BREAKING NEWS Deacon Blue star dies aged 64: James Prime dies days after he was rushed to intensive care following 'short struggle' with cancer
Deacon Blue star James Prime has died at the age of 64.
The co-founder and keyboardist of the band was rushed to intensive care just days ago but the reason for his hospital dash was unknown.
The band have now confirmed that James had been diagnosed with cancer as they shared the sad news that he had passed away.
The post read: 'We announce with great sadness that our brother, James Prime, passed away this morning after a short struggle with cancer.
'Thank you so much for the messages of support that you shared over the last two weeks, they meant so much to Jim, his family and us. With love, Deacon Blue.'
Last week, the band updated fans and said that their shows would still go ahead despite James' ill health.
The band have now confirmed that James had been diagnosed with cancer as they shared the sad news that he had passed away
The band is made up of vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, James, drummer Dougie Vipond, guitarist Gregor Philp and bassist Lewis Gordon.
In a statement shared to Instagram, they explained: 'Dear friends, we wanted to share some news with you about our brother, Jim.'
The band continued: 'Unfortunately, he is seriously ill and undergoing care in hospital. We would like you to join us in wishing him well and to share our love with him.
'We spoke to Jim yesterday about Deacon Blue's plans for the rest of the year, and he encouraged us to continue with love in our hearts and with his full blessing that the shows go ahead, even if it means replacing the irreplaceable James Miller Prime for the time being.
'Together with Jim's family, we want to thank all the nurses, doctors and ICU staff for their ongoing care, professionalism and compassion.
'With love, Ricky, Lorraine, Dougie, Gregor, Lewis and Tom.'
Deacon Blue are set to head of on their tour, The Great Western Road Trip, in September.
They are set to play Liverpool Arena on September 19 before rounding off the 15-date run in Glasgow on October 11.
The tour follows their latest album of the same name which was released back in March alongside a small run of theatre dates.
It marks 40 years since the band first formed and follows their 2021 album, Riding on the Tide of Love.
Ricky said in a press release ahead of tour: 'I love the idea that a circus coming to town is a temporary existence, a little bit of magic suddenly appears in the middle of a town or a village and then it goes away.
'It's very similar to what you do live. The live experience is so ephemeral, at the end of a show people lose all their inhibitions, and then it's over. You have to be there. That's what's magical about it.
'There will be two different shows, we're curating a show that changes and evolves, pulling out little surprises every now and again.
'The theatres are more intimate and give us a chance to bring out one or two things that we wouldn't do in the arenas. They give us a chance to play songs from the new album and songs from other albums that we have never played before.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Watch: Kate Lawler suffers nasty injury falling over hammock on live TV
Watch the moment This Morning presenter Kate Lawler injured herself falling over a hammock on live TV - forcing her to seek treatment hours later. During a live link to presenters Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley on the ITV daytime show, Lawler hit her ankle tipping out of a hammock, later revealing she had to treat it with an ice pack. 'Nice bit of solid wood I walloped my ankle on there,' Lawler replied to This Morning posting the clip on Instagram. 'Currently got an ice pack on it.'
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Pregnant Morning Live star Michelle Ackerley reveals ‘miracle baby's' gender after fertility struggle
PREGNANT Morning Live star Michelle Ackerley has revealed the gender of her unborn baby. The TV host, 40, announced her pregnancy live on air last month when she was presenting alongside Gethin Jones. 4 Sharing more details about her pregnancy, Michelle told Hello!: "I'm expecting a little girl in October and it feels very special. "When I found out I was pregnant, I told my husband, and he said this is a baby miracle." Michelle married husband Ben Ryan, 53, last summer. She previously praised her hubby, who is performance director at Premier League side Brentford FC, for his calm approach to becoming a first time dad. "He has been so chilled," said Michelle. "The thing is, I'm not really sleeping well at the moment so I've been waking up in the middle of the night at 3am and I've been taking it upon myself to wake Ben up and say this is what we are going to have to get used to!" The One Show and World's Strongest Man presenter has also been open about her fertility woes and struggles with endometriosis. The chronic condition sees tissues similar to the lining of the womb grow on the outside of it causing inflammation and pain. She said: "I wanted to share though as my journey with endometriosis and infertility is something I finally felt confident to start speaking about more openly last year - realising how many other women were going through similar experiences. "Feeling part of a community - especially when it comes to women's health can really make a difference. Inside Morning Live's Michelle Ackerley's rise to fame - and her TV presenter mum who helped catapult her into a household name "Even at the very start of this year I was gearing up for yet another endo procedure and trying to come to terms with the mental & physical impact they can have. "It has been quite the emotional rollercoaster. "The news of falling pregnant really came as a massive surprise to both of us. We still can't quite believe it. "And so in October, the start of a new chapter begins for @benryan7s and I, albeit with nervous and cautious excitement." Ben and Michelle - who have a ten year age gap - had been dating for years before they got engaged in 2023. Former rugby star Ben used to coach the Fiji National rugby team - helping them scoop a gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chelsee Healey watches in court as the father of her 15-month-old daughter is jailed for two years for role in 'wholesale' drug-dealing operation
