In October 2024, I wrote about Ashley Beedle's incredible challenges: stage 4 prostate cancer, a brain bleed and seizure, followed by a massive stroke, that also robbed him of speech.
The physical and mental toll is in parallel with the financial cost: we are so fortunate to have the NHS, but that's frequently only part of the story, for example full-time, ongoing care, physio treatment, adaptations, the list goes on.
And that's without considering the drop in gig bookings and work - and income - in the last few years, as Ashley met one challenge after another.
A GoFundMe page was set up, smashed it's initial targets of £50,000 then £160,000 and is currently approaching it's present goal of £175,000. You can donate here.
Last week, the PRS Members' Fund posted a short video featuring Ashley and his wife Jo. It's incredible to see not only how far Ashley has come in his recovery - the voice, the smile, the humour - but Jo as an example of the difference that a loved one - a spouse, a partner, a friend - can make.
This always comes at great personal cost, and it's what you do when you love someone, but it also gives hope, in the face of the craziness around us, that human beings are capable of immense strength, determination, selflessness and love.
It's also a reminder, at a time that music is increasingly seen as without monetary value, and those that make it should be honoured that people are even listening to/streaming their music, and that this should be given for free.
The PRS Members’ Fund was formed in 1934, to support songwriters and composers during the Great Depression. Nearly 100 years later, as Ashley and Jo's story proves, it's needed as much as ever.
All love and power to you, Ashley and Jo.
Back in 2024, I posted a fantastic 2-hour set that Ashley created for BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix in 1997, which you can find here.
I signed off with the promise of "a (relatively shorter) Dubhed selection of Ashley Beedle's remixes and collaborations which will hopefully see light before the end of the year..."
[embarrassed cough] Er, nineteen months later, I've created a 64-minute selection of Beedle bangers, starting with a remix of Manic Street Preachers (sacrilege in 1993) and Lazy, his global smash hit with X-Press 2 and David Byrne. The rest spans Femi Kuti, The Fall, David Holmes/Unloved and D:Ream, so you are in for a real treat.
And. after you've finished dancing, why not donate?
1) Roses In The Hospital (51 Funk Salute Mix By Ashley Beedle): Manic Street Preachers (1993)
2) Lazy (Freeform Reform Vocal) (Remix By Freeform Five): X-Press 2 ft. David Byrne (2002)
3) Jonny Lipshake (The 360° Drunken Master Soundboy Special) (Remix By Ashley Beedle): Baby Fox (1996)
4) Brother Sun ft. Kimbra (Rodi Kirk & Aron Ottignon Version) (Ashley Beedle's North Street Dub): Electric Wire Hustle (2016)
5) Beng Beng Beng (Ashley Beedle's Afrikans On Marz): Femi Kuti (1999)
6) Same (Ashley Beedle's Afroart Vocal Mix): Smith & Mighty ft. Tammy Payne (2000)
7) Touch Sensitive (Ashley Beedle Re-Edit): The Fall (2014)
8) Witchi Tai To (Album Version) (Cover of 'Everything Is Everything' by Jim Pepper): X-Press 2 ft. Tim De Laughter (2006)
9) Number In My Phone (Black Science Orchestra Remix By Ashley Beedle): Unloved (2022)
10) I Used To Believe In Love (Ashley Beedle's NSW Love & Joy Dub Mix): D:Ream (2021)
1993: Roses In The Hospital EP: 1
1996: Jonny Lipshake EP: 3
1999: Shoki Remixed: 5
2000: Same EP: 6
2002: Lazy EP: 2
2006: Makeshift Feelgood: 8
2014: Message In The Music: The Ashley Beedle Re-Edits (2x CD + DVD): 7
2016: Brother Sun EP: 4
2021: I Used To Believe In Love EP: 10
2022: Number In My Phone EP: 9
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