Comments on: James Candy RIP

By: Brucey

Brucey — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:34:20 +0000

I know this may seem late but I just feel that I would like to share some of my experiences with ‘Candy’

I first met James in 1999 when I worked with him in Portishead and at the time I was a very shy young bass player and I would badger him all the time about what it was like to be in a band and would ask him questions and he was always helpful and he had this way of making you feel that you could achieve anything.

I was honoured enough to share the stage with him and as a bass player a few times and it was always a breeze playing with James
and it was at this time my own playing and confidence had much improved which had rubbed from James’s professionalism.

We kept in touch sporadically over the years and I had spoken to him about filling In for a couple gigs for the band I was playing in at the time but for one reason or another It didn’t happen which looking back now was a real shame. We shared a passion for all things musical and remember going to many many gigs and drum clinics together which he would always study in such detail.

I was lucky to have met James at that that time in my life and he was a massive inspiration to me and apart from being a great musician he was also somebody who could talk to anybody about most subjects and I always had a great respect for him. My only regret is that I didn’t play alongside him enough.

Two years on and I still think about James and I just feel lucky that I can wake up and play music and don’t take anything for granted.

By: Liz Palmer

Liz Palmer — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:39:03 +0000

Over a year now but reading all these comments has made me cry again. Still missing James terribly – still cant delete his number from my phone.

Still cant accept it….just cant and dont think I ever will. So so unfair.

My love to his family and his many friends.

By: Andy Gleadhill

Andy Gleadhill — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:27:06 +0000

A year on and James, we still think and talk about how lucky we are to have know you.

RIP

By: calum macleod

calum macleod — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:13:57 +0000

James was the first person I met at the Rhythm Bath Spa Course 2000, and after a few minutes it felt like I was talking with someone I had known all my life. His enthusiasm and humour immediately put me at ease, and all of a sudden I began to look forward to the rest of the week a whole lot more. Funnily enough, the next two people I met were also called James, we all hit it off straight away and spent much of the rest of the week together. It was one of the best weeks of my life with some of the nicest people I’ve met( James Candy being very much one of them)- and being able to be able to immerse ourselves totally in drums! Talking about music, and swapping stories about Vinnie and Carlos Vega. After one night out in Bath, James slept on my dormitory floor. I remember marvelling at his ability to sleep on a cold, hard floor and then bounce out of his sleeping bag the next morning with great energy and still look immaculate! + he was the only person I know to have Gadd’s “Fifty Ways” DOWN. Although I regrettably lost touch, I have thought of James often and kind of always assumed that we would hook up again some time and carry on without missing a beat . It was just today by chance that I picked up a copy of Drummer magazine and learned of this terrible loss. I am still dazed by the news and feel terribly sad. Lots of Love.

By: Thomas Lang

Thomas Lang — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:06:12 +0000

When I met james in 2000 he immediately struck me as someone special. He was passionate, ambitious and driven. He was smart, funny and he was a real pleasure to be around. We kept in touch after the course and I later taught him at my house in London. James was extremely talented, focussed and totally humble. Teaching him was easy and so much fun.
I remember thinking that he really had all the right stuff to be a huge success in this business and it was a joy to watch him grow as a musician and learn with such passion and enthusiasm. I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a very special man and musician. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.

By: Gracie Pepworth

Gracie Pepworth — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:56:42 +0000

James had been teaching me the drums at Ashton Gate Primary School for the last couples of years.
Lessons were fun to come to when I new he was going to be there. I loved his colourful collection of converses and he always noticed when I wore mine to lessons too.
He always said nice comments when I got a new beat right and I remember him saying at the end of every lesson ‘don’t miss me too much’ and I would always say ‘I won’t’ but I will now.
I will carry on practising on my drum kit and perhaps I might be lucky enough to be as good as James.

Gracie Pepworth
Age 9
Ashton Gate Primary School

By: Maggy McCormack-Thomas

Maggy McCormack-Thomas — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:52:59 +0000

I’m maggy and james taught me drums for a bit no drum teacher wil ever replace him.
his loss is terribele and i will think of him when i play the drums he helped me so much how could anyone forget james,
i will sertenly not…

maggy mccormack-thomas 10
ashton gate primary school

By: Alex Wingrove

Alex Wingrove — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:19:25 +0000

Im Really sorry to hear that james died he teached me for 3 years and every lesson i got better because of him. Air Balloon Hill Junior School Will sadly miss Him. James really helped me he told me all about his concerts.

RIP

Alex WIngrove 12
Hanham High School

By: Brandon Neale

Brandon Neale — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:31:20 +0000

I had only been drumming just over 4 months
when i started i didnt know anything but
james taught me so much he was a excellent
teacher no one will replac him for me.

R.I.P.

LOVE BRANDON (aged 11) ashton vale priamry school

By: Jack Dumper

Jack Dumper — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:26:26 +0000

Today my mum told me the sad news that James has passed away. He had taught me how to play the drums for over a year now, he was a great teacher and very funny.

I will miss him greatly and my lessons will never be the same again.
R.I.P

Love Jack Dumper (aged 11) Ashton Vale Primary School