TV star Chelsee Healey 's partner has been jailed for his role in a 'wholesale' drug-dealing operation. The 36-year-old Hollyoaks actress was in court to see Eddie Rainford, 32- father of her 15-month-old daughter - sentenced for supplying large quantities of cannabis. Chelsee, who plays Goldie McQueen on the Channel 4 soap, had tried to keep his identity a secret after they began dating four years ago, with only his first name being revealed to fans. She had previously described him as 'The One' and 'marriage material', saying she wanted someone who brought her 'peace and is drama-free'. But Manchester Crown Court heard how former Royal Marine commando Rainford, along with another man Jay Boyd, 28, had allegedly 'headed' an OCG (Organised Crime Gang) that dealt 'multi-kilos' of cannabis. Gwen Henshaw, prosecuting, described it as 'boutique' operation that involved selling various varieties of the drug, including 'Cali weed', 'Oreo Cookies' and 'Orange Cake' She said police heard Rainford and Boyd discussing 'taking 33 per cent' at a Costa coffee shop and that taking '4.5' was a 'risk'. Ms Heshaw said it was 'clear' each played a role in the operation and when warrants were executed at an address in Salford various small amounts of the drug were seized. Phone records showed the pair discussing drug deals and money and there were photos of large amounts of cash. In a message to a dealer who wanted to 'shift' different varieties of the drug it they were 'decent', Rainford replied: 'They're decent bro.' Ms Henshaw said there were references to '£10,000 plus' quantities of the drug and the pair were sentenced for selling 4.54kg, with a value of 'between £32,000 and £45,000'. 'It was clearly wholesaling, the Crown say, there was buying to pass on to others for distribution,' she said. Both Rainford and Boyd had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug between November 2022 and September 2023 - just four days after Chelsee was eliminated from ITV's Dancing on Ice. Rainford had been held on remand at HMP Forest Bank to await sentence after being recalled to prison. He'd previously been sentenced to six years for violent offences while serving with Royal Marines, court-marshalled and released from prison in July 2022. Mark Friend, defending Rainford who has three previous convictions for five offences, said it was not a 'sophisticated' operation and he disputed the pair had been part of an OCG. He said Rainford had served his county well in Africa, the Middle East and on the North Korea-South Korea border and been recommended for the special forces. He now wanted to lead a decent life with his partner and her two daughters and put his criminal past behind him, Mr Friend added. Tanya Alahi, defending Boyd, said, he was 'remorseful' and regretted his 'stupid mistake'. Judge Peter Horgan said it was 'inappropriate' to describe it as an OCG operation but nevertheless the drug dealing had spanned a ten-month period. The judge acknowledged that Rainford had served his country with distinction but said that 'for some reason' he became involved in dealing cannabis for financial gain. He sentenced Rainford to 24 months in prison and Boyd to 20 months saying only a custodial sentence - rather than a suspended one - was appropriate. Chelsee, who was sat in the public gallery, showed no emotion as her partner was jailed. 'Have you got what you want now?' she said to a journalist as she left court. 'Someone's misfortune'. After her Dancing on Ice exit, Chelsee had hinted at the tough time she had endured away from the cameras, saying: 'I feel, personally, there's been a lot going on with me that I've been struggling with, so I couldn't completely focus. 'I'm just really grateful, I've had the best time.' A source told The Sun that what Chelsee was desperately struggling with at the time was Rainford's being in court on drugs charges. She had had kept his identity under wraps since they began dating in 2021. His first name was revealed after the birth of of their daughter Cookie in December 2023 when Chelsee's Hollyoaks co-star Richard Blackwood shared photos of her baby shower on Instagram - with one showing Rainford. Chelsee also shared a selection of pictures on social media of Rainford on his birthday in April last year. And fans speculated that the pair, both from Salford, had secretly married when she referred to him as her 'husband'. Chelsee, who also has daughter Coco, seven, from another relationship, previously said that her relationship with Rainford was the 'most supportive' she'd ever been in. She told Closer Magazine in July 2023: 'My friends and family love him, and he's the first bloke I've introduced Coco to, which says a lot. I knew he was 'The One' within three to four months. I've kissed a few frogs, but he's definitely marriage material.' She said she'd bene in 'toxic and abusive' relationships in the past but with Eddie it was 'completely different' adding: I just want someone who brings me peace and is drama-free and this feels right. In April, Chelsee returned to filming for Hollyoaks after taking an extended break. But she sparked concern among fans after saying she was 'struggling', 'putting on a brave face' and was 'on a downward spiral' in a social media post the following month.
