Saving Amy (26 page)

In 2010, after I published this book, Amy got in contact with me. She told me that nobody understood her complicated life like I did.

When I asked how she was doing, she was defensive and talked about herself in the third person: ‘People make money [out] of her… Everyone makes money…’.

Amy found it so frustrating and so difficult to cope with the pressure to produce ‘the next record’ that she began to play with the idea that a quick exit would keep her name and music alive for ever. I tried to argue with her about this at the time, but, sadly, events have since proved that she was right.

On Saturday 23 July 2011, shortly after 4p.m. British time, the news began to filter through that the police had been called to an address in Camden Square, London NW1, following reports that a woman had been found dead there. Within a very short time the BBC and other
British media were announcing that the deceased woman had been identified as the singer Amy Winehouse.

As the crowds gathered outside the musician’s home, the overriding feeling was one of shock. Then the tributes came rolling in – through Twitter, Facebook, on blog sites, through every form of media:

‘She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life,’
said Mark Ronson.

Frank
and
Back to Black
producer Salaam Remi wrote,
‘Very Very Sad Day. Just lost a Great Friend and a Sister.’

Friend Kelly Osborne tweeted,
‘i cant even breath right now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!’

Singer Lily Allen wrote,
‘She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace.’

Comedian Russell Brand called Amy a ‘genius’, adding that her voice
‘was filled with such power and pain that it was at once entirely human yet laced with the divine.’

Lady Gaga tweeted,
‘I remember knowing there was hope, and feeling not alone because of her.’ And singer Adele added, ‘Although I’m incredibly sad about Amy passing I’m also reminded of how immensely proud of her I am, and grateful to be inspired by her.’

On Tuesday 26 July, the Winehouse family gathered at Edgwarebury Cemetery in North London, where they held a private funeral for Amy. Hundreds gathered outside. The service was held in English and Hebrew and ended with Amy’s favourite song, ‘So Far Away’ by Carole King.

Amy’s father, Mitch, gave a eulogy. His last words were:
‘Goodnight, my angel. Sleep tight. Mummy and Daddy love you ever so much.’

notes

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

1
Albert Gardens, near Commercial Road, London E1, in modern Tower Hamlets.

2
Charismatic leader of the British Union of Fascists (BUF), Sir Oswald Mosley led a march of his black shirt followers through Stepney, one of the largest Jewish communities in England at the time, on 4 October 1936, despite petitions to stop it as the black shirts had been terrorizing local Jews there for months. More than 250,000 east enders took to the streets to protest, resulting in the so-called Battle of Cable Street.

3
Classes to teach children about Judaism.

4
One of the leading performance art schools in London, named after its founder and principal Sylvia Young; former pupils include musician Emma Bunton (the Spice Girls).

5
Susi Earnshaw Theatre School in Barnet, North London.

6
Founded in 1959 by music maverick Chris Blackwell, Island Records quickly established itself as the label of choice with its diverse stable of artists. Its stable included everyone who was anyone in music – from Bob Marley, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Cat Stevens and Roxy Music to Robert Palmer, Grace Jones, U2, Pulp, PJ Harvey, DJ Shadow, Portishead, Free, Keane, Mika and Jack Johnson, to name but a few.

What Is It About Men

1
Tricky is an English rapper, musician and producer central to the trip-hop (a style of dance music, also known as the ‘Bristol Sound’ as it began there, played on electronic instruments and with a slow beat).

2
Salaam Remi had worked with the best-selling band The Fugees and also with Nas, an influential American rapper who Amy had been listening to a lot at the time.

3
‘Stronger Than Me’ in the line ‘Feel like a lady, but you my lady boy’.

4
Irving Berlin (1888–1989) was one of America’s most influential composers.

You Know I’m No Good

1
Singer, actor and performer Charlotte Church hosts a self-titled show on Britain’s Channel 4, featuring sketches, live performances from guests and by herself and also interviews with celebrities, such as Amy Winehouse.

Alcoholic Logic

1
‘Help Yourself’,
Frank
– ‘I can’t help you if you won’t help yourself; I can’t help you, if you don’t help yourself’.

discography

Album releases [title, release date, record company]

Frank
20/10/2003 Island Records

Back To Black
13/03/2007 Island Records

Back To Black
(deluxe edition – bonus disc) 12/11/2007 Island Records

Frank
(deluxe edition – bonus disc) 15/05/2008 Universal

DVD

I Told You I Was Trouble 06/10/2008 Island Records

Singles

2003

2004

2006

As a featured artist
[song, album, artist, chart position]

2007

Other featured appearances [song, artist, album]

2004

‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?’, Soundtrack,
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

2005

‘Best For Me’, Tyler James,
The Unlikely Lad

2006

‘You Know I’m No Good’ [remix], Ghostface Killah,
More Fish

2007

‘Cupid’,
Radio 1 Established 1967

2008

‘Fools Gold’,
Sex and the City:Vol 2, More Music

2009

‘Classics’,
Rhythms Del Mundo

This book would have never happened without the support and contribution of the following people:

Erbil Gunasti, Bitu Bhalla, Terri Pace, Carol Ng, Stephan Schwartz, Vincenzo Liguri and Bob Scott.

I would also like to thank:

Hassiakos Sotiros of Les Ambassadeurs Club, London

Azad Cola, ‘Stass’ Zelijko Stasevic and Ashley Shaw of The Westbury, London

Simon Scoot of Intercontinental Park Lane, London

Reto Stockenius, Nicholas Labhart and Beniamino Poserina of Villa Sassa, Lugano, Switzerland

Kevin Snaggs of Cotton Bay Village, St Lucia