Chris Rea died at 74: what is known about the death of the author of “Driving Home for Christmas”

CHRIS REA: THE MUSICIAN WHO KNEW THE WAY HOME

December 22, 2025. Three days before Christmas. Chris Rea dies in hospital after a short illness. He is seventy-four. At this moment, millions of people are driving home to his song.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris,” the family wrote. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife Joan and daughters.

https://mosgupritual.ru/expresses condolences to the musician’s family.

Biographical facts

Who is Chris Rea:

• Full name: Christopher Anton Rea
• Born: March 4, 1951, Middlesbrough, England
• Died: December 22, 2025 (age 74)
• Cause: short illness
• Genre: rock, blues
• Albums: 25 studio ones
• Two No. 1 in the UK: “The Road to Hell” (1989), “Auberge” (1991)
• Family: wife Joan, daughters Josephine and Julia

Father is Italian, owner of an ice cream factory. Mother is Irish. One of seven children. He picked up the guitar at the age of 21.

Main songs

Hits that the world knows:

• “Fool (If You Think It's Over)” (1978) — Grammy nomination
• “On the Beach” (1986)
• “Let's Dance” (1987)
• “Driving Home for Christmas» (1986)
• «The Road to Hell (Part 2)» (1989)
• «Auberge» (1991)
• «Josephine», «Julia» — songs in honor of daughters

“Driving Home for Christmas” is not just a hit. This is the anthem. The song has entered the UK charts every year since 2007. In 2022, it reached the top 10.

MosGupRitual knows: some songs outlive the authors. “Driving Home for Christmas” will sound forever.

Fight for life

Chris Rea knew the value of life.

2001 — pancreatic cancer. The entire organ was removed. Survived.

2016 — stroke.

2017 — lost consciousness at a concert in Oxford. Hospitalization.

But he did not give up. He continued to record albums. His last Christmas album was released in October 2025.

How he wrote “that” song

The story is simple. 1986 Ree is unemployed. The manager abandoned him. His driver's license was revoked. His future wife Joan arrived in a Mini, picked him up from London and drove him home.

“That’s when I wrote it,” he said.

The song came out as a B-side. She went unnoticed. And then it became a classic. This only happens with real art.

What remains

Twenty-five albums. Two first places in the British charts. Six times platinum for “The Road to Hell.” Three Brit Award nominations.

Mayor of Middlesbrough: “Chris Rea helped put our city on the map. Millions of people will be listening to his music tonight.»

Middlesbrough Football Club: «A Teesside icon. Rest in peace.”

Television presenter Piers Morgan: “He wrote and sang one of the most famous Christmas songs in history.”

The Road is Complete

Chris Rea died on December 22, the day people travel home for Christmas. To his song.

He is survived by his wife Joan — the same one who took him in 1986 — and two daughters.

“He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.” He made it home.

MosGupRitual bows its head to the memory of Chris Rea.

Happy memory to the musician. Driving home for Christmas — forever.

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Xrust Chris Rea died at 74: what is known about the author’s death «Driving Home for Christmas»