Alan Barton

In Memory of Alan Barton

Alan was one of my best friends and It's wonderful to see so many of Alan’s friends and many fans, all around the World, paying their tributes on the internet so many years after his death in 1995. 

I first met Alan when I was 15 years old in 1969 when Terry Dobson and I placed an add for a guitarist on the wall of our local music shop. Within minutes we spotted 16 year old Alan and his friend Neil Hardcastle looking at our add; A great friendship developed that day which lasted throughout many years playing in the band which was initially known as Penny Arcade, followed by Love Or Confusion and finally Black Lace; I remained friends with Alan after I left Black Lace and Alan went on to replace Chris Norman as lead singer with Smokie.

Alan was Best Man at my wedding and Godfather to my children. There is not a week goes by, since Alan’s death, that I don’t think about him.

Our friendship lasted throughout his life, not only through our interest in music, we had some great fun towards the end of his life when we became partners in Squash, I miss the early morning (7.00 am) games of Squash.

It made him laugh when I used to tell him (through half closed eyes) that I didn't realise that there were two 7.00 O'Clocks in the same day.

The last time I saw Alan was the weekend before he went to Germany as the lead singer with Smokie, Alan rang to tell me that his son Dean was playing at a pub in Morley, he was so proud of Dean that night.

Alan was equally proud of both his sons but there was an obvious special bond between Dean and Alan through music. To Dean and Lee, Alan was a great friend and an even better Dad, your Dad would be proud of you both, whatever you do in life.
God Bless!
Ian Howarth."

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