What a weekend.
Last week, My cousin Ken and his wife, Libby, allowed me to stay at their caravan in Llangennith. It's somewhere I've known since I was 6 years old. My family holidayed here with my auntie and uncle.
It is a little slice of heaven is Llangennith (bar the Jellyfish, the beach bums, the dog shit and the odd storm). The perfect place to see the TOTAL ECLIPSE of the Sun, not the heart.
I witnessed the Perseids Shower and it was so magical watching these stars zip across the sky.
I can't say I didn't shed a tear.
But on that note, Saturday I returned to Swansea, To the Mumbles to watch the coffin of Gaynor Sullivan, née Hopkins, AKA Bonnie Tyler pass through Newton and Mumbles and return to her home.
It was very emotional to see the hearse pass by with a woman/friend/legend I've shared the stage with, shared food and wine with, gone through the first lockdown flight wearing masks and shared a cwtch with.
She was a wonderful human being, and in all honesty, I'm so going to miss the times I got to share concerts, trips and moments with her and my great mates in the band.
Bonnie was as down-to-earth as they come. She wasn't afraid to tell you if she felt something wasn't right. She was never short of heaping praise upon you. She found time for everyone, and I mean EVERYONE.
There were times when I'd turn up in the restaurant and she'd exclaim, "What the hell is going on with your hair"?
No one, not even my mum could say that to me and get away with it, but Bon was not only my Boss, but like a big Sis who you respected.
Another time she dressed me down for having TWO starters whilst us having a meal.
It just happens that I ordered Steak Tartare, and T, one of the Crew gave me 3 oysters. I pleaded my case and eventually Bon accepted "Ow, Two Starters....you're taking the piss". Fair play, She was quite fair and never took advantage of the promoter.
Never a Diva. We were all on the same level as Bonnie. After all she kept saying "She's only a girl from Skewen"
Some Girl Eh!
On Sunday I joined Mal Pope and a host of artists like Ray Taff Williams (who was in Bonnie's band in the 70's and to me, one of my guitar heroes with the band EYES OF BLUE and THE NEUTRONS. Taff is a legend),
Steve Balsamo, Owen Money, Kirstie Roberts, Karl Morgan, Moli Edwards, and many more.
It was a wonderful event at Oystermouth Castle honouring Bonnie Tyler in the area where she spent many years living, and an area very dear to a lot of my great friends.
In the evening I met up with The Bonnie Tyler Band, both Current and previous members, The crew that served her well over the years and it was a very moving emotional meeting of a team of great humans, but incredible musicians and techs.....who all descended upon Swansea to pay their tribues to Bonnie on Monday the 17th August.
On Monday, I got out of bed not having slept one Iota. I was finding sleeping over the weekend a challenge and sunday evening, the evening before Bonnie's funeral.....well.....I was in a complete daze. Nothing to do with the alcohol consumed the night before.
Monday morning, 6.30am I raised my head knowing, today we say goodbye to the legend that is Bonnie Tyler.
I made my way to meet the band, and we walked over to St Mary's church in Swansea. A little like Santa....they were checking the list....TWICE to make sure we were on it...and we took our seats.
Only Men Aloud performed two songs...but to me....the people that made me attempt to contain my tears were
Roger Bell and Matt Davis.
Roger discovered Bonnie back in the 70's. whilst working for Valley Music and told Ronnie Scott about her. INCOMING.....a Deal with RCA Records.
It was Ronnie and Steve Wolfe who wrote "My My HoneyComb" Bonnie's first single, and then "Lost in France" and "It's a Heartache"..Two Songs I was lucky enough to perform with Bonnie and The Band of numerous ocassions.
I worked for Roger on a few ocassions as Ronnie felt Roger's input essential in finding new artists....AND....There were so many he brought to the table. A very good ear, as they say...for a talent.
Matt Davis, Has been Bonnie's Road Manager, and Management for quite some time.
Matt would always fire me an email to ask what keyboatds I required, as once he was a Keyboard tech to one of the Keyboard players that preceeded me into the Chris de Burgh Band.
Matt has been on the road with the band constantly, and watching him deliver his speech, made my heart miss a beat.
Like us all, life will never be the same again.
After the funeral, I walked with some of the guys across the City and told them
"If you come to Swansea, You have to do Joe's Ice Cream".
Thankfully there wasn't a whinge in sight and everyone loved it.
We then went to the wake of Bonnie's at the Brangwyn Hall, a venue where I've watched bands from
Deep Purple to 10CC, to Level 42, to Bebop Deluxe, Cilla Black to the Dooleys. An Iconic Venue.
Speeches were made and a 1 hour film Montage of Bonnie's work.
I was sat at the table with all Bonnie's band, past and present, each one a legend in their own right and monster players.
Bonnie's Crew were sat with us, as were some of the wives. These Guys are top of their game.
We are, A FAMILY....
and that is how I see the Bonnie Tyler Show. A proper family where each one has msasive love and respect for each other.
Each one looked out for each other and the reality today, having spent yesterday not celebrating my birthday....despite people whispering "Happy Birthday"....it wasn't a day to celebrate my life, but the life of a class act.
A worldwide legend who more down to earth than anyone I've ever met or worked with. I was proud to put my her name in my list of artists that I've worked with,
I'ms so Proud to have grace the stage and added my keyboards and noodling to her classic hits...but most of all......I was humbled to have been allowed to share her space and time.
Some of the Texts I got after gigs made me cry as her praise made me feel I was worth something....
Two Swansea Souls in the Same time bracket.
If I lived my life again.....I would have chosen to walk the same path, because if I didn't.......I would miss the opportunity to share the stage with one of the world's most incredible voices and human beings.
Sleep well, Gaynor. You made such a difference in everyone's lives and especially mine.
Sws Mawr cariad X
© 2025 Nigel Hopkins Music.