Roger Dean
[ Guestbook ]

John Dusty Dunsterville

Dear Roger what can I say, except it was a whole lot of fun knowing and playing some guitar with you. We met on so many oddball gigs. With the tele or that casio what a force to be reckoned with! Later we would swap ideas on Antonio Lauro stuff and weird jazz chords. Any music or guitar style was fair game to him.
But Rog also had a real family side and he was so proud of Pam, Marcus and Matt. A lovely man with a lovely family. Can you play Sugarfoot Rag on a harp?
...won't take you long!!
Farewell - John Dunsterville

John Watman

I met Roger in 1971 when he filled in for Ray Flack at a Country Sounds gig at the Skyline Hotle at Heathrow.

We stayed in touch and Roger went on to play many times with the Country Sounds, and then in the early 80's when I formed the Roxon Roadshow.

Roger also did a lot of session work with us at our studios in Watlington at that time.

Last time I saw Roger he was playing in a pub in Hanwell and he invited me up to sing a couple of Johnny Cash songs.

Roger could play anything, and really was one of the good guys.

Really sorry to hear of his passing, and my best wishes to his family.

John Watman.

Michael Falsey

Mary & I knew Roger through the gigging scene and he taught at Mount Carmel school for girls whilst Mary's daughter Yasmin was attending there. We enjoyed his music and his company on many occassions over the last number of years.
We deeply regretted his passing as he will be sadly missed by the many he entertained.

Our very deepest sympathy to his family.

Michael Falsey/Mary Morrissey/London

Roly Eales

Had the pleasure of meeting Roger through a good friend Dean and working with him along side Dean in a band once for only 1 gig. Seeing him play the few times I did I can only say that Roger was one of the nicest men you could wish to meet and as a player truly one of the best! My thoughts go out to his family and close freinds at this sad time and has made me relise that life is to short.
I Wish all of you the best for the fiture

Roly

michael o'donnell

to pam and family,vey sorry about Roger but im sure he is in a restfull place now,my last visit to see him in the hospice was quite emotional for me to see him not as his usual self,even though he still had a twinkle behind his eyes especially when he saw the cream cakes i brought with me knowing he always loved his grub!.It was a real joy working with Roger in his band bonanza i learnt a lot musicaly and although we may of had some scary situations at some questionable venue's he always said keep smiling which is always a good tip.To a great musician and a top man still hard to believe he is no longer here but sure he's still rocking somewhere. Pam i will pop in and see you some time soon and hope you'r all well from mick.

Les Payne

Roger was a lovely human being always a gentleman...I remember the gigs he did with me with fond memories.

Jake Jacobs

I shall always remember Roger as a friendly fun loving fellow guitar player.We gigged together a few times and i enjoyed every one of them.A great guitar player and a great loss.Cheers Roger!

Steven Adler

I met him whilst working on the QE2. All I can say is "What a nice man" with an undoubted love for music and fun.

Todd Allen

Sadly, I only knew Roger through e-mail communication. Last fall I had asked him for help with our Cyril Davies website and he was only too obliging. An obvious gentle man and gentleman…Au revoir…

Mel Miller

Hi Rog and bye Rog! Who I will always remember as a great guitarist and truly great friend. Thinking of you always!

Mel Miller,

Bass Player ( The Nu - Notes)

John Mayall

I'm saddened to hear that Roger is no longer with us. I can never forget the times
we had on the road in the early Sixties and what a fun person he was to be with. In
later years it was nice to get re-acquainted and he became a new friend to all the
guys in the current Bluesbreakers. Even when he was so ill, he never lost his sense
of humour and refused to let his pain interfere with his always upbeat outlook on
life. It's still hard to believe he's gone and I will miss him.

John Mayall

John Fitzpatrick

Roger Dean the man is gone but his memory will never die. A real gentleman and a brilliant musician.
When I say his website many years after returning back to Ireland little did I know the man I was standing beside me on stage playing his Casio guitar was a living legend on the UK music scene.
Never once did he mention the Hall of Fame musicians he played with over the years.
So long Roger.
You were the best.
R.I.P

Gus York

I last saw Rog when he brought his son to my photographic studio to take some shots of near fatal injuries sustained at a badly managed skateboard park, the poor lad had been impaled after a fall onto rusty
railings. This was around 1985 I think, and for no good reason I never saw Rog again..though I'm pretty sure he was pleased with the results?!
The last time I played with Rog was in an outfit called
'EASY', we recorded at Joe Browns' farm at Chigwell,
Essex, Rog played some amazing stuff! I wonder what
ever happened to the finished tracks? I still have some shots filed somewhere on that session.
Will always remember good times with you Rog 'cos
I can't really remember any bad ones.
Have a good journey old friend,
Gus York.

john pearson

Pam, so sorry to hear the sad news about Roger. We played together in "Easy" & had some good times playing & recording over at Joe Browns & Air studios. He told me all about your early days in Italy, some very funny stories
I've been living in Canada for 20 years, but still manage to hear "local" news from U.K. You guys have had some really trying times over the last several years, more than one family should have to endure. Please accept my most sincere sympathy over you & your family's great lost.
He was a lovely man & will be missed greatly.

