Max George has remembered his late friend Tom Parker in his first interview since the singer's death. The Wanted's Tom tragically died, aged 33, in March. His passing came 17 months after he diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour - glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
The death of the Bolton-born musician was announced by his devasted wife Kelsey. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side," she said in an Instagram post alongside a black and white photo of her husband. "Our hearts are broken," she added.
In the following hours and days, each member of The Wanted including Max, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran, and Jay McGuinness all paid an emotional tribute to their 'brother' after shooting to fame together as part of the band which formed in 2009 and produced two number one singles and a string of top 10 hits and albums.
In April, the boys also acted as pallbearers at Tom's funeral with Max and Siva also standing up in the church to pay tribute. Appearing on This Morning on Tuesday (May 31), Max spoke about the loss of Tom as well as reflected on their friendship which spanned more than a decade.
"I'm still trying to process it, I still text him actually," the singer, also from Bolton, told Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. "If I get pictures or stuff that fans have made with him in it or they send a nice message to do with Tom, I’ll WhatsApp it to him. I just find a bit of comfort in that. The worst bit is when I’m not doing it and I do it accidentally. Sometimes I go to do it and I’m like, 'Oh no.'"
Max also reflected on his first meeting with Tom, recalling: "It was Manchester Piccadilly station. I saw him at the audition process for the band. He was the loud one from Bolton. He was always at the front, always asking questions. We walked in together and I just always remember thinking, 'The scally from Bolton…' and I was so happy he was in.'"
He added: "Immediately me and him just hit it off. We had very similar backgrounds and we just became best mates. Within a week we were living in the same house and we did everything together."
Max, who recently appeared on ITV's The Games, was also on hand to discuss Tom's book, Hope, which he wrote before his death and was released last week. “It’s a book that Tom did over the last 12 months of his life," the 33-year-old told Alison and Dermot.
"It goes from the very start, from his upbringing all the way to the end - the whole journey, how he had rough beginnings and his own troubles, but it’s a book about hope and it’s a book about triumph and obviously Tom had a lot of difficulties along the way, especially towards the end - the most difficult thing anyone could go through - and Kelsey, obviously."
On having the conversation with Tom and Kelsey about helping with the book, Max said: "I said a few months ago, ‘Anything you need, to help with the book’, but I didn’t know I would be sat here without Tom. When I got here, I was like ‘Oh man, I’m about to talk about Tom’s book.'"
And he was also full of praise for Kelsey. "Kelsey’s been awesome. She’s always been really strong, like Tom," Max said. "They were literally two peas in a pod. She’s raising awareness for glioblastoma and cancer in general,, she’s been great. We talk quite often, just check in, make sure she’s alright."
On having the conversation with Tom and Kelsey about helping with the book, Max said, “I said a few months ago, ‘Anything you need, to help with the book’, but I didn’t know I would be sat here without Tom. When I got here, I was like ‘Oh man, I’m about to talk about Tom’s book.'"
This Morning viewers were soon sharing their admiration for Tom as well as Max for appearing live on the daytime show to talk about him. @Rosie12_1994 tweeted: "#ThisMorning max george on bless him. Its so sad i still cant believe tom is no longer here anymore and a bit of time has passed..."
@SpannaD said: "Just want to give Max a hug! You could see at the end of the tour Tom was weak but still had the biggest smile on his face! #thismorning." @skyeeee_tw added: "Max talking about tom in past tense still hurts :( #ThisMorning."
