Indieobit: Jeff Fletcher

Jeff Fletcher, guitarist with Northern Uproar, has been killed in a road accident.

Fletcher was hit by a lorry in the centre of Stockport on Monday evening; suffering head injuries, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jeff was a founder member of the group - arguably, rooted in bands he and Leon Meya started when they were just 11. Never quite Britpop, never quite Madchester, the band ran around the charts shouting between 1995 and 1997; they got back together in 2004 and are still a going concern, although Jeff left a couple of years back.

Talking to the Manchester Evening News, Leon Meya said:

“Jeff was a gentleman and my friend since the age of five, we grew up together and went through school.

“He was a genius and learned the guitar in six months. He was the principle song writer, he could make melodies, sing and was a good performer. He made the sound of Northern Uproar, we were a great team.

“Jeff was recognised as a great guitarist, his guitar work was amazing. He was such a lovely caring bloke, I will miss a proper friend.”

Here's the band featured on The Sunday Show in a none-more-90s segment involving ligging, The Astoria, and Loaded:

Jeff Fletcher was 36.