Kev West

Thanks Roger, for the wonderful sessions in the studio. Hugely talented guitarist, very funny and an all round lovely guy. We'll always miss you but will never forget you. Rod Clark, Andy Field, Tim Marrioitt, Kev West.

Paul Tennant

I was a great friend of Roger Dean, we spent six years on and off on the QE2, we formed a great little rock band called The Maggots (picture on your site of Roger with Telecaster in front of television) you can see my left wrist on the picture. We played for charity (MS) and we had a ball. After leaving the ship we both stayed in touch and played several gigs together as a duo, and as you say he was a gentleman, with a sense of humour that was great. Roger had some hard times, he once told me that John Mayall blanked him once, and so did one other star from the sixties, who Roger eventually got his own back on. A case of he who laughs last..... When Roger had his car crash we thought he would get over it, he was that kind of guy but it obviously took more out of him than we all knew. About six months ago he called me up out of the blue and said he was feeling a lot better and he was playing guitar again, his memory was not the same but he was sounding more like the "Dean" we planned to record some stuff together, then my other buddy Tom Jennings told me he had a turn for the worse and to top it all his wife Pam had a bad turn also. I found out about his passing yesterday and I am so sad, I am glad to be able to say "he was my friend" and a nicer man you could not wish to meet. His love for Rock and Roll was phenominal and one thing always sticks in my mind, when we formed the band on the QE2 he said what shall we call ourselves? I nearly fell of my chair when he said "The Maggots" We were then tuning up and his statement said "near enough for rock and roll." Never a truer word said, so wherever you are Roger our thoughts are with you and no doubt about it you will be picking that telecaster like nobody else could. Your versatility was without question and you will be sadly missed

Labi Siffre

and so farewell Roger Dean
for me you’ll always be the singing bee
a good guitarist i suspect an even better man
in our brief acquaintance you played well
you were serious when necessary
and seriously funny as well

Steve Darrington

What a lovely gentleman! and what a great guy to make music and spend time with. Roger affected so many people in a positive way. He taught people not only how to play but, by example, how to be. Thanks for everything Roger, and love to Pam and the boys.

Joan Duff

Pam, Marcus and Matt:
I was so saddened to hear about Roger from Glen. You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I hope your wonderful memories of Roger will give you comfort and peace.
With much love
xxxx

Geoff Gibbs

Saddened to hear Roger has passed away after such difficult recent times. His 'Spike Island Backstep' inspired me years ago to really get into country music, & I still haven't mastered it yet! Met & played with Roger in later years, & found him to be a great friend.
God now has yet another great guitar player up there in his band.
Condolences to Pam & family.

Anne and Jack Halvey

Goodbye dear Roger a real gentleman. You be long remembered for the happy evenings listening to you play in the pig with bonzanza.May you R.I.P
Condolences to Pam and the boys

ALLAN(JACK)RUSSELL

I first met and worked with Roger in 1999 and had the pleasure of working with him in my band from 2003-2006.For me Rog was the complete guitarist and his playing was inspiring across many genre's of music.He was not only a great musician and a friend but also shared a great love of Brit Haute-Cuisine (Sausage,Bacon,Beans,Egg,Chips and 2 Fried Slice) A comedian and an absolute gentleman.R.I.P.
AllanRussell
Rabat,Morocco

john etheridge

I met Roger on the QE2 .He was with Joe Loss and I was with Bertice Reading.Roger was a great musician and gently humourous guy and it was always a pleasure to run into him, as I did all too infrequently, after the cruise.He was one of the first generation of British rock guitarists-pioneering and creative.Cheers Roger

Russ Sainty

Roger Dean, my dear friend, and lead guitarist with my backing group The Nu-Notes, in those heady 1960's days
Who would have imagined, that following our first meeting in Lew Davis guitar shop, Charing Cross Road, and my asking him to join the Nu-Notes, meaning he had to give up his proper job with Maples Furnture company, that he would spend the following 5/6 years with us, and following that would work with most of the greats of our business, British and American, followed by a little "GIG" with The Joe Loss Orchestra which lasted several years and then to be passing on his skill and talent by way of teaching the young.
How proud I am to have been the one who set Roger on this wonderfull journey. Our line up was Mel Miller (bass), Bernie Martine (Drums), Roy Toft (R. Guitar), Roger Dean (Lead Guitar) and yours truly up front on vocals. We were like family then, and still are to this day.
Roger dear friend, your were a great guitarist, and a super person with a wonderful sense of humour, your passing so early in life, is a great loss to us all, you have however left us with your music in various forms, not to forget all those wonderful memories. You will not be forgotten
God Bless You Rog,
RUSS, MEL BERNIE, and ANN xxxxx

Ed Cusick

Roger! You are the best guitar teacher anyone could have! I couldn't have learned that much from anyone else! The best guitarist to ever walk this earth. No one is or ever will be that versatile! A fantastic musician and a great friend to me and my family!
You will be so greatly missed!