Some of you may remember in a post on Underrated Bands ( this one Under-rated bands (2)) I talked about my favourite band, Y&T and their Lead singer/song writer, Dave Meniketti. Today, their bass guitarist and other original member, Phil Kennemore passed away from lung cancer. I'd the pleasure of meeting Phil a few times (Ill post a picture over the weekend of us) and he was not only the definitive rock star, bottle of jagermiester in hand with a cig in the other but he was one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet. I know that's often said but with him it was so true. He'd been in Y&T all 37 going on 38 years of their existence. To say losing him is devastating is an understatement. He was diagnosed early in 2010 so didn't play the Belfast gig in October this year. Whilst the band and him publicly painted an optimistic picture, behind the scenes he must have known. Y&T released an album in late 2009 and this song was written by Phil as the opener....called 'On with the Show'...

The lights go down
I take the stage
Living line by line
Know just what to say

But I never know what it's gonna be
A comedy, tragedy, a mystery

I'll play the fool
I'll play the king
Tonight, I'll play 'em all
There will be no curtain call

On with the show
On with life
On with the dream
I know I'll play it right
On with the show
On with life
If the world is a stage
Then all I've got to say
On with the show

The story's told
It draws you in
You're a star tonight
The show that never ends

You lost your line
Feel the spotlight dim
It's a long, dark fall
The drama just begins

Your star, it fades
The teardrops start to fall
This is the end
Another casting call begins

Phil wrote that so obviously knew - he played the remainder of his time as long as he could until 1/4 way through 2010 when he couldn't go on and went in for treatment. It's a strange feeling when someone you don't really know dies and you feel really down about it. I'd the same feeling when Ronnie James Dio died. Doesn't make sense - but yet it does. The closing of a chapter. Y&T might go on, who knows. But they won't be the same without crowd favourite Phil to be the consumate rock star, please the ladies, drink with the blokes and genuinely look like he's having the life you've love to have. RIP Phil

Sorry To Hear The Sad News Glenn.
R.I.P Phil.

Cheers fellas. Like I said its strange really. I've a few stories of the times I've met him that I've been thinkin off today. Just really brought home that life really has to be lived. LAst time I saw Phil in Belfast we'd just finished talkin to him an he'd a bottle of jagamiester in hand. Someone said "give me a drink Phil" in jest on the way out the door. he called the fella back and gave him the bottle. that was the last time I saw him.