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EXCLUSIVE: John Earls spoke to Chris Rea in this wide-ranging interview just days before the star died
Chris Rea's "Driving Home For Christmas," released in 1986, has become a beloved festive anthem, a surprise to Rea himself who initially hoped Van Morrison would sing it. Inspired by a German easy listening tune, the song gained mainstream popularity decades later through streaming, featured in TV and charity campaigns.
Chris Rea candidly shared that he wrote "Driving Home For Christmas" while under a driving ban, finding humor in the situation as the song captures the relatable frustration and hope of holiday travel. He recalled a lively 2014 concert where he spent £12,000 on fake snow for the audience, reflecting his own Christmas spirit despite the venue's cleanup costs.
After suffering a stroke in 2016 and collapsing on stage the following year, Chris Rea has not performed live since. However, he is now slowly recovering and has started writing new blues and jazz instrumentals, also considering a third volume of his "The Road To Hell" albums, indicating a musical revival.
Hailing from Middlesbrough, Chris Rea began his music career after studying journalism, teaching himself guitar. Despite a Grammy nomination for his 1978 hit "Fool (If You Think It’s Over)", he prioritized creative freedom over US chart success. His life has been marked by a battle with pancreatic cancer at age 33, leading to diabetes, which provided him with new life perspectives. Supported by his wife Joan since age 16, Rea remains grounded, giving away gold discs to charity and valuing music above fame.
Chris Rea has recently released "The Christmas Album" and is determined to continue his musical journey, reassuring fans that he has "plenty of music left in me yet," indicating an active and creative future despite past health setbacks.