Last updated 10:01, Saturday, 25 October 2008

Des Rogan, from Whitehaven, is a name well known on the music scene in West Cumbria as a great guitarist.

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Des Rogan and John O'Brien

Over the years Des played in many bands. His recent death prompted close friends Howard Bell, John O’ Brien and fellow musician Jimmy Bell from Salvador to help Timeline with details on the life of this much respected friend.

Des first learned to play the drums in the Sea Cadets. He then turned to the guitar in 1968 and played his first gig with a few mates in a band called Etherial Spirit, featuring John Davidson, Dave Fearon (who would later feature in Camelot), Shaun Kelly from Midstream Fame and Raymond Ford who plays at present with Society’s Child. The first gig was at the Royal Oak, Frizington.

Des went onto play with many bands during his musical career including Madonna’s band, a girl singer called Clare where Des played bass as Colin Nicol was on guitar. Colin still plays today in MT. Then there was the Arms Blues Band.

Howard Bell played bass guitar in a group called Skin Deep, with Des on lead guitar and backing vocals). Other band members were John McMean (drums) and Phillip Brown (rhythm guitar and lead vocals).

Howard told Timeline: “Des was one of the best guitar players to come out of Cumbria. He was versatile and could play anything from classic to rock.

“I spent many nights in Des’s company at his home in Hensingham jamming on guitar with him until the early hours.”

Des joined Camelot in 1977 as lead guitarist along with Jimmy Bell (keyboards), Mike Mingins (drums), Dave Fearon (guitar and lead vocal) and Lenny Fearon (bass)( sadly no longer with us). They entered a talent show, ‘Pub Entertainers of the Year’, won three heats and got into the semi-finals at Wakefield. The judging panel included Marti Cane and Lenny Henry.

The winner had the opportunity to play at The Royal Albert Hall with the now Dame Shirley Bassey.

The band came second which was a great achievement . Des’s son Steven has the trophy they won. After that, Camelot had the chance to go to Germany and Sweden, however due to family commitments, this didn’t transpire. Des and Dave Fearon then set up their own duo in 1980. Voyeur were a great club band and Des joined them later on guitar replacing Paul Nicol who plays with Weathered Rock (who recently played with Status Quo at Whitehaven Rugby ground). He also had a great time playing with the resident band at the Haven Club, Whitehaven.

When resident compere at the club, Jimmy Maclean decided to leave, Gary Hughes got the job as he was living near the club in Whitehaven and had played with a successful welsh band called Patchwork . There was the late great Billy Hartley (bass), Kiddamac (drums), Maurice Raey and Des was on lead guitar, Gary Hughes on guitar and lead vocals.

They also used to go out as Relayer and play gigs at the Calder Club and Social Club at Mirehouse. Gary had a really good rock voice and Des commented that he could now play the music he had always wanted to play but couldn’t before, as normal resident bands consisted of organs and drums.

Des, according to his friends, had banter, charisma and style as well as being a great guitarist.

He was well known for his one liners and his humour was second to none.

He was a one-off, they said, a family.

Although he hadn’t played on stage for a while, he always had guitars to play at home.

According to his friends, Des could have got a tune out of a rusty old can!

They told Timeline: “Des’s sudden death was a massive shock to us all.

“He was so well thought of in the music circle which was evident at the great turnout at his funeral.

“He may be gone but he’ll never be forgotten.”