Tony Ashton's funeral - Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London, 5th June, 2001

Dear Tony,

I'm the guy from Hell, Norway that you named Knuddly. I would like to offer these words to express the grief, but also thank you for the privilege of letting me be a close friend of yours.

I bought my first Ashton album in 1974, and I've been a fan ever since. In 1992 I met Bernie Marsden, and asked him if Tony was alive. "I think so," he said... "Wanna meet him?" Some months later the headliner of the Hell Blues Festival was a tribute band for Peter Green and I still can hear Bernie's voice:"And on keyboards, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Ashton, - Tony Ashton!"

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[This paragraph was left out from my speech in the church - to Tony's disappointment I suppose...]
To my surprise, Tony was very interested in aeroplanes. So when he heard I worked for Braathens Airlines, he expressed his affection for the Boeing 737-500's, but informed me that the CFM-engines had some humidity problems. (I didn't know this.) "This afternoon all the aeroplanes were grounded," he continued. "What?!?!" "Yes, they found cracks in the stewardesses!"
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Tony has visited Hell several times since then. Hell loved him, - and we still do! We loved him so much, he was awarded the Ambassador of Hell diploma in 1998.

Tony Ashton was a figure of personality of the kind that Hell Blues would be honoured to be identified with. An artistic idealist, down to earth and very popular. He has a legendary status throughout the music world. With a career that has consisted of a wide variety of styles and musical abundance, he has also succeeded in including art as a mode of expression.

As you all know, Tony was in possession of an enormous creativity, originality and a great sense of humour. By sharing these wonderful assets lavishly with them, he has successfully managed to capture the hearts of the Hell Blues Festival audiences. Through his appearance, but also his works, he expressed his love of the Hell Blues Festival. He has dedicated a huge painting and developed a festival motif "Guitar from Hell."

Today we had the pleasure to hear his "Big Freedom Dance". The ballad he wrote a few years back, dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. Three years ago, when I received a local cultural award, Tony was there to greet me. Late that night he sat at the piano playing and singing his songs in the bar at the Rica Hell Hotel.
I requested him to play this melancholy ballad "Big Freedom Dance". He fell into tears during that song, - couldn't finish it... We sat there holding each other, tears running for a long while... until he suddenly said: Bollox!

That song was dedicated to Lennon, but the story was Tony's own life...

Last October, I celebrated my 40th birthday after the Deep Purple concert in Hell. Tony was obviously weak from his disease, but he was The Maestro in the Birthday Party Band at the Rica Hell Hotel. He was shining in that band - and what a band: Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Miller Anderson, Bernie Marsden and Tony. He entertained, played and sang so incredibly well.

For instance: "The Weight", the classic The Band song. And one of his trademarks the latter years: "Stay". Oh yes Tony, couldn't you have stayed, "just a little bit longer?"

To my knowledge this was his last performance. The very last song they played that night was dedicated to Tony, by Miller Anderson: Miller, please allow me to quote from the lyrics:

It's been so hard livin', I'm afraid to die.
'cause I don't know what's happening beyond the sky
A long time coming, a change is gonna come

I last saw Tony in March when I followed him home from hospital and put him to bed. He was very weak, but cheering up everybody around him - as always!

Tony has been very fortunate to receive the love, strength and care from Sandra and Indira. Please accept the sincere condolences from your friends in Norway.

Tony is now in Heaven, God only knows whose leg he's pulling right now...? Hell will miss him - but there will always be a part of him in Hell, Norway.

Cheers and skål, Tony! May you rest in peace.

Knut Morten Johansen

Photos from Hell, Norway, October 4, 2000 - by Knut Morten Johanson.