Viola Beach were a band, like hundreds of bands across the country, that harboured a dream of making it big.
But tragically we’ll never know if the Warrington group would go on to achieve that dream, after a car crash in Sweden killed all four members and their manager Craig Tarry.
Vocalist Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin were on their first international tour when their vehicle plunged into a canal near Stockholm, Sweden in February. Tarry, who shared their unrelenting passion for music, was also inside.
Viola Beach’s journey ended far too early, but that doesn’t mean that their legacy has to – that can endure.
It’s already happening.
Last month Coldplay used their Pyramid Stage slot at Glastonbury to pay tribute to the young band, with frontman Chris Martin belting out one of their songs to to thousands of music lovers. Viola Beach have headlined Glastonbury, and with a bit of luck they might be about to land a number one album, too.
The four-piece’s posthumous debut was released last Friday, and at the time of writing they sit on top of the charts, with ELO about 6,000 places behind in second.
It’s important to mention that the record’s success is about more than sentimentality and its heartbreaking backstory. It’s a vibrant collection of indie tunes that offers an escape from the miserable weather that’s descended upon the UK in the last few days. The families say they took the decision to release the album so they could ‘celebrate’ their sons’ lives.
Martin Talbot of the Official Charts Company said: “Following the terribly tragic events of February, everyone will have been rooting for the Viola Beach album this week, so it’s fantastic news that it is doing so well – I’m sure we will all be keeping our fingers crossed that it can hold on at Number 1.”
The song ‘Swings And Waterslides’ made it into the top 20 after a fan campaign earlier in the year, but for those close to the late band and their manager, a no.1 album would be something they can cherish forever. We’re right behind them.
Purchase Viola Beach The Album here
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