Tributes have been paid to Jeff Fletcher, former guitarist in Manchester rock group Northern Uproar, who was killed in a traffic accident involving a lorry on 17 November.
Fletcher, 36, was hit by the vehicle while walking in Stockport. It is believed he was at the edge of the road checking oncoming traffic coming when the accident happened. “Our Jeff would not believe the amount of love and concern everyone is showing,” the band posted on Facebook. “He was a quiet man … Most that have met him say the same – a gentleman, talented and very, very funny. Our thoughts and love to Jeff’s family.”
Fletcher began playing music aged 11, and alongside Leon Meya, formed Northern Uproar in the early 90s. “Jeff was a gentleman and my friend since the age of five, we grew up together and went through school,” Meya told Manchester Evening News.
His family said in a statement: “We wish to remember our loving, caring, gentle giant Jeffrey Fletcher for his love of music, his talent on lead guitar and most of all, his infectious laugh.
“The outpour of love and wishes from friends old and new shows us how loved he has been and this is a comfort to his family.
“We cannot comprehend the fairness of a loss of someone who had such success as a young man to have had his life cut so short in such a tragic and sudden way.”
Throughout their career, the Northern Uproar toured with the Prodigy, Paul Weller, Cast, Black Grape, the Bluetones and the Charlatans. They recorded two albums with Heavenly and released a string of top-40 singles including From a Window, Livin’ It Up and Anyway You Look. The band split in 1999, but reformed in 2004. Fletcher left the group last year.
Northern Uproar released their fourth album, All That Was Has Gone in 2013.
