Driving to the concert, I received a call with the sad news that GORDON WALLER had died of a heart attack, at the age of 64. We had the privilege of having getting to know Gordon personally, as he had been a Special Guest, by himself, at The FEST numerous times many years ago, and then more recently, in the historic reunion of Peter and Gordon in the past 3 years. We were honored to be able to be a part of that and to see and hear them together again was truly special.
Peter Asher has issued a statement and we wanted to share it with you here, in its entirety.
Gordon played such a significant role in my life that losing him is hard to comprehend – let alone to tolerate.
He was my best friend at school almost half a century ago. He was not only my musical partner but played a key role in my conversion from only a snooty jazz fan to a true rock and roll believer as well. Without Gordon I would never have begun my career in the music business in the first place. Our professional years together in the sixties constitute a major part of my life and I have always treasured them.
We remained good friends (unusual for a duo!) even while we were pursuing entirely separate professional paths and I was so delighted that after a hiatus of almost forty years we ended up singing and performing together again more recently for the sheer exhilarating fun of it. We had a terrific time doing so.
Gordon remains one of my very favourite singers of all time and I am still so proud of the work that we did together. I am just a harmony guy and Gordon was the heart and soul of our duo.
I shall miss him in so many different ways. The idea that I shall never get to sing those songs with him again, that I shall never again be able to get annoyed when he interrupts me on stage or to laugh at his unpredictable sense of humour or even to admire his newest model train or his latest gardening effort is an unthinkable change in my life with which I have not even begun to come to terms.
He was a great part of a great team.
I was immediately taken to A World Without Love upon reading this.
Thanks for sharing Peter’s words. And thank you for bringing Gordon to his many ‘Fests – and finally him and Peter, together. It was wonderful to see them. Many, many thanks.
I’m so sorry to hear about Mr. Waller’s passing. I so wish I would’ve had a chance to see him and Mr. Asher together again.
My condolences to The Waller family, and to Mr. Asher as well. I understand totally what Mr. Asher is feeling, having lost my 29 year old son, 4 years ago.
The loss is endless, but Mr. Asher I promise you Gordon will be with you always. Embrace it.
All My Loving,
William Allen White
Milwaukee, WI.
Having been a Peter & Gordon fan, I looked forward to actually meeting him a couple years back at a BeatleFest. In addition to his performance, they had a table set-up for him to sell CDs & photographs, and to do autographs. I bought a vintage 8″ x 10″ promo Peter & Gordon photograph and requested he autograph it. Well, let me preface this by saying it was sort of apparent that Gordon was NOT having a good ol’ time at the table, for one reason or another. I just kind of got the feeling he’d rather be ANY place else than that table. So, apparently, it was now my mission to turn ol’ grumpy sourpuss into someone a tad happier. So, he had a bunch of different color Sharpies for him to use for autographing. I believe silver, blue, red & black. Gordon just almost inaudibly spit out, “What color do you want?” “Umm…blue, please.” With blue pen almost to picture, I seemingly changed my mind, “No, red, please.” He hesitates, puts down the blue Sharpie and picks up the red one. Again, right before the red one touches down, I say, “No, no, no…I think black would look nicer!” He hesitates again, a little longer now, most certainly fuming, then puts down the red one, asks, “The black one. You sure?” “Yes, the black one, thank you.” He waits another few seconds, apparently making sure I won’t change my mind yet again. He then attempts to touch the damn black one to the picture. “Wait, wait, wait! I’ve got an idea,” I blurt out, “can you do each letter in a different color?” Still looking downwards at the picture, he so sloooowly starts to look upwards at me, with laser-eyes. It was then, I sort of let on, breaking into a smile. He at first didn’t want to, but he had no choice…he chuckled and this big ol’ smile emerged from his face. He then signed the 8″ x 10″ (in black), and we then shook hands. He said, “I was just gettin’ ready to put a different color Sharpie up each of your nostrils!” (And there were 4 Sharpies, 2 nostrils! You do the math.) And the action would’ve been deserved, had I not been on a mission. I made ol’ grumpy sourpuss smile! It was a tough job, but someone had to do it. 🙂 (I even got to hold his original ’60s Gibson J160e guitar…how cool!)
