Bristol band Idles dedicated one of the songs in a blistering Glastonbury Festival set tonight to the city's legendary music aficianado Big Jeff Johns.
Big Jeff, an artist who is famous in the city for attending gigs almost every night, is a friend of the band, but he is currently in an induced coma after suffering serious burns in a fire at his home in Totterdown earlier this month.
Idles lead singer Joe Talbot introduced the song A Hymn from their set, and took time out to pay tribute to Big Jeff.
Read more: Family of music fan Big Jeff issues health update after house fire
“This next song goes out to our brother and our friend Big Jeff," said Talbot. "He’s everything that we wish we represent, he’s everything that is music fandom and he is everything that is love. This is for you Big Jeff.”
Big Jeff is well-known and much-loved in Bristol's music scene, with the rule in the city that if you know you made the right choice of gig on any given night, if Big Jeff is in the front row losing himself in the music.
An accomplished artist, Jeff - who is originally from Gloucestershire but now lives in Totterdown - has become a regular figure on the music scene in Bristol, and has come to be known by many major artists as they tour the city. As a band formed in Bristol, Jeff was an early champion of Idles, and is a close friend of the band. He is also, alongside the likes of Rob del Naja, Tricky, Banksy and Geoff Barrow, a permanent member of the Bristol Cool List Hall of Fame.
Earlier this month, Jeff was rushed to hospital and then transferred to a specialist burns unit in Swansea, following a fire at his home in Totterdown.
His family have issued two statements updating his friends and supporters about his health - he's still in intensive care and undergoing a series of skin grafts and was being kept in an induced coma while treatment continued.
“Jeff has been treated in Swansea Morriston hospital for severe burns. He is stable in intensive care, but still under heavy sedation and unconscious whilst a series of procedures and skin grafts are beginning.
“He is expected to remain in hospital for many months, and is unable to receive any visitors for the time being. His family and close friends would like to thank everyone for the enormous outpouring of love and support, and ask that people still keep Jeff in their thoughts," it added.
Read next:
Bristol gig legend Big Jeff 'very seriously' injured in house fire
Family of music fan Big Jeff issues health update after house fire
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