Overend Watts 13th May 1947 - 22nd January 2017 RIP

Last year on 17th January we were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dale "Buffin" Griffin, drummer of Mott the Hoople and a first rate producer (especially his work on the Peel Sessions). He was 67 years old.

Last night I heard the news that another founding member of Mott The Hoople had passed away. Peter Overend Watts, bassist of the band died yesterday from throat cancer. He was 69 years old.

Besides music Overend was also known for writing and walking! His first book being about a journey along the South West Coast Path National Trail - all 650 miles of it (though 680 for Overend as he got lost a few times!).

Since backpacking the South West Coast Path, Overend has also completed all of the other national trails including The Ridgeway, Offa’s Dyke, The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, The Thames Path, The South Downs Way, Hadrian’s Wall (3 times), The Saint’s Way, The North Downs Way, Peddar’s Way & Norfolk Coast Path, The West Highland Way, The Great Glen Way & The Speyside Way, The York Wolds Way, The Tabular Hills Walk, The Cleveland Way, The Oxford canal, The Southern Upland Way, Glyndwr’s Way, & Wainwright’s Coast to Coast.

In 2008 he completed a marathon 1,250 mile walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 63 days - incorporating The Cotswold Way, The Heart Of England Way, Staffordshire Way, Limestone Way, Pennine Way, Cheviots, Grampians and Cairngorms.

Mambo Sons - Overend Watts

Overend was also a Producer and one of my favourite albums both he and Dale "Buffin" Griffin produced together

Side One

Side Two

And not to be forgotten of course is that Overend Watts produced what I think is one of the best live albums ever