Winehouse
- 1. NEARESTANDNEARESTAND DEARESTNUMBEDBYLOSSDEARESTNUMBEDBYLOSS THE last 72 hours have seen fierce criticism hurled at Amy Winehouses record label, management and worst of all, her fam- ily, over her tragic death. Why did they stand aside and let it happen? Where were the parents when she needed them most? Why didnt management intervene? Its the grieving curve, as a doctor will tell you, and blame is a huge part of the process. But Mitch Winehouse eloquently put all that misplaced criticism and wayward specula- tion to rest at his daughters funeral yesterday. During his eulogy in Edgware, at the crematorium in Golders Green, followed by a gathering at Southgate Synagogue, he han- dled himself with dignity and class. He held back his emotions as the day he feared for the past five years finally arrived. Mitch would be the first to admit he hasnt always handled the spotlight well. But I urge you to remember this. Hes a normal bloke a no-nonsense East Lon- don cabbie with a tongue that talks him into trouble thrust into the spotlight from nowhere. But I can vouch for the authenticity of every word. The moving, heartfelt tribute to his daughter on the most difficult day of his life. I was invited to the funeral by her trusted man- ager Raye Cosbert on behalf of the family yesterday morning. I need to be absolutely unequi- vocal about why I am writing about what happened inside. It is not a mawkish, claiming- of-credit exercise, boasting about being the only journalist there. This is my chance to explain how normal these people actu- ally are. They are an everyday family who happen to have had a hugely talented child. They havent been shouting about what has been going on behind closed doors because they were quietly trying to rebuild their daughters life. Hearing their stories at the Southgate Progressive Synagogue in North London reassured me about just how much was done to haul Amy back from the edge of an abyss in 2007. It was clear how close-knit Amys family are. A member of her touring crew pointed out that they all turned up together in the same numbers to see Mitch sing, just as they did to see Amy. The family doesnt just include aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Her man- ager is more of a second father with security, band, roadies, crew and real friends treated like brothers and sisters. Between them theyd brought Amy back from a crippling sub- stance and alcohol addiction. But sadly the damage was done. There was a conspicuous sense of frustration in the air at the Golders Green crematorium. You could see it on the faces in the garden of remembrance after a tearful service for the cre- mation. The sun burst out from behind the clouds and famous faces, wealthy record bosses and working-class relatives embraced. Bryan Adams cuddled Amys closest pal Tyler James. The world-famous rock star had reached out to help her after she divorced a man who doesnt even deserve a mention here. He gave her a place to stay in his Caribbean home to help her off heroin. Kelly Osbourne wept as she squeezed Amys mum Janis. Trusted producer pal Mark Ronson mingled with family and shook musicians hands. There was no sense of hierarchy or snobbery. All were united like a football team tasting a shock defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. Among them quietly efficient, hard- working and loyal PR men like Shane ONeill. Mitch shook my hand and thanked me for the sensitive cover- age. Polite, warm and grateful when it could have been a chance for a dig over years of difficult reporta. Over a bagel at the funeral Raye, a gentle giant of a man, talked softly about the tiny frame of Amy. Almost whispering, he said: She was only 4ft 11. Her body couldnt cope with what it had gone through. It has been hard to hear pundits on TV tarnish a proud man like Rayes name. He loved her like a daughter, and Mitch thanked him for what he had done in his eulogy. He said: Rayes our friend and brother. And more importantly he sits behind me at Tottenham. But Big Raye, ever the profes- sional, still hasnt started grieving. He had a job to do, and within 48 hours of his girl dying, he had put together a fitting send-off. It wont sink in for him for a while. He is still in work mode. You could hear his frustration as he recalled his last phone call to Amy. He rang her on Friday before he left for New York. The next call he got was from his wife, as he landed, to break the tragic news. He told some of her family over a drink how he walked through immi- gration and security and took a flight straight back to the UK. In between, he had the agonising job of breaking the news to Mitch. Mitchs eulogy paid tribute to Amys security men who would smash down walls for her. He said: Id trust them with my life. Theyd been instrumental in Amys recovery over the last few years. That sense of frustration once again that they hadnt checked up on her last Saturday morning. At the crematorium guests queued to shake Mitchs hand, embrace Janis and offer some comfort to Amys brother Alex. Universal Records boss Lucien Grange, widely regarded as the most important and influential man in the industry worldwide, waited patiently in line to pay his respects. And hes a man who doesnt wait in lines. David Josef, boss of the UK label, was ashen-faced. The dad of two young kids, the gravity of the Wine- house family loss was etched across his face. So much for the heartless clich辿 of money-grabbing music bosses. A fleet of cars took the congrega- tion on to Southgate, where the makeshift bar offered a choice of whisky or sherry. The alcohol remained almost untouched for 90 minutes. I indulged in my own little tribute but got the feeling booze was the one elephant in the room. It has been the silent killer in Amys story, while drugs grabbed all the headlines. The immaculate hall had no sense of a morbid atmo- sphere. A lot of happy memories were shared. Jokes about Spurs for- tunes and funny stories about Amy filled the air. Her beloved Scot- tish tour manager Curly and backing singer Zalon laughed about nerve- wracking nights in front of huge audiences. A crew member joked of Glastonbury and how they struggled to keep the singers white shirt clean before she went on stage. Jewish food was laid out on a row of tables, with fish goujons and smoked salmon bagels hoovered up by hungry uncles over a cuppa. As close family left for Mitchs sisters house, the band, crew, road- ies, security and pals headed off to raise a glass in Amys old haunt, Camdens Hawley Arms. The wake would go on long into the night. My outstanding memory will be speaking to Reg Traviss. Hes simply a broken man. He had helped turn her life around, and looked like he was feeling the pain of the loss more than anyone in the room. The dawning realisation that he had only two years as her boyfriend and that time had come to a sudden end. Still wide- eyed in shock, he spoke of the little things they were look- ing forward to. He had planned a family holiday with her and theyd shared their excitement about the wedding of a pal they were due at last Sunday. I said my goodbyes to Mitch, Raye and Reg and left. Over the last seven years it has been difficult reporting the turbulent life of Amy Winehouse for The Sun. I saw her in triumphant form and depths of despair but we always got on. She recently told Reg he was always all right with me. I liked him and thats enough for me. I feel terrible that I doubted Mitch, questioning why he launched his own singing career. Hes just a lively, popular bloke who enjoys a bit of spotlight and a sing-song nothing more sinister than that. And lets face it, we all have one of them in our lives. But as Mitch told me: I am now a father to a little boy, like he once was to a little girl and no one is qualified to question that love so look after it. If Ive learned one les- son from my dealings with the Wine- house clan over the years, there it is. RIP Amy. g.smart@the-sun.co.uk By GORDON SMART at the funeral Received a cuddle . . . Tyler James Laughed about old shows . . . Zalon Amy . . . with Gordon Loaned hols home . . . Bryan Adams Amy like daughter . . . Raye Cosbert Memory . . . snap at funeral yesterday BLAKES RESPECTAMYs former husband did NOT ask to be let out of jail for her funeral out of respect for her family. Instead Blake Fielder- Civil, 29, with Amy below, was visited by girlfriend Sarah Aspin and their baby son Jack at Armley Prison in Leeds. Burglar Blake split from Amy after two years of marriage in 2009. Sarah, 31, said later: He did not ask to be at Amys funeral. There is no way he would want to be there in handcuffs. He has too much respect for Amy and her family to do that. JANE MOORE: PAGE 15 l LETTERS: PAGE 49 Mingled with family . . . Mark Ronson Wept . . . Kelly Osbourne 6 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 2G