Tad Lancucki: An unsung hero, dearly missed

Last week, I discovered that Tad Lancucki, a ubiquitous and much-loved regular of the London gig scene had sadly passed away.

I can’t remember the first time I spoke to Tad (although most likely it was at one of the half-dozen Broken Records sets we’d both attended), but I’d certainly seen him around at countless shows over the years, dependably occupying the front row of the Luminaire or Water Rats or any number of the city’s smaller, more intimate venues. A passionate supporter of local bands, he evangelised about many of London’s up-and-coming talents, including Pete and the Pirates, Lulu and the Lampshades, the Wave Pictures, Revere and the Outside Royalty.

But his tastes certainly weren’t limited to UK bands- as long as they had promise, Tad would give them a shot. If you ever asked him what shows he had lined up, he’d deftly conjure up a piece of paper where he’d neatly noted down perhaps the most comprehensive gig schedule London’s ever seen; I mean, I’m a man who goes to a fair number of shows, but this quiet, good-mannered gent seriously put me to shame.

Indeed, one of the only things that could drag him away from live music was his other great love – marathon-running. Although in his 61st year, he continued to regularly run in events across Europe; it sometimes proved difficult for him to balance his two passions (especially when a race clashed with a particularly tempting gig) but he appeared to manage somehow.

Tad attended shows until the last; a mutual friend had been chatting to him at a Guillemots gig only days before he suddenly and tragically collapsed on 14 March 2011 at his South London home. It’s slightly surreal knowing I’ll never see him stalwartly holding the barrier ever again; a genuine supporter of independent talent, a true music fan and most of all, a thoroughly good bloke, he will be missed.

Tad’s friend John Gleeson contributed the following tribute:

“The first time Tad and I struck up a conversation was at the end of a Broken Records gig when we were both trying to get the band’s set list. Well, the outcome was good for both of us as we both got a copy. This friendly rivalry continued whenever we met at a show; if one of us did not manage to get a set list the other would photograph it.

“I know that Tad much preferred the smaller gigs to the arena type shows, but occasionally he would be spotted at one of the larger vneues. In fact soon after the Broken Records gig I went to see Sigur Ros at Alexandra Palace, rushing in to stake a place at the barrier – I turned to my left and who was there but Tad. I often suggested that he should try going to one of the smaller UK festivals,where his favourite artists would often be performing, but he said camping was not for him.

“I still cannot believe that we will no longer see Tad at future gigs. He had a real passion for live music and was a genuinely nice guy.”

Photograph of Pete and the Pirates by Tad