Readers may remember the tragic coach crash that happened on the A3 in Surrey in September last year.
The coach was taking Bestival-goers home after a weekend of live music and festivities at Robin Hill Country Park.
Sadly, three people, Michael Molloy (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and coach driver Colin Daulby (63), died in the tragic accident. Whilst Zach Washington-Young suffered life-changing injuries and many others involved were also affected.
Rise and Fall
Liverpudlian, Michael Molloy was an aspiring singer-songwriter and at the end of last month, Sunday Best, Rob da Bank’s record label and sister company to Bestival, released ‘Rise and Fall’, a song written by Michael a year before his death.
The tribute single, which was performed by Michael’s friend Alex Evans, entered the Top 40 charts at number 38 last week.
Michael’s brother Joe Molloy said,
“It was Michael’s ambition to have his music recognised by the wider world. He never fulfilled that ambition so we, his family, are fulfilling it for him.
“Michael can never come back and we will never cease to grieve for him. We think about him every hour of every day. But Michael’s passion for music and his talent was one of the qualities which defined him and we want the rest of the world, through his music, to understand and appreciate in a small way just what a special human being he was.
“The release of the single is both in memoriam and in celebration and we wish to thank Sunday Best and all of the people who have supported Michael over many years. They know who they are.”
Ambitions for a No. 1 position
Joe, who lives with mother Frances, father David and younger brother Liam in Woolton, Liverpool, said the family wanted “Rise and Fall” to go to No.1 in the charts.
Michael’s mother Frances added,
“The release of Michael’s single will represent a small step in the long and hard job of rebuilding our lives. We will always be thankful for the fact that he was the happiest 18-year-old alive at the time of his death.
“He was fulfilled and full of hopes and dreams. One of those dreams was for his talent to be recognised. The release of “Rise and Fall” means that will now happen.”
da Bank: “Privileged to help”
Bestival organiser and BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank said,
“It’s obvious to me that Michael was a young and rare talent and that music was an extremely important part of his life. I’ve heard that he absolutely loved Bestival and had a great time at Bestival 2012 so I feel privileged to be able to help his family fulfil his and their ambition of getting Michael’s music out there.”
Michael mother has set up a Facebook Page in memory of Michael, where she regularly posts messages to him.
Digital copies can be purchased from the iTunes store and CDs can be ordered online at the Sunday Best website. Some HMV branches will also be stocking the CD single.
