‘I’m not frightened’: Chris Rea stayed defiant to the end after getting pancreatic cancer aged 33 – as his final social media message is revealed

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Oh my gosh, Chris Rea – the man who is Christmas to so many of us – apparently wasn’t scared of dying, even with all the health problems he faced throughout his amazing career! It’s just… wow. He was so strong and just kept going, even when things were really tough. It’s incredibly inspiring, honestly. He just seemed so… defiant, you know? It makes his music even more special, knowing he faced all that and still gave us such beautiful songs.

The 74-year-old singer, famous for a hit song that’s been charting in the UK annually since 2007, died on Monday after a brief illness.

A heartfelt final social media post from Chris was revealed, shared just hours before his passing.

The photo showed a car traveling on a snowy highway, with a sign that read, ‘Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories’.

Chris shared a message on Sunday with a caption joking about traffic: ‘Covered in tailbacks from head to toe! If we get a white Christmas, let’s hope the roads are clear.’

I was absolutely devastated to learn that Chris, so young and full of life, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at just 33. It was the first really serious health issue he’d ever faced, and it came as a huge shock to everyone who knew him.

After surgery to remove part of his pancreas, gallbladder, and liver, he recovered and managed to live 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.

Meanwhile in 2017, he appeared to collapse onstage during a performance in Oxford.  

Rather than letting his health issues end his career, Chris used them as motivation to reconnect with the music he loved – the blues.

After listing the many medical procedures he’d had since 1994, Chris stated he wasn’t afraid of death.

Chris has shared that he’s undergone nine significant surgeries in the past decade due to a rare condition called retroperitoneal fibrosis. This condition involves the body’s internal tissues attacking themselves. It wasn’t well-known just twenty years ago, and its progression is very difficult to predict.

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

He acknowledged his achievements and how they affected his well-being, explaining that while he became quite wealthy, it’s easy to become consumed by that success to a harmful degree.

Who you spend 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 fewest problems – like a sore shoulder – is truly the richest of all.

I’m heartbroken to share the news that Chris has passed away. His family – his wife, Joan, and their daughters, Josie and Julia – released a statement saying they are absolutely devastated by the loss of their beloved husband and father. It’s just a really sad day for all of us who knew and loved him.

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

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

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People expressed their sadness and shock upon hearing the news, calling Chris Rea a Teesside legend and remembering his passion for cars, incredible guitar skills, and numerous fantastic albums. They wished him a safe journey and offered their condolences. It’s a truly sad loss.

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 featured him in a newsletter on my website. He was well-loved 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 beloved rock and blues musician, at the age of 74. He was also a passionate car enthusiast, and famously loved his Caterham 7, nicknamed ‘Blue 7’, as seen here at the Reims race circuit in 1991 (photo by Martyn Goddard).

I quickly put on Chris Rea – I’ll always associate him with ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ here. He wouldn’t have appreciated a Paddington meme, but I’m in a festive mood anyway. Rest in peace, Chris.

Chris previously shed light on writing his iconic tune Driving Home for Christmas.

He once shared with Bob Mortimer that he was unemployed and going through a tough time when he wrote ‘Driving Home For Christmas.’ He’d recently lost his manager and also had his driver’s license suspended.

I wrote it on the drive home. My wife, Joan, had to come to London to collect me in our Mini and drive us both back.

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

In 1978, he debuted with the album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? and achieved a US hit with the song “Fool (If You Think It’s Over).” This success also earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

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 two-part title track, which became one of his most well-known songs.

Chris Rea’s popular song “Driving Home For Christmas” first appeared as a B-side to his single “Hello Friend” in 1986. He later re-recorded it, and it was included on his 1988 album, “New Light Through Old Windows.”

The BBC reports that he had initially resisted releasing 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 21:04