Thank you for the music, Gordon. You will be missed. But as always, the music lives on. 🙂
Having been a Peter & Gordon fan, I looked forward to actually meeting him a couple years back at a BeatleFest in New Jersey. In addition to his performance, they had a table set-up for him to sell CDs & photographs, and to do autographs. I bought a vintage 8″ x 10″ promo Peter & Gordon photograph and requested he autograph it. Well, let me preface this by saying it was sort of apparent that Gordon was NOT having a good ol’ time at the table, for one reason or another. I just kind of got the feeling he’d rather be ANY place else than that table. So, apparently, it was now my mission to turn ol’ grumpy sourpuss into someone a tad happier. So, he had a bunch of different color Sharpies for him to use for autographing. I believe silver, blue, red & black. Gordon just almost inaudibly spit out, “What color do you want?” “Umm…blue, please.” With blue pen almost to picture, I seemingly changed my mind, “No, red, please.” He hesitates, puts down the blue Sharpie and picks up the red one. Again, right before the red one touches down, I say, “No, no, no…I think black would look nicer!” He hesitates again, a little longer now, most certainly fuming, then puts down the red one, asks, “The black one. You sure?” “Yes, the black one, thank you.” He waits another few seconds, apparently making sure I won’t change my mind yet again. He then attempts to touch the damn black one to the picture. “Wait, wait, wait! I’ve got an idea,” I blurt out, “can you do each letter in a different color?” Still looking downwards at the picture, he so sloooowly starts to look upwards at me, with laser-eyes. It was then, I sort of let on, breaking into a smile. He at first didn’t want to, but he had no choice…he chuckled and this big ol’ smile emerged from his face. He then signed the 8″ x 10″ (in black), and we then shook hands. He said, “I was just gettin’ ready to put a different color Sharpie up each of your nostrils!” (And there were 4 Sharpies, 2 nostrils! You do the math.) And the action would’ve been deserved, had I not been on a mission. I made ol’ grumpy sourpuss smile! It was a tough job, but someone had to do it. 🙂 (I even got to hold his original ’60s Gibson J160e guitar…how cool!)
Thank you for the music, Gordon. You will be missed. But as always, the music lives on. 🙂
It is sad to hear about the passing of Gordon Waller. When you think of a duo that has been around as long as Peter and Gordon it is a real loss to the music industry. My thoughts go out to everyone who loved this man, and especially Peter Asher. And I am sure all the Beatle fans out there are saddened by the news.
So sad. We have so many memories in life and Peter and Gordon were a wonderful part of mine.Growing up was such a bittersweet joy. The late 50’s and 60’s were such a “turning point” in history (for the 20th century). I’m getting old. We start out life listening to our favorites at weddings and we end life watching them pass and going to funerals. Circle of life! Heavy Sigh. God bless you and thank you Gordon for all the music and harmony you brought to our lives. We’ll all see you in the great gig in the sky some day. Rest in Peace. (OR Rock in Peace!)
peter and gordon were the most underrated act of the 60’s. their harmonies were angelic to a tee.the loss of gordon waller is very sad. i loved all their songs, but my favorite was ”I GO TO PIECES.” what we have lost, heaven has gained. i know gordon is up there singing with john lennon and the rest. may you rest in peace gordon, amen
I am still saddend that Gordon has left us.It was unreal that Peter and Gordon reunied and played the Fest and then decided to take it on the road again. A dream come true. Thank you Peter for doing it, I know it meant so much to Gordon. When I saw them here in California a few years ago my eyes filled with water and my mind with memories as the intro for “I Go To Pieces” began in a loop untill they walked on stage. They were in perfect voice. I will miss them as a duo so much.
I will remember Gordon, I saw him with Peter at Beatles fest ’07 in Vegas when Mark Hudson signed my picture of them it was unforgettable they played “Sunday for Tea” their tribute to Buddy Holly “True Love Ways” their hits by Lennon-McCartney
“A World Without Love” “I Don’t Want to See You Again”, “Nobody I Know” and “Woman.”
Also “To Know you is to Love You” including “I go to Pieces” and “Lady Godiva.”