Paloma Faith pays tribute to ‘dear friend’ as star bandmate Kevin Banks dies

Singer Paloma Faith paid tribute to her music director Kevin Banks, after the star’s ‘close friend’ and ‘bandmate’ passed away following a battle with a terminal illness. The Better Than This singer named her late friend one of the ‘most inspirational people in my tribe’

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Paloma Faith performing with Kevin Banks in 2017

Paloma Faith paid tribute to her “close friend” and bandmate Kevin Banks, as the musical director’s death was announced.

The singer announced the news to her Twitter followers on Friday, describing her late friend as “the most inspirational people in my tribe”.

“I am saddened to share the news of the passing of my dear friend, band member and MD Kevin Banks who was on tour after becoming terminally ill,” the Never Tear Us Apart singer said. at the top of his online tribute.

“He’s one of the most inspirational people in my tribe.”

Paloma went on to share a number of photos and memories related to the late artist with her followers on Twitter.

“We’ve traveled the world together, we’ve spent our days and nights laughing, meditating, working together and loving each other. I’m heartbroken that he won’t be on the next tour. “, the star continued Friday.

“The last tour was very special for all of us because we knew it would be his last.”

Captioning a photo of herself with Kevin – where the late artist was holding a guitar – Paloma wrote: “In the days leading up to his death we talked for a long time and I hug him as i want and tell him how much i love him over and over.

“He even married his wonderful girlfriend in his final days.”

The singer went on to reveal that three of the songs on her new record are inspired by her late friend and that she will be performing them on tour this year.

Paloma concluded that she wrote the emotional tribute online: “He’s not gone yet, he’s just going forward.

“I love you Banks and always will. Rest in peace in all the magic you have. Forever in my heart, Paloma x.”

Kevin is credited with a number of contributions regarding Paloma’s musical output over the years – including playing guitar on several songs on her 2020 album Infinite Things.

The late artist had also worked with singers such as Daniel Pemberton and Gail Holmes before his death.

Following Paloma’s tweets on Friday, some of Kevin’s fans and friends also paid tribute to him following his death.

“Horrible sad news. I went to school with Kev. Now he really is the coolest 16 years old, and AF is still great at 41. But that’s too young, even if you’ve flown how high. Rest in peace, Kev,” wrote one person in response to Paloma’s original post.

Another tribute read: “It’s surreal to know the passing of someone who once had a place in your heart like this. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Kev but we wrote emotional poetry. for each other when we were teenagers and for a while, that’s fine. I’ll raise a toast with him tonight, you’re leaving too soon.”

Paloma rose to fame when her debut studio album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, was released in 2009.

Since then, she has gone on to release four other studio albums, in addition to working in television on shows like The Voice.