Meeting Bonnie Tyler as a Teenager
Rob Marshall, a concert pianist from Mumbles, Swansea, shared the story of how he first met Bonnie Tyler when he was 15 years old. As a teenage fan, he saw Tyler perform on the children’s TV series Swap Shop, purchased her album on cassette, and visited her home to request an autograph.
Marshall recalled the experience:
"I just knocked on the door. Got the wrong house, first of all, and just went to a modest, three-bedroom detached house which was hers at the time. We started talking... I'm a classical musician so we were talking about that. She just had so much time for people, in general."
He added,
"I think the second time I went round, for an autograph for a single or something, it was all 'come in, stick the kettle on and we'll have a cup of tea'. She used to come and watch me in school concerts and then later professional concerts as well."
The initial meeting sparked a lasting friendship between Marshall and Tyler, who invited him to her annual Christmas party years later.
Annual Christmas Day Gatherings
Marshall described how the invitation to Tyler’s Christmas event came about when he encountered her in a pub on Christmas Eve at around age 20. From that point, he attended her festive celebrations for 29 consecutive years, up until 2019.
"It was magical," Marshall said. "It was an open house... by the end, there were probably 250 people there. It really felt special."
He detailed the atmosphere of the gatherings:
"There was champagne flowing all day and a plentiful buffet. I met a host of famous people including Catherine Zeta Jones and Sir Gareth Edwards."
Marshall also shared that after his mother passed away, his father would accompany him to the events.
During these parties, Marshall and Tyler would perform music together, including carols and some of her biggest hits.
"We would do our little turn every year, playing carols as well as some of her biggest hits including Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out For a Hero."
On one occasion, they performed the entire 10-minute song Bat Out Of Hell alongside singer Lorraine Crosby, known for her vocals on Meat Loaf's 1993 hit single I'd Do Anything for Love.
Continued Friendship and Musical Bond
Marshall recalled how their friendship extended beyond the Christmas events. While studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music in Cardiff, he attended a St David's Day concert where Tyler was performing at St David’s Hall. After leaving a note with security, he was invited to join Tyler and her entourage for tea at the International Hotel.
"I took a college friend with me and everyone was gobsmacked [that I] knew Bonnie Tyler."
He also mentioned Tyler’s down-to-earth nature and willingness to perform in various settings, including joining him on stage during a friend's band gig and participating in karaoke.
"There were two types of people, I think, who knew her and her husband. There were people who knew Bonnie and Robert, and people who knew Bobby and Gaynor. And I don't think I've ever called her Bonnie in my life - Gaynor and Love, I think that was it."
Marshall expressed his deep affection for Tyler, describing her as a unique and talented individual.
"[She was] a one-off, far more talented than anybody will ever know, one of the most emotional singers I've ever heard, normal, a good drinker. There's so many things. She was just lovely... beautiful inside and out."
He also shared his plans to honor her memory by lighting a candle in the local church.
Bonnie Tyler’s Passing and Legacy
On Thursday morning, a statement on Bonnie Tyler's official website confirmed that the singer had died the previous day in Portugal after a period of illness. The Skewen-born artist, who lived in Mumbles, is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Robert Sullivan.
Desmond Child’s Tribute
Desmond Child, a four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter who wrote and produced many songs for Tyler as well as hits for Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, and Cher, expressed his grief upon learning of her death.
"Honestly, I fell apart," Child said. "We were very close."
"Everything about her was majestic, yet humble at the same time, and I'm just so lucky that I got to work with her. She would cackle, she would laugh. She had endless amounts of energy and she loved everybody, she was sweet to everybody."
"The beauty of her was that, though her voice is an international, global treasure, she was happy singing in a pub."
Child acknowledged the significance of the song that initially inspired Marshall’s admiration for Tyler: If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man), which was featured on Swap Shop and written by Child himself.
Remembering a Musical Icon
Marshall reflected on the impact Tyler had on those around her and the community in Mumbles.
"I have got so many happy memories, we will all miss her. Walking around Mumbles yesterday, it was almost like there's a mist over the place."
His tribute highlights Tyler’s exceptional talent, warmth, and approachable personality that endeared her to fans and friends alike.
