TESSA WATTS On Tuesday night I learned that my dear friend Tessa Watts, former wife of my old MM colleague Michael Watts, had died from pancreatic cancer at her home in south west France. I’d known Tessa since 1970, when she was Tessa Siddons, the PR for Radio Luxembourg, a regular visitor to Melody Maker’s offices in Fleet Street, always on the case and clearly going somewhere. Indescribably lovely in her hot pants and t-shirt, blonde hair trailing, I think we all fancied her but the chosen one was Michael, with whom she had two children, William and Sophie. Not many MM wags earned the right to be honorary alumni of the paper but Tessa, brighter than any of us, was certainly one of them. That promise flowered into an extraordinary career as a pioneering figure in the emerging medium of video, heading up Virgin Records’ video production department where she juggled six-figure budgets, artist tantrums and Richard Branson’s autocratic leadership. Not to be messed with, Tessa established a paradigm for women in the male-dominated music industry, and I for one always watched my p’s and q’s in her company, aware that she’d pounce on an indiscretion or careless stereotype. Meanwhile, at Virgin and elsewhere, and as the head of her own video company, she created a vast legacy of work and friendships that are reflected in the words of so many who have left messages on her own Facebook page in the last 48 hours. Personally – and this is what hurts the most for me – Tessa was one of a dwindling group of close friends from my MM days who, to differentiate me from Chris Welch, still called me Charlie, never Chris, and whenever any of them pass on I feel terribly sad. RIP Tessa x.
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 13:10:35 +0000
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