It is with a heavy heart that i tell you that a Sheffield legend Maurice"Gaspin Gus"Chapman has passed away a couple of evenings ago quietly in his sleep in hospital after a long battle with illness.Gus was the first proper Dj to come out of the city doing spells on radio in the region as well as running the sun sound club for many years along side his long time friend and collaborator John Firminger.He was much loved in the rock n roll fraternity and was a fountain of knowledge for rock n roll and country music fans well before 99% of people had even heard of the music Gus was unearthing,he was a good friend to my family particularly my Dad with whom he shared a deep friendship that stood the test of many many years,i became very close to him after my Dad passed away although i knew him very well from childhood.His sensitive kindness and awareness helped see me through a horrible time in my life........He was a gentle,kind,funny,beautiful soul that could be a rogue at time's but i loved him even more for it.He drank,smoked and lived life at a great pace and made no apologies for it either which is something i always admired in him.......His love and knowledge of music has been an inspiration to so many Sheffield fans and musicians over the years myself included,even if you have never heard of him there will be a musician who you will have seen that was inspired by him.His last great work was a book about the life and times of another great Sheffielder,Violet May that he wrote with Firmo.
Gus was 71 years old when he passed on he still had all his mental faculties intact and was texting me daft stuff or"have you heard THIS track by such and such"right till the end,he was a wild hellraiser with a big heart and i don't feel ashamed to say i loved him very much.
I can only add that he is already missed very much by so many folks and his like will never be seen again sadly,i will think of him always.I also wish to add my humblest and heart felt love to his brother Hartley and his sisters and brothers.I will add details of his funeral when i hear of them.thank you folks.
Rest in peace Gus.........you old devil xxxxx
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