GASSNER: A TRAGIC LOSS.

Speaking to Rudi Gassner a month ago just after the announcement of his return to BMG, the pride in his voice was plain to hear. The news was so fresh that he was still in his holiday home in Bavaria, but in his mind he was already sitting in his new office above Broadway planning out his first moves in a job he had long dreamt of taking on.

Which is one of the reasons why it is such a tragedy that he never lived to assume that role. Had he done so he would have brought to it the qualities that were apparent whenever you met him.

Firstly, he was a gentleman. Driven and aggressive at work undoubtedly, but his style was also remarkably straightforward and underpinned by a wickedly dry sense of humour and elegant sense of style.

He was also a truly experienced music executive. Though much of his recent press may have highlighted his early life as a professional footballer, his record industry career ...