Russell Brand has paid tribute to Amy Winehouse, talking candidly about his own time as a drug addict and mourning the loss of “a fucking genius”.
Writing for The Guardian, Brand describes first meeting Winehouse in the bars of Camden, part of a scene populated by wannabe musicians and borderline alcoholics and drug users.
At the time, Brand was shortly out of rehab himself and, although he would “banter” with Winehouse, regarded her as just another of “peripheral Camden figures Withnail-ing their way through life on impotent charisma.”
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Brand initially dismissed her claims that she was a jazz singer, thinking the genre outdated and irrelevant.
This changed the first time he saw her perform. Brand attended a Paul Weller gig at the Roundhouse by chance and what he saw that night changed his perception of Winehouse forever.
“That twerp, all eyeliner and lager dithering up Chalk Farm Road under a back-combed barnet, the lips that I'd only seen clenching a fishwife fag and dribbling curses now a portal for this holy sound,” Brand writes.
“She wasn't just some hapless wannabe, yet another pissed-up nit who was never gonna make it, nor was she even a ten-a-penny-chanteuse enjoying her fifteen minutes. She was a fucking genius.”
Brand uses the tribute to call for more help to be given to addicts, rebuking our society for failing to treat the affliction as the disease it is, writing:
“We need to review the way society treats addicts, not as criminals but as sick people in need of care.”
Tributes have poured in from other friends of the singer.
Mark Ronson, who co-wrote and produced many of Winehouse’s songs, said: “She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life.”
Kelly Osbourne wrote: “I can’t breath I’m crying so hard I lost one of my best friends. I love you for ever Amy and will never forget the real you.”
Tony Bennett, who worked with Winehouse, said: “She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent and has come to such an early end.
She was a lovely and intelligent person and when we recorded together she gave a soulful and extraordinary performance.”
Sir Elton John described her “one of the most seminal artists this country has ever produced.”
Robbie Williams added: “Tragic, tragic waste. The addictive force is so, so, so, so strong. There but by the grace of God go I. She was clearly trapped here and had to go home.”
And Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood said: “It’s a very sad loss of a very good friend I spent many great times with. We feel privileged to have known her and we will sorely miss her.”
Amy Winehouse's death makes her the latest tragic member of a club of rock stars who have died at the age of 27. "Club 27" includes Rolling Stone Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Doors singer Jim Morrison and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
Read Russell Brand's full tribute to Amy Winehouse here: guardian.co.uk
