A SKILLED guitar technician who inspired his family to fundraise has lost his fight with motor neurone disease.
Andy Gray, 58, drummer and technician to rock stars, died on Thursday after a long battle with progressive bulbar palsy which is a strain of the incurable disease.
His family, who helped raise £12,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, has pledged to carry on the fight.
His sister, Janet Parry of Prestatyn, who set up the fundraising blog My Brother Andrew, said: “He had a wicked sense of humour and was a great teller of stories often imitating friends and members of our family with hilarious results.
She said: “Music was his first love and he formed his band The Resistance. In the early 70s they followed in the steps of the Beatles by touring clubs in Germany gaining some notoriety after posing nude on stage, supposedly. The band reformed in 2000 with one of his original roadies, Brian, playing lead guitar.”
Mr Gray, who went to Prestatyn High School, set up a business, custom building guitars for rock legends including Rhyl rocker Mike Peters of the Alarm.
Ms Parry said: “He worked with a lot of famous people. When he was diagnosed with his illness in 2009 Resistance started playing gigs to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
“We’ve raised thousands of pounds, but we didn’t do it all on our own. He raised quite a bit himself, selling wrist bands and taking buckets to gigs. Once, his band donated their fees.
“As a family we were hugely proud of his efforts and enjoyed supporting his fund raising activities and intend to continue to do so in his name. We are going to miss him.”
Mr Gray, who lived in Denbigh, died peacefully at home with his wife, Jayne and son Jon by his side. He is survived by his sisters Janet Parry, Ann Walkden-Williams and brother, John.
A memorial service in celebration of his life and music will be held at Prestatyn Parish Church at 12pm on Friday. There are family flowers but donations will be split between The Motor Neurone Disease Association and St Kentigerns Hospice where Mr Gray received respite care.
Those attending the service are being asked to ‘wear a touch of red’.