I’m so grateful to@edmasonphoto for capturing this beautiful photo of Tom. This was taken at Rock Im Park, just hours before Tom played his last ever show with us. The rain was monsoon-esque and people were running for shelter all over the place but Tom just casually strolled along with a smile on his face. It was typical Tom. The story that this photo doesn’t tell us just how sick Tom was on this day. The night before he had pulled off some kind of miracle by getting on stage and performing and Rock Am Ring, I have no idea how. He was unbelievably courageous. Playing at the slot that we’d been given on those festivals was a dream come true for Tom and he wasn’t going to let anything stand in his way. Earlier in the day I had been sat on the bus with Tom for some time, attempting to provide him with some type of aid. We meditated together, we provided him with food and drink and hoped that it would help but it didn’t look like he’d be able to make the show. I left the bus to tell the rest of the band about the situation. We spoke shortly outside our dressing room and all of a sudden Tom just walks past us like nothing was wrong. I couldn’t believe it! He just kept finding new reserves of strength deep within himself, time and time again. An hour after this photo was taken I went to watch The 1975, a band that me and Tom have listened to obsessively for the past couple of years. Just as they began playing our favourite song, Tom turned up and embraced me. It’s a memory that I will never ever forget. The show was one that I will never forget. There was a special atmosphere throughout the entire set and it couldn’t have been a better final moment on stage for Tom. Announcing the news publicly has made it all even more real and yet I still can’t make sense of it. I can’t understand that I will never speak with him, hug him, create music with him or laugh with him again. I miss him unbearably. I love you Tom X -Dan Searle
