Talk:Chris Rea

Rewrite help

This article is in need of a rewrite or at least a major tweak. I've started in on some of the more poorly expressed items, checking cite sources for some clarity and rewriting to more accurately - or clearly - reflect the actual facts. Don't know if I'll get to everything so, in the meantime, if someone else is motivated to dig in it would be appreciated. This could be improved to make it a better article all the way around. Thanks.THX1136 (talk) 00:51, 10 August 2019 (UTC)

For now everything seems fine, besides removing two reliably sourced sentences in the lead.--Miki Filigranski (talk) 20:11, 12 August 2019 (UTC)

I am mostly referring to run on sentence structure and, in other places, missing words which muddle the intent of the sentence. There are also places where information is kind of a jumble as far as organization goes - i.e jumping from one item to another that is somewhat unrelated and then back to another item. There are also several sentences that have a repetitive start to them - "In 2002"; "In 2004"; "In 2008"; etc. I've begun work on some of those instances. As things are here at Wikipedia, if any of my edits are out of line or inaccurate, please feel free to revert or edit further. I've got no "skin in the game" except to try to make the article communicate more clearly in its presentation of the facts. Thanks for your input, Miki.THX1136 (talk) 01:46, 14 August 2019 (UTC)

Claim Conflict

In the lead section it claims Rea first made it into the Top 10 with Road to Hell Pt 2. Later in the article it says The Road to Hell, which proceeded the Part 2 release, was his first No. 1 album. Both cannot be true. I removed the statement until it can be sorted out.THX1136 (talk) 19:14, 12 August 2019 (UTC)

You mistook a single with a studio album.--Miki Filigranski (talk) 20:07, 12 August 2019 (UTC)

Thank you for the clarification. Since the original sentence did not specify the nature of the release and there being an album by the same name I assumed it was referring to the album. My error and apologies. I did do another edit to the sentence to clarify the release as being a single since the restored sentence does not make that clear to the reader who may not have any knowledge of Rea's discography. Again, I appreciate your input Miki.THX1136 (talk) 01:38, 14 August 2019 (UTC)

Infobox image replacement

Wanted to take this up to the talk page first. Usually after the subject dies, their image on the infobox is updated to depict one of the subject during their peak years/younger years. Not sure if any of these are good younger pics replacement or if we should just stick with the current image.

• 
  Option A (2012; current image)
• 
  Option B (1978)
• 
  Option C (1978)
• 
  Option D (1980s)

TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 17:02, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

Stick with the current infobox image (2012), or this from the mid-1980s (which, uncropped, is used in the article). He was not at his peak in 1978 (debut studio album), was too young, and at the time was known for his career only piano-playing single "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", being wrongly marketed as a piano player instead of a guitar player. The infobox image must be from the mid-1980s forward and with a guitar.--Miki Filigranski (talk) 17:21, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

Personal thought!

I think that their debut pictures was always the best to go with. ~2025-42549-58 (talk) 20:13, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

Kinda agree, which is why I'm leaning towards Options B, C or D TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 20:45, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

Please give examples of deceased music artists whose infoboxes use images from their debut. --Miki Filigranski (talk) 21:36, 22 December 2025 (UTC)

I think Option D looks the best. A is too recent. Although B and C would be good considerations as well, they seem kind of blurry and they seem a bit too earlier than his peak period. Meanwhile D has a somewhat good quality, and is taken, perhaps, during his prime. (Since ‘Driving home for Christmas’, his biggest song, was made in 1986; around mid 80’s.) GuyMan529 (talk) 00:10, 23 December 2025 (UTC)

• Option D seems best as it shows him in his prime, seems fairly clear and colourful, and it gives a good view of his slide guitar playing, which will be of interest to aficionados. Andrew🐉(talk) 08:51, 23 December 2025 (UTC)

New section - Music style

On this and related albums/songs articles can be found various reliable sources, as well on the web, with which could be edited a new "music style" and legacy-kind of section. In that case, will list below Top10 songs according to the views (m=million) from Spotify and YouTube Music, so aside singles/songs compilations, charts and certifications, someone could have a list of songs for consideration according to the public (interestingly, being of older generation and specific style, many of his songs have fairly good numbers today, evidence that his popularity cannot be measured only by singles charting and certifications, probably also having a fairly good radio airplay):

1. Driving Home for Christmas, 664m - 152m = 816m

2. The Road to Hell, Pt. (I-)II, 60m - 96m = 156m

3. And You My Love, 11m - 145m = 156m

4. Looking for the Summer, 44m - 65m = 109m

5. Josephine, 46m - 57m = 103m

6. Fool (If You Think It's Over), 53m - 44m = 97m

7. On the Beach, 49m - 45m = 94m

8. Nothing to Fear, 5m - 30m = 35m

9. Auberge, 10m - 20m = 30m

10. The Blue Cafe, 18m - 8m = 26m

11. I Can Hear Your Heartbeat, 14m - 5m = 19m

12. I Just Wanna Be with You, 6m - 11m = 17m

13. Let's Dance, 10m - 1m = 11m

14. Curse of the Traveller, 3m - 8m = 11m

... Miki Filigranski (talk) 23:25, 23 December 2025 (UTC)

Daughter names

@Seasider53, ItsShandog, and Hogyn Lleol: there's no point removing names of Rea's daughters, Josephine and Julia, per WP:BLPPRIVACY. Rea dedicated to them same-named songs/singles "Josephine (Chris Rea song)" and "Julia (Chris Rea song)", their names are publicly known since forever and are regularly mentioned in reliable sources, and young Julia can be even seen in the music video of "Julia". I've made an edit with wikilinks to the songs, without mentioning their full names. Miki Filigranski (talk) 17:54, 24 December 2025 (UTC)

