Anthony Reynolds, the Welsh musician who fronted ‘90s Britpop band Jack, is now homeless and struggling to find a roof over his head. Reynolds led Jack, known for being compared to artists such as Scott Walker, The Divine Comedy, Roxy Music and Suede, from 1992 to 2002 and produced three of their studio albums. However, the musician has been homeless “since his landlord sold the flat he had lived in for over a decade,” according to a GoFundMe page that has been created for him by John Williams.
The campaign, which aims to raise £8,000, has collected over £3,400 so far. The reason behind the fundraiser is stated in the GoFundMe page that explains that Reynolds had to face the “stigma” of being a “50 something self-employed musician/writer,” which made finding a new flat difficult. The page adds that Reynolds spent the last year sofa surfing, staying in B&Bs, caravans, and even a friend of a friend’s barn. He has been on the council waiting list for accommodation for years now, but the most they’ve been able to offer him is a possible bed in a notoriously violent and drug-ridden homeless hostel. Reynold’s parents are too elderly to accommodate him.
The money raised by the campaign, according to the GoFundMe page, would go towards a deposit on a new flat, advance rental payments as well as £3,000 to fund the storage costs with Cardiff council. Jack achieved a cult following in the UK during their tenure and found a loyal following around Europe. Jack also recorded an EP with Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde, called ‘La Belle et la Discotheque’ in 2000. Besides, Reynolds continued to record solo music after Jack, including the 2007 album ‘British Ballads,’ which featured contributions from writer Colin Wilson, Vashti Bunyan, and Simon Raymonde.
Apart from being a musician, Anthony Reynolds also authored several music biographies with subjects including Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and The Walker Brothers. However, Reynolds has completely run out of options, and he desperately needs a secure roof over his head. You can find the fundraiser page here
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