The new Amy Winehouse biopic has reignited the debate about the responsibility for her untimely death aged 27. Those in the firing line include her father, aspiring singer Mitch Winehouse, and her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who admitted getting her hooked on Class A drugs.
I never met Blake, but I ran into Mitch and had unforgettable encounters with Amy. At one gig, when we met I extended my right hand to shake hers, but instead she took mine, turned it over and kissed it leaving a huge red lipstick mark.
She said I was too honest to be a journalist as I had a gap in my front teeth like her. There was a warmth and kindness to her and she seemed full of life.
I went up to them and said: “I think she needs help, aren’t you going to help her?”
The original plan had been to interview Amy, but I was swiftly told by Mitch that if I wanted to talk to her on record it would be “10 grand”. He was gearing up to release his debut album and said he would happily chat to me for free — I declined.
His representatives now tell me his words would have definitely “been a joke, very much Mitch humour to paint himself as free in comparison”.
As the night progressed Amy seemed increasingly unsteady on her feet. She got into some difficulties with paps who had made their way into the venue and were trying to shoot up her skirt.
I observed someone who was meant to be looking out for her leaning against a wall nearby with their arms folded and just watching as the sharks circled. Stunned by their lack of action, I went up to them and said: “I think she needs help, aren’t you going to help her?”
They unfolded their arms, held them up and replied: “As long as she doesn’t get stabbed...” before resuming their previous position.
She was soon whisked into a dressing room, but still anyone could just walk in, including me, which I did, to check that she was OK. She seemed so alone.
I saw Amy one more time after this, when I filmed what turned out to be her last live performance with her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield at the Camden Roundhouse. She looked tired and frail, but used every last ounce of energy to dance and sing with Dionne.
Three days later, Amy was dead.