I don't mind the way their names are presented now, but when I removed them it also deleted their dates of birth, which isn't necessary to add. It looks fine as it stands now. ItsShandog (talk) 19:21, 24 December 2025 (UTC)

Ok, thanks, indeed such information (dates, education etc.) isn't necessary at all.--Miki Filigranski (talk) 23:17, 24 December 2025 (UTC)

I see I've been pinged on this, but for info, I actually restored the names since they are well documented, and included a Wikilink to those songs. Hogyn Lleol (talk) 14:33, 25 December 2025 (UTC)

Grandfather

@Qwirkle and Andrew Davidson: Chris Rea's grandfather Camillo was born on 6 October 1878 in Arpino, Italy and he is the person who immigrated and started the ice-cream business in England (his son i.e. Chris's same-named father was born in England not Italy), was not an "enemy national", but exactly a "victim of simple prejudice", more correctly, racism. He, alongside many other Italians in the United Kingdom, were deported by Winston Churchill because of Anti-Italian sentiment, and tragically died aboard the SS Arandora Star on 2 July 1940, sunk by the Germans forces in the Atlantic on its way to Canada. A commemorative plaque for the 13 Teeside victims, including among them Camillo Rea, was erected on 2 July 2009, and in 2013 Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon publicly apologized for the event (The Guardian, The Northern Echo, Middlesbrough Council, Teesside Live, Teesside Live). Miki Filigranski (talk) 23:16, 24 December 2025 (UTC)

Be that as it may, it doesn't have much to do with Chris Rea who wasn't born until 1951, which was 11 years later. Most of the sources listed don't mention Chris Rea while The Guardian source seems to be from the letters column. Andrew🐉(talk) 23:59, 24 December 2025 (UTC)

Sure, but the whole point is mentioning his grandfather in some way, because as it is, "to an Italian father, Camillo Rea (died December 2010), originating from Arpino in the Province of Frosinone", will certainly confuse a good part of the public into thinking that his father was born in Italy instead of being an Italian Brit born in the UK. In biographical articles on Wikipedia, it's common to be specific about the ancestry details, for example, in the article of American actor Jon Voight ("...was born on December 29, 1938, in Yonkers, New York,[7] to Barbara (née Kamp) and Elmer Voight (né Voytka),[8] a professional golfer.[9] ... Voight's paternal grandfather and his paternal grandmother's parents were Slovak immigrants"). Hence, as Chris Rea is an English music artist, the article should be re-worded "...to an Italian Brit father, Camillo Rea (died December 2010), and an Irish mother, Winifred K. Slee (died September 1983), as one of seven children. Rea's paternal grandfather was an Italian immigrant from Arpino in the Province of Frosinone".--Miki Filigranski (talk) 00:20, 25 December 2025 (UTC)

Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis: Which Date is Correct?

The article previously said that Chris Rea was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 33, which would have been in 1984. At 15:25 on December 2025, a temporary account changed the date of Mr. Rea's pancreatic-cancer diagnosis to 2001. Now I am not so sure which date is correct, or why this edit was made at all. Given that pancreatic cancer is really fast-acting, to survive 20 years (let alone 40 years) after the initial diagnosis would have been remarkable. Jim856796 (talk) 05:04, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

@Jim856796: There are some discrepancies in the reliable sources about the dating of the diagnosis. Currently, in the article it is said: "In 1994, Rea had developed stomach ulcers.[109] The following year, he "got peritonitis and nearly died. Facing the prospect of never singing, touring or performing in public again, he characteristically embarked on a radical career shift and went into movies."[26] Rea was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2001 and he underwent a Whipple procedure,[24][44][110][111] which resulted in the removal of the head of the pancreas and part of the duodenum, bile duct, and gall bladder.[23] After having that surgery, Rea had problems with diabetes and a weaker immune system, requiring him to take thirty‑four pills and have seven injections a day.[97] He underwent several subsequent operations.[23] Nevertheless, he found greater appreciation for life, his family, and the things he loved.[23][95]".

The claim that it was at the age of 33 is from Saga (June 2024?). In BBC (March 2010) is said that developed pancreatic cancer in 1994 and lost pancreas, duodenum and colon via the Whipple procedure in 2000, but other sources say it was in 2001 (including BBC in 2025, but also contradicting their 1994 date, saying "was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer aged 33"). In Independent (May 1997) is said that "two years ago he got peritonitis and nearly died" (i.e. 1995, and year before that got ulcers 1994). So, he had ulcers and peritonitis or with or without the diagnosis, in 1994-1995. It would be strange that he got the diagnosis, and seemingly didn't start the treatment (in the sense, there's no sign he slowed down his career, or visibly changed, both in the mid-80s and mid-90s). That only happened since 2001 (obviously due to the big procedure). However, maybe he did not have the diagnosis, but the procedure in 2001? Anyway, it is already remarkable that Rea survived it and was active until 2017-19 and lived till 74 (dying due to "short illness"), but having such a cancer since 1994, or even more, 1984, seems like a miracle, impossible, would say.--Miki Filigranski (talk) 16:26, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

Also see interview ne4me (from 2008, published 2010) "but after a severe bout of pancreatitis in 2001, Chris lost his pancreas, duodenum and gall bladder".--Miki Filigranski (talk) 15:40, 27 December 2025 (UTC)