Colin Tyler (23 Jan 1970 - 4 Dec 2025)

Beautiful pure soul who would help everyone.Happy to have had many laughs!! Rest well my friend,xx

In loving memory of my brother Colin, at peace after years of fighting the good fight. Keep on rockin'.

I first met Colin at Chatham Grammer. I was a 6th former relegated to the 5th form arithmetic class, consequential to being crap at math (ironic given that I have had a career in finance). Colin was disrupting the class (according to our teacher) and was sent to the back of the classroom to sit with the 6th former. I sensed his reluctance but once seated he asked me about the music I liked and I name checked Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, The Doors, Rush and then Black Sabbath, particularly Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The mention of Sabbath was the trigger that I sensed Colin was waiting for and he immediately launched into ‘have you listened to Slayer, Metallica, Exodus, Venom, Celtic Frost, Mercyful
Fate’ et al. I hadn’t but soon would as Colin promised to lend me some vinyls and he kept to his promise. Let me just say that you know when you have met one of gods originals (even at 16) and Colin was definitely that. He burned bright. Pretty soon we were hanging out at his place every weekend (Reg and Helen were incredibly tolerant) regularly drinking at his local, beach parties at Upnor and always listening to and sharing music.

We stage dived for the first time at a Possessed/Voivod gig, caught the Metallica and Slayer wave with the Master of Puppets and Reign in Blood tours. We witnessed a friend collapse from the volume at a Manowar gig and later got the crap kicked out of us in the pit at one of the last Husker Du gigs (no place for a thrash kid).

When Colin found out that Cliff Burton had passed, he showed up at my front door in tears, armed with a case of Hofmeister beer. It was the first, but not the last time that I witnessed Colin’s sensitive side. We sat in the woods drinking in homage to Cliff and got my dog, Sham, drunk (he liked to drink) with the remainder of the beers.

There were times, over the years, when I felt that Colin and I reconnected as we did when we were younger. We were in the swimming pool at the Luxor Hotel, Vegas (we went there for my 40th) and were both laughing at the absurdity of our fellow swimmers fleeing the pool because it was raining, although perhaps it had more to do with the approaching lightning. Later, we would swim together at Strood Leisure centre. Colin was an excellent swimmer and I am mediocre at best. It was impossible for me to keep up with him. As if to underscore this he would do a turn and wave at me as he passed by under the water.

Colin was my first real friend and it is a testament to him (not me) that we remained friends for over 40 years.

The Medway man of metal was given a beautiful send off today. All thanks to a very forward 3 year old asking “when will your arm grow back”, 10 years ago, we met, not only an amazing man but an immensely strong family. 2 souls who were perfect for each other and little (then) Nicholas and tiny Bethany. Always quick with a comeback and never a cross word about anybody. A truly beautiful man who made a huge impact on my own heart, plus many others. Fly high Mr T. Sending you hugs up there.
Ps: did your arm grow back? 😘

In memory of Colin. Truly one in a million

RIP - taken too soon.

You endured so much medically but you seemingly took it all in your stride, with a smile on your face. I'm so glad you're no longer in pain but you'll be missed by so many.

RIP Keep rocking out.

Thank you for caring for my dear friend Colin Tyler

I first met Colin over 20 years ago at work. We had similar, though not identical, taste in music and attended a couple of concerts together.
He was a very funny, and very caring, person.
We would frequently exchange anti-Trump memes.
He took the time to come and visit me when I was recuperating in a nursing home after a motorbike accident last year.
I miss him, this is a sad loss to everyone who knew him

Colin made such a huge difference to my life, by doing that thing he seemed to have such a talent for. Connecting people. From a chance encounter at a Death Angel gig, his introductions opened the door to so many brilliant metal days out. I know I'm not alone in feeling the massive hole he has left, but that's what he taught me really. I am not alone, even when I rock up at a gig on my own, there are friends to be made and good times to be had.

Thank you so much Colin. Rest in peace.

Colin,
From the moment we met at the control room you made me laugh. I don’t recall you ever being down despite the mess we sometimes had to deal with. You were determined to find the good in everything, and stronger than most of us in your fight against the universe! We may have gone on separate paths in our careers but they crossed over numerous times and it was just the same - lots of giggles !
You will be missed, rest easy my friend and rock on!
Wiggles ❤️

Colin had a true gift of making everyone around feel at ease. He offered friendship, warmth, humour and always looked positively at life despite the challenges he was facing.

We were honoured to know Colin and have his friendship in our life. He will be truly missed.


Tracy, Nicholas & Bethany, I hope the memories of his generosity, his laughter, and his gentle heart and love of music bring you comfort as you navigate the days ahead. xx

After over 30 years of being neighbours I will certainly miss you mate

Colin, our friendship started like Gavin and Stacey, over the phone! You were always happy whatever time of day or night. Our friendship blossomed over a love of cider. I don't think I have been to as many castles with anyone else. Thanks for being my friend and sharing your family. I have so many happy memories and still now go to send you a text message especially on a night shift as you were generally the only person awake. Rest well until we meet again

I first met Colin Tyler in Gillingham High Street sometime in 2011. We had moved to Medway earlier that year and got talking after spotting each other's shirts (his was Death Angel, mine might have been Autopsy). I next spoke to him in March 2012 after he spotted me at the Celtic Frost and Enslaved gig at the Forum, and from there on we somehow stayed in touch.

Colin's enthusiasm for Metal, especially at grass-roots level, was as obvious as it was infectious. I've lost count of the number of bands and shows that he directed at me, so pivotal a part of the scene was he. I'd bump into him at places like the Beacon Court (I'm reminded of his fundraiser for BLESMA back in 2013 commemorating the loss of his arm), or the Beercart Arms, The Ivy, the Sweeps, anywhere there was music and beer to be had.

And of course, the Sarcomafest shows that he put on with Jules and Steve. Colin gave me the heads-up back in 2016 that he was putting the first one on, and the absolutely stacked lineups lured me back to the Red Lion for the first time since the 90s to witness some of the best all-dayers I've been to at what is now one of my favourite venues. It's all the more remarkable that the catalyst for this was his affliction; he'd send updates on his treatment but was stoic in the face of it, motivated and enthusiastic, meeting it with good humour and candour.

Knowing this, I knew that I could trust his judgement when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 - Colin was one of the first people that I'd confided in when I saw him at the 'Arry gig shortly after. He reassured me that it wasn't a death sentence and that I needed to stay positive and be supportive. It was valuable advice.

I last saw Colin in person at the Sarcomafest in 2024, and regret that I wasn't able to catch up with him in person more recently. My attendance at last year's fest was thwarted when my father lost his own battle with cancer; we'd discussed wheelchair accessibility at The Ship a couple of weeks before he passed but, alas, it wasn't to be.

Colin achieved such great things, and one really can't be surprised at the outporing of affection that his passing evoked. Cancer has f_cked us all this past year, but we will f_ck it back eventually.

Rest in peace, brother.

N+729+

Colin a truly amazing person, I will always cherish the memories we had during our childhood RIP my mate.

I’m not going to pretend that I knew Colin well but he was an ever present at all the gigs I went to in the eighties and right up until recent years. Lovely memories of a fantastic time. Cheers dude.

Hope this helps