe in tailbacks. If it’s a white Christmas, let’s hope the journey’s a smooth one.”
Born in Middlesbrough, Rea endured a lifetime of serious health challenges. At just 33, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a battle that marked the beginning of decades of medical complications. Over the years, he suffered from peritonitis, diabetes, kidney problems, and a rare condition known as retroperitoneal fibrosis, which caused his internal tissues to attack one another.
At various points, Rea had part of his pancreas, his gall bladder, and part of his liver removed. In 2017, it was revealed that he was injecting insulin up to seven times a day. Despite these setbacks, he continued to work and record music. After suffering a stroke in 2016, he made a remarkable recovery and went on to release two further albums: Road Songs for Lovers (2017) and One Fine Day (2019).
Reflecting candidly on his health, Rea once said:
“I’ve had nine major operations in ten years. A lot of it is to do with something called retroperitoneal fibrosis… It’s completely unpredictable. It’s affected the colon, the pancreas, the gall bladder, the liver — and then I get a stroke.”
He also spoke openly about fame, wealth, and perspective:
“I made a lot of money, but you can dangerously let it lead you on… On days like today, the richest man in the world is the one who hasn’t got a bad shoulder.”
Rea met his wife Joan when he was just 16, and the couple remained together throughout his life and career.
He famously revealed the humble origins of Driving Home for Christmas during an interview with Bob Mortimer:
“I was on the dole when I wrote it. My manager had just left me. I’d been banned from driving. My now wife Joan had to drive down to London to pick me up in the Mini and take me home — and that’s when I wrote it.”
Although it later became one of the UK’s most enduring Christmas songs, Rea admitted he never wanted to release it, saying the decision was pushed by his record company.
Rea did not begin making music seriously until his twenties, when he learned to play guitar and joined several local bands before securing a solo deal with Magnet Records. His debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? (1978), included the US hit Fool (If You Think It’s Over), earning him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
While international success followed, it wasn’t until Dancing with Strangers (1987) that he achieved major commercial success in the UK. His 1989 album The Road to Hell cemented his status, with the title track becoming one of his most iconic songs.
Driving Home for Christmas was originally released in 1986 as a B-side to Hello Friend, before being re-recorded in 1988 and featured on New Light Through Old Windows.
Chris Rea leaves behind a powerful musical legacy — one rooted in grit, resilience, and deeply human storytelling — that will continue to resonate for generations.