Bristol gig legend Big Jeff has been seriously injured in a fire at his home in Totterdown. The well-known figure, widely recognised as the city’s most prolific gig-goer, is being treated at a specialist burns unit in Swansea and said to be in a stable condition.
Full details of the fire are not currently known but the news is sure to send shockwaves through the Bristol music scene. As well as a popular fixture at Bristol gigs for many years, Big Jeff, 39, is also a talented artist and launched his first exhibition in the city last year.
Friends of Big Jeff - real name Jeff Johns - have already set up a playlist on Spotify called ‘Play a record for Big Jeff’. Jeff’s family has asked for people to keep Jeff in their thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.
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Jeff’s Welcome To My World exhibition in 2021 featured 34 artworks that challenged perceptions of anxiety. The paintings, some of which had a musical influence, were created to instigate conversations about mental health and inspire people in similar situations to get creative themselves.
Jeff said at the time: “Art for me has been about expressing emotions I can’t explain another way. These paintings highlight my issues with hidden anxiety and mental health and the barrier these create.
“How people see me is one thing - but internally I sometimes feel completely different. I use art as a way of expressing things that aren’t always easy to discuss.
“My first painting was of a music artist called Raggs. The painting came together around a blurry photo I had taken at a gig - I began to paint an imaginary world around her image.”
The Play a record for Big Jeff playlist is private at the moment but if people want to suggest a song, they can tag in the social media pages. Big Jeff's Instagram is @bigjeffjohnsart.
Within half an hour of being posted, the statement about the fire had prompted hundreds of responses on his Instagram page. One person commented: "This is so very sad to hear. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeff to get well and to his family. You are truly loved by so many Jeff. Hang in there bud."
