Roadie #42 remembers Coldplay super-fan "Nettie"

Check out coldplay.com for a new entry: Roadie #42 remembers Coldplay super-fan Jennifer John

More on this entry is at the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks Sirhc]

I have just learned of the tragic death of a big personality and well-loved member of the Coldplay fan community. Jennifer John, known to most as "Nettie". Jen ran two fansites dedicated to Coldplay: mycoldplay and guyberryman.net. These sites were a strong and very active part of the fan community and Jen attended a huge number of Coldplay shows, meeting a great number of fans along the way.

Jennifer died in a tragic car accident on Saturday travelling to Cornwall to watch Kasabian at the Eden Sessions. That she died on her way to watch a band she loved, demonstrates how she lived. Her passion for music and her dedication to sharing both the live experience and the online community was truly inspirational.

I remember being staggered when she posted the MP3 of Bucket For A Crown, a song from the Viva writing sessions. She had been to a small charity show that Chris had appeared at and she bootlegged the whole thing. Not only had I not heard the song before, but I didn't even know that the gig was happening. Here I was getting the inside scoop from a fansite. It was only then that I realised how "on it" and organised she was.

I met her on several occasions at Coldplay shows. The first time being after one of the Earls Court shows on the X&Y tour. Tour Photographer Penny Howle was wandering around with a video camera chatting to fans as she often did and ran over and grabbed me. "You have to see these two, they are such lovely giddy kippers."

Jen was at all three of the Earls Court shows, on this night with her mate Steph. I remember Jen jokingly chastising me for not having updated the blog recently enough. We spoke only briefly, but her personality shone brightly as I am sure it did with everyone she met.

Our thoughts and great sympathies are with Jennifer's family and friends. She was a wonderful person who will undoubtedly be missed by many many people the world over.

R#42

We have a thread of condolences at the forums which you can read and post on here [thanks bello-lo]