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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE December 2021 5
The local music scene was rocked by the sudden death of Russ ‘Sacko’ Saxton last month.
Numerous friends and fellow musicians left tributes on our Facebook page.

I first met Russ when I was try- take care of everything. He pro- I have a lot to thank Russ for. For
ing to put together the crazy idea moted and organised many events. initially joining in with my crazy
of a Budgie tribute band. He had many quirks too! He IFTK idea, for asking me to join
From then on we were in the bands would tell us loads of stories and his bands, for getting me onto
In For The Kill, Synner and DIIO jokes... more than once! He would stages that most people can only
stretching back a number of years, carry a bag and umbrella every- dream about (he played every-
plus I was the dep bass player for where, check he’d not forgotten where in the UK and abroad btw).
his band Sack Sabbath. anything countless times. He was He also helped me with my Hell
As Russ’s bass player in all these a bit of a moaner too especially Bent For Priest project. I am going
bands we played a lot of gigs, when it came to load ins! God help to miss him terribly. The truth was,
and I mean a LOT! playing most us if the venue had stairs! but I just I was already missing him anyway
weekends, so over this time span loved him all the more for it. He once I retired. He was not only my
we had become close friends and a loved his wife Tina Saxton and his musical partner for years, but a
tight musical unit. two daughters Vicky and Rebecca close friend, we never fell out once
Russ was not only a great musi- and all his true friends of whom in all those years, how rare is that?
cian, he was an intelligent, highly there was a great many. But I just loved the guy so much.
humorous, well read, and a loving, I retired from live work when the There will never be another char-
caring person. He had a dark, pandemic struck, but I was able acter like him. He was unique, a
wicked and often sick sense of to recommend my replacements one off. He has left a massive void
humour (which we shared!) which and we still kept in touch of in my life and on the music scene.
a lot of people didn’t always get, course. The last time I saw him He said he wanted to be a rock star
and he often rubbed people up the was recently at MFN, yet another when he was young and “make it”.
wrong way and they misunder- event he organised and I bought However I would argue he DID
stood him. He would say things to him a pint at the end of the DIIO make it given his achievements as
wind folk up all the time, includ- set as he came off stage. This was a pro musician, teaching, playing heart is broken, I can’t stop crying Guitar and the music school he set
ing me, usually tongue in cheek, a venue he loved to play long with endless gigs, recording, being on even as I write, and I know what up taught him piano and drums.
this is just how he was. However, Yarmouth (Legends Of Rock) TV etc. The Legends Arena hon- he would say in his best Notting- Such a legacy...
once you actually got to know which was especially a favourite our is very apt, if ever there was a ham accent.......Shut up ya gret Dean Harrison
him, the reality was he was a very which he played many times on legend it was him. wuss! Until we meet again for the
warm person, loyal to his friends, the bounce with Sack Sabbath. I He just loved to play and wow greatest gig ever, forever in my Russell Saxton died at his home
an honest straight forward talking played the Arena stage with him audiences with his immense guitar heart, Tone. in Kimberley on Saturday morn-
no nonsense what you see is what just the once with DIIO, proba- skills. But what got me, was when Tony Clark ing 13th November, aged 58. The
you get type of man. He was so bly the pinnacle of all my gigs I came over his side of the stage night before he had played a
good natured and just loved to for which I’ll be forever grateful. during his solo, and the interaction Russ was a great friend and I had gig with DIIO in Hull. He leaves
laugh all the time. He looked after How fitting then, that Legends between us. He sticks his tongue the honour to sing for him in four a wife Tina and two daughters,
his band mates and helped many have named the Arena stage in out at me and we were grinning bands over the years. You ran a Rebecca and Vicky. Although
bands with gigs often putting his honour, which just shows how like Cheshire cats. The love and story about ‘Ilkeston’s Hit Musical known mainly for his musical
up-and-coming bands on with his much people loved and respected mutual respect we had for each Composer’ my son William Pat- abilities, he was also a published
own gigs. He would book the gigs, him and I know he would have other is obvious and clear for all to rick Harrison a few months ago - it author, having written two rail-
organise any overnight stays, and loved that. see. RIP my great friend Russ. My was Russ that taught him Bass way books.