We all had the pleasure at Charlie´s Bar of welcoming Sharon Shannon and family here in february. I went to the airport to pick up the troop, and within minutes realised there was a real character amongst them. It was Sharon’s partner, Leo, cracking jokes and looking forward to the week that was ahead. We had a great week just as he anticipated. I had long conversations with this dark-haired man with a real twinkle in his eye for life. He told me a lot about his life experiences and we pondered many questions about life itself. We were looking forward to meeting up for a pint during the summer and having a laugh and just catching up again. I didn’t know Leo very well, but in the short time that I did I liked him. It’s that simple.
Then in a very short message on my phone today from John’s daughter, I found out his life had been cut short, and as I write this some hours later, I feel so f*cking empty, sad, and I don’t know what else. I am thinking about Sharon, Leo’s offspring that he spoke to me about, but most of all I am thinking about Sharon, only because I know her personally and not his kids. Leo told me that they were together nearly 9 years or so and that they would be together until death. He was right.
My own brother passed away 10 years ago, much too young as well, and I asked him today to welcome Leo and show him the good haunts and the ropes in his new world.
Sharon – all of our thoughts are with you right now in Lanzarote. The reactions and the looks on the lads´ (at Charlies) faces as I told them spoke for themselves. It was and is nothing but extremely f*cking sad and complete disbelief. We are here for you, Sharon, and always will be, come hell or high water.
Leo, you are gone ahead of us now. Keep an eye on what we do and try to steer us in the right direction until we catch up with you again. It was a real pleasure to have met you, even though it was for such a short time. There was something so genuine and human about you.
Tog a bog e,a chara
May you rest in peace.
From all of us in Lanzarote
It is a very sad time for all of us here with the news that our friend Leo has passed away. I will always remember him as the warm and beautiful person he was, with the twinkle in his eye. My thoughts are also with Sharon, and I hope you know that we all love you and are here for you whenever needs be.
To be honest, I dont know what else to say, I am gutted, and I can only wish you (Sharon) all the best in the world, all the love in the world, and I hope things will eventually make sense.
Love hugs and kisses,
Dotts
It’s very hard to say something when somebody that you know passes away.
When I met Leo and Sharon and all the lads in february,I had the feeling that we (Charlies bar) were hosting not only a great artist, but also a nice and happy family on holiday visiting our big family here in Lanzarote.
That’s what it is.
Music gives you the opportunity to share your life with other people’s life and so your family gets bigger.
This is what i feel now, even though I’ve never had the chance to know Leo deeply (Barry and Shaky are right, that “twinkle in his eye”) I feel like we’ve lost somebody in our family.
Because we live of music(not only because it’s our job) every second of our life here at Charlies,through the music we’ll send every night on stage our love and prayers to Leo’s soul(may God take care of you) but also to the ones who were close to him.
Sharon, be strong and don’t forget you’re not alone, your family loves you.
With love
Massimo.
any word can come to my mind for express how i feel.
i met Leo only for a weeck in my life. but he was the kind of poeple that you conect in easy few seconds, i remeber meet in the night they arrived, before know hes the sharon’s boyfriend, we have a short chat about our band.
the day after i knew oficially as a sharon’s boyfriend, and he was so funny and friendly all the rehasals afternoon.
after the show we stayed in charlies close door, in a big and funny jam session with acoustic guitars, and then we start to talk about music and i told him.
-you look like george harrison in a beatles time
-ha ha is funny i love george
-me too is my idol
-i agree me too can you plas som of him staff?
-sure i said
and i star to play all things must pass, and after few seconds he ask me “here comes the sun” is a very special song for him and sharon, and i did.
we keep chating and drinking till late
next gig i layed on my own here come the sun for them specially.
the rest of the week was just fobulous, great guy.
and we talk to try to see us in our “irish week in”
every sms i got from sharon, leo told one joke to me, and i also send back special hugs for him.
after recording the dvd together we had a date to see us in they place.
my bag is already here, ready for go to ireland, the original plan was to see you in your house next friday and have fun, i could’nt imagine last nite when barry had to repeat me 3 times whats happened, i feel empty, dry cold in heart, the same i felt 6 years ago when my best friend ninyin passed away also. and nice concidence, the looked brothers, really, and both love mr harrison. i will take this bag in few hours to ireland but change the plans, i have to go to your funeral, the wors thing what i have to do.
yesterday we all played galway girl as a tribute to you, was a big hard version, but we did’nt jump as usual, our heart been completly brokes, we didnt look each other in hole song.
and now we have to give all our love to sharon, cos she have to keep he must very special smile i’ve ever seen, on and off the stage.
WE ALL ARE WITH YOU SHARON. WE LOVE YOU
Leo good luck in this new trip, whoever are there will open the big doors for you. and will chat with george harrison now.
you body passed away, your soul and energy will keep with us.
I’ll see you in my dreams
gai guru deva
Sergi or Sergie