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Shane Meadows has offered a whole hearted tribute to singer/songwriter Gavin Clark, who died earlier this week.
Writing on Clark's Facebook page, Meadows describes the shock and grief he feels: "How do you capture in words, what the death of someone you love means to you, means to his children, his family, his friends. The only person I ever knew who had that capability was Gavin."
"His music elevated my early work from student tat (in the early 90’s) into something resembling art, he’s penned at least one unforgettable song for pretty much everything I’ve ever made and his latest, as yet unreleased songs, are his greatest and have once again become the emotional heartbeat of my latest project."
"Anyone who knows his work, knows his pain, anyone who met him, will never forget him and for those that saw him play live, his voice remains tattoo’d in their heart. No PA system could contain him, no recording could capture him and I know I will never meet anyone like him again. Gavin I love you so much brother and I miss you like frikk already."
As previously reported it was announced that Clark had died earlier this week on the singer's Facebook with a plea to respect the family's request for privacy.
As well as being part of the folk band Clayhill, Clark composed work for a number of Meadows films, including his cover fo The Smiths 'Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' that closed This is England. The pair's most prominent collaboration was in 2009's The Living Room, which documented their friendship.
James Lavelle, who worked with Clark on his UNKLE project, said in a statement: "It is with great sadness and shock to hear today of the tragic and unexpected passing of friend and collaborator, Gavin Clark. Gavin was a beautiful man, a wonderful friend and father.
In a recent interview with Noisey, Meadows praised his friend's unique gifts. “Gavin’s stuff was right up there with people like Nick Drake, Tim Rose. He seemed to be in that mould but was twenty-one, living in a field in the middle of Staffordshire."
Gavin Clark's final album Beautiful Skeletons was released to critical acclaim in May 2014.
Listen to Beautiful Skeletons by Clark on Rdio.com below
