Steve Strange: Memories of a loyal, kind friend
If ever there was a life cut short before it reached its full potential, it was the life of Steve Strange.
That might seem an odd thing to say, given that he was one of the most well-known faces of the 80s - lead singer of the band Visage, with classic hits like Fade to Grey, The Anvil, Mind of a Toy, and many, many more.
It was Steve Strange who was at the centre of the New Romantic movement. He ran clubs in London like The Blitz, which nurtured and encouraged extraordinary talents like the Spandau Ballet boys Martin and Gary Kemp. A place frequented by people like Boy George and David Bowie, as well as people with ordinary day jobs that wanted something a bit more from life. Whether that was the opportunity to dress how they wanted in an environment that supported creativity and new ideas. Or whether it was the chance to be part of a scene that included musicians, style icons like Molly Parkin and Pam Hogg, models, designers - in fact, anyone with a dream beyond the mundane.
It was Steve Strange who famously had a stringent door policy at his clubs. If you weren't dressed to impress you could forget about getting in, no matter how much you pleaded. And, of course, he once turned away Mick Jagger.
Steve Strange, born Stephen Harrington, was very much a Valleys boy. The family were from Newbridge and all his life Steve put a high value on friends and family. Once you were a friend of Steve's, that was that. He was loyal, kind and generous.
He and I were good friends and I was often included in Sunday lunches with his mum Gill and sister Tanya. He loved these occasions and being with his family was always very important to him. Then he was just another person around the dinner table - and, as such, easy to forget what an immense talent he was.
Steve had battled heroin addiction in the past. When I first met him, he told me how he had slipped from a life of wealth and celebrity to ending up at rock bottom.
But Steve never gave up. He was never anything other than courteous and charming. Gradually I watched him piece together his life again.
Recently he had been touring and looking forward to setting out on another tour later this year with the band. He had also recorded a new album with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, which received excellent reviews. He was someone that was looking forward to the future.
Had he lived longer, I have no doubt that he would have reached the top again. He may not have had the chance to do that. But what he did do was touch and inspire many lives.
Today we were given the chance to remember the man that was Steve Strange.
More: Colourful funeral held for Visage singer Steve Strange