I’d been a Runrig fan since I was 5 years old; they are the band that made me want to be a musician. Aged 8, I was at Donnie’s farewell and the future of my favourite band looked bleak. Then along came Bruce; I remember hearing him for the first time and thinking how powerful his voice was. Then I remember being down the front of a gig at York Barbican on my 12th birthday, and Bruce spotted me; I must’ve been one of the youngest members of the audience at that time….a nod, smile and a wink my way, and I knew from then on that this guy appreciated every single member of that audience. Not only was he a fabulous singer and songwriter, he was a great frontman, taking to Runrig like a duck to water. He kept the music we loved alive, but brought a renewed energy to the band too. The fit was perfect, and you never felt like you were just watching the show, you were part of it. In fact, Bruce injected a different dynamic into Runrig, allowed them to explore new avenues and styles, and took them in a new direction, as well as opening up their music to new audiences. I noticed a far larger demographic of people at Runrig gigs in later years, a testament to their enduring, growing appeal. I read the news on the 6th September with disbelief. At first I wanted to think it was some horrible, twisted Facebook hoax. But as the realisation that the source of the news was legitimate, my heart sank. My thoughts are with the Guthro family, his friends, and or course his 5 band mates who spent 20 years giving us enjoyment. Thank you for the years we shared.