Aussie rock legend Damien Lovelock farewelled with paddle-out tribute
Hundreds of people attended a paddle-out on the northern beaches to celebrate the life of Celibate Rifles frontman Damien Lovelock, who died earlier this month.
Manly
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HE will be remembered as a charismatic rock legend whose friendships extended to people of all walks of life.
That was certainly evident on Saturday when hundreds of people farewelled Damien Lovelock at Newport Beach.
A celebration of life tribute saw about 80 people take part in a paddle-out to honour the Celibate Rifles frontman, who died earlier this month following a battle with cancer. He was 65.
About 400 people attended the tribute, which also included fond memories being told of Lovelock.
“It was an incredible mixture of people (who attended), from the music world, the radio and television world, the yoga world and the surfing world,” friend and filmmaker Jack McCoy said.
“It was a celebration of his life and there were a couple of tear-jerking stories that choked everybody up.
“But those stories were far outweighed by the laughs people had, as people shared their experiences with Damien.”
As part of the paddle-out, a makeshift gateway — organised by surfing identity Nick Carroll — featured some of Lovelock’s swimming belongings.
Mr McCoy said it was a “beautiful day” and there was a moment during the paddle-out that suggested Lovelock was at the celebration in spirit.
It occurred when, despite the calm conditions, a six-foot high wave unexpectedly crashed through the circle of surfers.
“This one wave came out of nowhere... it was only one wave,” he said.
“It took them (the surfers) down after the wave broke about 20ft behind them.
“When it came in I said: ‘That’s Damien... there’s our boy’.”
Celibate Rifles band member Kent Steedman said the tribute was a fitting way to say goodbye to Lovelock.
“The band was happy with it and it was respectful and well orgainsed,” he said.
Lovelock — who along with being a famed Aussie musician — was also known for being a soccer analyst on SBS as well as a popular yoga teacher on the northern beaches.
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