Chris Rea, the Voice of the Open Road, Dies Just Before Christmas

Sunday, 28 December 2025 00:05

Best known for Driving Home for Christmas but responsible for decades of blues-soaked hits, Chris Rea leaves behind a catalogue that soundtracked long drives, late nights, and quiet reflection.

Chris Rea died on December 22, 2025, just three days before Christmas, at the age of 74. The British singer-songwriter and guitarist passed away after a short illness, surrounded by family, his loved ones announced. His name is now forever linked with one of the most enduring seasonal songs in modern music, yet his legacy stretches far beyond Driving Home for Christmas.

Rea was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, England, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. He didn’t begin playing guitar until he was 21, a late start compared with many musicians, but when he picked up the instrument it marked the beginning of a career that would span more than five decades. Before fame, he worked various jobs including helping in the family’s ice cream business, and played in local bands before going solo.

His breakthrough came in the late 1970s with the single Fool (If You Think It’s Over). Released in 1978, it was his first taste of international success, earning him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and charting in the United States. That song introduced the world to Rea’s gravelly voice and thoughtful songwriting, traits that would define his work for years to come.

Through the 1980s and early 90s, Rea became a major figure in British rock. He released 25 studio albums over his lifetime, with two of them — The Road to Hell in 1989 and Auberge in 1991 — reaching the top of the UK charts. The title track from The Road to Hell remains one of his most recognised songs. Built on a slow, reflective groove, it captured a sense of frustration and introspection that resonated with millions.

It was in 1986 that Rea first released Driving Home for Christmas, a song he wrote about the bittersweet experience of journeying through winter traffic to see loved ones. The lyrics and melody, understated and warm, did not make an immediate splash at release, but over time the track became a fixture of the season. In recent years it re-enters the UK charts every winter and has become a staple on holiday playlists across generations.

But Christmas wasn’t the only theme in Rea’s catalogue. Songs like Let’s Dance from 1987 showed his knack for blending pop sensibilities with blues and rock influences, reaching chart success across the UK and internationally. Ace of Hearts and It’s All Gone were melodic, thoughtful tracks that showcased his ability to craft songs that were both emotionally rich and musically compelling.

Another deep cut, Tell Me There’s a Heaven, released in 1990, highlighted his gift for empathy and lyrical depth. Inspired by a personal moment and his daughter’s reaction to troubling news footage, the song’s reflective tone struck a chord with listeners and helped broaden his reputation as a songwriter capable of addressing profound themes within accessible music.

Rea’s life was not without hardship. He battled pancreatic cancer in 2001 and lived with Type 1 diabetes. In 2016 he suffered a stroke that affected his mobility and speech, yet he remained dedicated to his craft, continuing to record and release music. His 2017 album Road Songs for Lovers came after his health struggles and reflected a blues-heavy return to the roots that had always grounded him.

Fans and colleagues alike remember Rea not just for his voice and guitar work but for the moods his music could evoke. Whether the wistful nostalgia of Driving Home for Christmas, the grit of The Road to Hell, or the subtle beauty of quieter tracks like Josephine and On the Beach, his work connected deeply with listeners. Social media lit up after news of his death with fans sharing memories of how his songs soundtracked moments in their own lives.

Rea’s influence extended beyond music charts. He was a devoted family man, married to his wife Joan Lesley with whom he shared two daughters, Josephine and Julia. Even amid health battles and career highs and lows, he maintained a passion for music and life that inspired those around him.

As calls for holiday playlists play his songs this season and for years to come, Chris Rea’s voice and guitar will remain woven into the soundtrack of countless journeys home and countless quiet moments on the road. In a year when his signature song was part of a major Christmas advert campaign, his passing just before the holiday feels poignant — a final trip home for the artist who gave the world one of its most beloved seasonal songs.

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