Writing this seems entirely pointless, but maybe it’ll help make the past day or so feel “real.” Even if none of us want it to be.

Yesterday one of the most beloved and all round great human beings from the Isle of Man sadly died. Everyone knew Raz in some capacity. Some through music, some through Bushy’s, some through footie (his adored York City) and some through where he worked.

For me, I knew him all my life. He was Raz the Punk. He played in a band with my uncle, and they were super close friends. He’s always been there. My stepdad got me into The Cramps but I honestly don’t think anyone on this planet loved The Cramps as much as Raz did. I honestly don’t think anyone loved music like he did. He was always on the boat sailing over to the UK to see a band or 5- the ultimate band botherer. The friendliest and most supportive.

A few years ago I was at the METZ gig in Manchester, and I saw the outline of someone by the bar. “That’s not Raz is it?!” I took a photo, sent it to my uncle and he confirmed that Raz had come over for the gig. I went right up to him, and in that very busy and packed venue, I felt safe because someone from home was there. He was someone you would always look for at gigs and if you were lucky- you’d find him.

Raz made time for anyone and would back any band he listened to. He was known for his methodical planning when it came to the Rebellion Festival- that man could timetable the shit out of a lineup. I’m pretty sure that was his super power, and you best believe he probably saw every band he wanted to see.

Reading tributes to Raz from people not just on the Isle of Man truly shows how loved he is and how painfully missed he will be. It’s not sinking in that he’s gone. It’s never the evil bastards in the world that go too soon, is it? It’s always the ones with a good heart.

Sometimes I’d write about a band, and Raz would message me to say he listened to them and got tickets to go see them. That made me so happy, because someone as cool as him read something I’d written about a band I loved. He just backed music entirely and his love for live music was truly beautiful. I think from now on, I’ll be writing about bands with Raz in mind, and wondering if it would be a band he’d like or maybe go see. I’ll look for his distinctive silhouette at every gig I go to, knowing he should be there. Knowing the world will be less interesting and punk without him.

Wherever he is, I bet he’s watching the coolest band in the world. Maybe he’s lovingly band bothering someone there. Maybe he’s hanging out with Lux Interior. That gives me some comfort because I don’t think anything else will. I reckon my grandma will hang out with him too. She loved him, and he thought a lot of her too.

The Isle of Man will be a duller place now. I’ll miss going home, and him stopping to have a chat with my mum and I when we see him at work. I’ll miss his gig photos and videos (he’s the only person who could never be annoying by filming everything!) I’ll just really miss him. We all will. I’ve known him for as long as I’ve been alive, and for someone to be there one day and the next day just….not. Well, it’s brutal and it’s heartbreaking.

Whenever I listen to The Cramps now (which is a lot) I’ll think of Raz and how much he means to us. It may take some time to listen to them, but when I do- our Raz will be on my mind.

The photo above is of The Bastinados. The band that Raz and my uncle were in around 1987/88. The coolest band to have ever come from the Isle of Man.