Dear Bruce, it´s been over week now since I heard the news. They said you´d gone. How´s that even possible? I cannot even imagine what it must be like for your family. They must be inconsolable. Still, I wish to express my sincere condolences. I myself have only known you since you joined Runrig. But ever since, you were with me in good times and in bad. I could always rely on you to find words of comfort. When my life was a mess, you always had a tune to cheer me up. Now you´re gone and left a hole in my heart. No. Wait. Let me take a look. It´s not a hole, it´s a footprint. You left a footprint on my heart. It´s full of music, laughter and joy. I remember the first time I saw you live on stage. When you started to sing, I jumped. What a voice! I remember meeting you for the first time. I felt so nervous, I think I said something like “I carried a watermelon.“ You bore it with grace. At another occasion I made you smile. You were tired after a show but when I said the best tracks on the album were the ones co-written with your son, you smiled. A proud father you were. I remember your kindness. Every time I watch The Last Dance I cannot help but notice all those pets on the backs of fellow band members. Checking on them, making sure they were OK on this special night. I remember your sense of humour, your cheeky smile, the sparkle in your eyes and your shenanigans with Iain. And who if not you would have thousands sing Jingle Bells at the height of summer? You had this “something“. You connected with us, the Riggies. We welcomed you into our fanmily with open arms. And you delivered. From goosebumps to aching muscles, from sore throats to burning feet. You lead, we followed. You had this special gift to breathe life into a song, gave it heart and soul and communicated it to us, your audience. As it says in one of your own songs The wrecking ball crashes down on us all the sky falls, there are big walls we all need a reason we can pull through we all need someone In a way, you were this someone. Maybe not the only one but an inspiration for sure. A driving force to keep going, to hold on. I, for one, fed on the positivity you radiated from the stage and on your energy (I got caught for speeding twice, both times after a Runrig show!). I, for one, was moved by your music, the lyrics and the power of your voice – not just its strength but your ability to reach our hearts and souls. In pre-Amazon days I asked someone I´d never met before but who happened to have the same family name to bring a copy of your album “Of your Son“ back from Canada. Before it reached me it was carried in a backpack across the Rocky Mountains for weeks. Such was the power of your art. I do not know what caused you to dedicate so much time to touring Europe, being away from home for so long. Kim, Dylan, Jodi – I can only hope you find some comfort in knowing how your husband and father touched so many hearts on this side of the Pond. As you said at the Last dance “We´ll always take a little piece of each other with us“. I know I took a lot from you: You gave me some of my best friends, some of the greatest times and some of the most cherished memories in my life. Because it was live on stage that you worked your magic best. I can only thank you and your family for the time you allowed us Riggies. You made my life a little better. But what did you take from me? I hope it is my love for your craft. I cheered. I danced. I clapped my hands. I bought every CD, DVD and all sorts of merchandise. I really hope this esteem is what you took with you. You left your footprint, a footprint full of music, memories and friendship, not only on my heart. You are in our hearts and souls and minds. Your art is in our playlists and CD racks. In short, you are forever in our lives. We will remember. You put it perfectly in your last words to us Riggies when you left the stage after The Last Dance. Let me change it just a little to say goodbye to you: God bless you, we Riggies love you. Eva Gerner