Robert Sandall 1952 - 2010 My good friend Robert Sandall died this week. I knew him since 1977 when we put together our first group Blunt Instrument. We played together in the Blunts and then in London Zoo until 1980 after which Robert went up to Edinburgh to form a band called Epsilon.

Everybody knows that Robert was an incredible journalist. But in those days he was a hugely talented songwriter and visionary bandleader. I learned so much from being around him in those groups. His lyrics still ring in my head to this day. And if truth be told, he had a bigger influence on my singing and my songwriting and my musical worldview than anyone else, period.

George and I played with Robert in a short-lived instrumental band called the Riding Hoods. And Drew played drums with him in Epsilon. So he touched the DS3 in more ways than you might imagine.

Knowing that Robert was ill, we had organised a Blunt Instrument reunion in London for tomorrow. Bill Benfield has come over from Tokyo, Ed Shaw is coming up from Sandwich. Our roadie Az is flying in from Austria. We tried to get hold of Nick Aldridge (guitarist in London Zoo) but couldn't track him down. (Get in touch, Nicky).

So - typical of Robert to go and jump the gun. But we will be raising a glass to him tomorrow in his absence. An awesome guy.

I have written a personal appreciation of Robert in tomorrow's [July 25] Sunday Times (News Review section).  ¶ 7:14 am