A touching tribute has been paid to a talented member of a band who died. Russ ‘Sacko’ Saxton returned home from his last gig when he passed away.
Wife Tina Saxton went to bed but Russ decided to made a cup of tea - and he was subsequently found by Tina at 4am that morning. The tragedy has rocked friends of "comedian" Russ, who was a member of popular Sack Sabbath, purportedly Europe's best-known and most authentic tribute to Black Sabbath.
Friend Dan Bird, 36, bassist and now band leader, told Nottinghamshire Live the death was a massive shock and came out of the blue. "I woke up at 9am, and me and my little boy were painting together."
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Tina called with the terrible news and he thought she was joking at first. "I was in disbelief and shock," said Dan, who works for Parcelforce. "We cancelled a lot of gigs. We wanted to carry on as a band. Russ did everything - he ran the band."
Dan is grateful to Russ, a guitar teacher at Zebra Muzik, in Ilkeston., for giving him first break in the band 15 years ago. The band mark their 20th anniversary this year, and have a decent following, after playing gigs across Europe, and at The Underwood Club in London and Nottingham's Rock City.
"He was a comedian," he said of his friend. "He gave me my first opportunity to be in the band. We played Cyprus, Rhodes and Spain, as well as festivals to 3,000-4,000 people.
"Russ was very, very funny. At every gig, we just had a laugh. He was hard-working. He could be very stuck in his ways though. He liked to put his opinion across which was quite funny."
Russ, 58, who lived in Kimberley with his wife and two daughters, was a published author after releasing two books on trains. and was a "massive trainspotter", says Dan. "He was big into photography of trains."
His death was due to sudden death syndrome.
Russ died on November 13, 2021, a year ago tomorrow. In his memory, a gig has been organised called 'SACKFEST', with the line-up all tribute bands: BLACK ANGUS (AC/DC) + THE THIN LIZZY EXPERIENCE + HI-ON MAIDEN.
Doors open at 5.30pm at the Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, on Saturday, December 17, and tickets can be bought here. All proceeds are going to Russ's family.
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