Music scene uniting for tragic Leon

Leon Murphy, from Orrell, died last week aged just 29 and will be remembered with special tribute gigs at two leading local venues.

Musicians will take to the stage to remember guitarist and bassist Leon, who played in bluesy hard rockers Bamboo Rampage and punk-influenced act The Adjusters, at the Engine Rooms in Skelmersdale next month and then at The Old Courts in Wigan in April. Promoter Paul Maiden, who is organising the gigs, says Wigan bands and those from further afield who knew Leon are queuing up to play in order to pay tribute to him.

Paul said: “Leon was very popular and a really nice, chilled-out guy. He always had a lot of time for people and was also a talented musician.

“Hearing of his death was a real shock because he was such a young lad. He fought a long battle against the brain tumour.

“The response from bands has been excellent, I’m turning people away who want to play. I think I could fill about a week’s worth of slots to play for him.”

Leon was first diagnosed with glioblastoma seven years ago and was in remission for a time before the tumour returned in another part of his brain.

Well-known acts on the local scene including the John Player Specials and Serpico will play in Leon’s memory.

The gigs are at the Engine Rooms on March 11 and The Old Courts on April 29.

His funeral is at St Helens Crematorium on Monday.