Chris Rea revealed he was BANNED from the road when he wrote iconic hit Driving Home for Christmas in final interview before his death aged 74

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In a recent interview, Chris Rea shared a surprising fact: he wasn’t allowed to drive while writing his famous song, “Driving Home For Christmas,” released in 1986.

The popular musician died on Monday at 74, following a brief sickness. His wife, Joan, and daughters, Josie and Julia, remembered him as a much-loved star.

Since 2007, the song ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ has consistently returned to the UK music charts each year, even reaching Number 10 in 2021.

Interestingly, the upbeat song was actually written during a difficult time for him. He had recently lost his manager, his job, and his driver’s license.

Bob Mortimer explained that he wrote it while unemployed, shortly after his manager quit and he lost his driver’s license.

I wrote it after my wife, Joan, drove from London to pick me up in our Mini and bring me home.

Just days before he passed away, a clip was posted to Chris Rea’s Instagram showing him explaining to Bob Mortimer how he came up with his song ‘Driving Home for Christmas’.

Oh my gosh, her last Instagram post killed me! It was a picture of a car driving on a snowy highway, and the road sign? It said ‘Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories.’ I swear, it felt like she was speaking directly to me, hinting at everything. I’ve been screenshotting it and staring at it for hours, trying to decode what it all means! It’s just… perfect and heartbreaking all at once.

He shared a post on Sunday with the caption: ‘Stuck in traffic from head to toe! If we get a white Christmas, hopefully the roads will be clear.’

Chris’s family announced his death with deep sorrow, sharing that they are heartbroken by the loss of their beloved father, brother, and friend.

He died peacefully in the hospital today after a brief illness, with his family by his side.

Chris, originally from Middlesbrough, faced many serious health challenges throughout his life, including peritonitis, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes. He met his wife, Joan, when he was only 16 years old. By 2017, his diabetes required him to take insulin injections seven times a day.

People quickly shared heartfelt tributes to the star on Twitter, often mentioning his music, his passion for cars, and the sad timing of his death so near Christmas.

Following the news, fans quickly shared heartfelt tributes on Twitter, fondly remembering his music, his passion for cars, and noting the particularly sad timing so near Christmas.

Fans expressed their deep sadness upon hearing the news, remembering Chris Rea as a true Teesside icon. They wished him a safe journey and fondly recalled his passion for cars, incredible guitar skills, and the many fantastic albums he created. The news was met with shock and grief.

We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Chris Rea. He was a hugely talented musician and, by all accounts, a genuinely kind person. It’s particularly poignant as I recently mentioned him in a newsletter. He was very popular in Ireland and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.

We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Chris Rea, the celebrated rock and blues musician and passionate car enthusiast, at the age of 74. He’s pictured here with his cherished Caterham 7, affectionately known as ‘Blue 7’, at the Reims race circuit in 1991 (photo by Martyn Goddard).

I quickly put on Chris Rea – it just felt right. He’ll always be associated with Christmas in our home. I don’t think he’d have appreciated a Paddington meme, but I’m in the Christmas spirit anyway.

Let me tell you, seeing someone face a health crisis really puts things into perspective. I was shocked to learn that Chris, still so young at 33, received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis during the prime of his career. It was a major scare, and a powerful reminder to prioritize your well-being.

After surgery to remove portions of his pancreas, gallbladder, and liver, he recovered and continued living with both diabetes and kidney issues.

Despite suffering a stroke in 2016, he made a full recovery and continued creating music, releasing the albums Road Songs For Lovers in 2017 and One Fine Day in 2019.

Chris has shared that he’s undergone nine significant surgeries in the last decade. These are largely related to a rare condition called retroperitoneal fibrosis, where the body’s tissues mistakenly attack one another. It’s a relatively newly identified illness – unknown just 20 years ago – and its progression is very difficult to foresee.

‘It’s affected the colon, the pancreas, the gall bladder, the liver – and then I get a stroke.’

He acknowledged achieving significant financial success, but warned that pursuing wealth can be detrimental to one’s well-being if not approached carefully.

Who you spend your time with really shapes your perspective. I once told Michael Winner that I felt like the poorest person on the beach here in Barbados. But on days like today, the person with the least pain – someone without a sore shoulder – is the luckiest person in the world.

Chris once explained the story behind writing “Driving Home For Christmas.” He told Bob Mortimer that he was unemployed, had just lost his manager, and was also facing a driving ban when he wrote the song.

Honestly, meeting Joan changed everything. She actually drove all the way to London to get me – in her little Mini, can you believe it? – and took me back home. It was on that drive, just soaking it all in, that the song finally came to me. It wouldn’t have happened without her, I swear.

Chris grew up in Middlesbrough and began his musical journey in his twenties. He taught himself to play guitar and played in various local bands before eventually signing a solo recording contract with Magnet Records.

I still remember when he first came out with Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? back in 1978! That single, “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” was a huge hit here in the States, and I was so thrilled when he got nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist. It felt like just the beginning of something special.

Despite continuing to make albums, the artist didn’t achieve major success in the UK until 1987 with ‘Dancing with Strangers.’ His 1989 album, ‘The Road to Hell,’ included the popular two-part title track, which became one of his most well-known songs.

Chris Rea is also famous for his Christmas song, “Driving Home For Christmas.” It first appeared as a bonus track on his 1986 single, “Hello Friend,” and he later re-recorded it for his 1988 album, “New Light Through Old Windows.”

The BBC reports that he had previously said he didn’t want to release the song, but his record label insisted he do so.

He explained that he really didn’t want a Christmas song released then, and he tried his best to prevent the record from coming out. Luckily, it was released anyway!

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2025-12-22 20:19