your comments
Susan Lewis, Seven Sisters
I lost one of my best friends. We met when I was a student at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. I played cello. A very nice bloke, we jammed for hours along with Phill (now in America) and Geraint Watkins (Bill Wymans Rhythm Kings). A true Welshperson not forgetting BJ who provided us with the tea. Some of the happiest moments of my life. My love goes out to Heather (Tich's wife) and family for whom he cared for first and foremost. They were very kind to me through the break up of my marriage to my husband. I hope if you see this you will keep in touch. Love Sue, still here in Seven Sisters, Neath.
Tom Seymour Splott Cardiff
A very talented and humble man he played with the superclarks on my 40th birthday he is very missed as are the days in the back room of the oak
Adrian Angove from Boston, Lincolnshire
During 1971 I played bass with Titch in a heavy rock band called "Spike" that spent most of the year in Germany and Switzerland. Apart from his supreme musicianship Titch was a gentle, kind, and considerate human being. I remember one August night at a Zurich club in the stifling hot and oppressive summer heat, in front of an enthusiastic packed house of mostly American tourists, all sat crosslegged on the floor...Tich decided to give the rest of the tired and sweating band a break...and climbed onto the stage stripped the waist...where he played a complete 45 minute set on his own...Bob Dylan songs, classic rock and roll and several instrumentals including Sabre Dance and a version of Zep's Stairway to Heaven ... and of course his eclectic Welsh Anthem that blew the crowd away. He came off stage to a standing ovation that lasted nearly ten minutes. It was a long and exhausting tour and Titch was very pleased to get back to his girlfriend Heather just in time for Christmas. I miss his eternal smile and cheery presence.
Dave Watkins, Superclarks Drummer, Rhondda
I must comment on the still ongoing debate regarding the 'lost Hendrix' tapes. Having crashed a few cymbals through many many versions of the Anthem with Titch, I can only say this; those 'lost' tapes may not be Hendrix but they are certainly not Titch - they are not good enough !!!
Steve Power, Austin, Texas, USA
I had the immense privilege of Titch as guitarist with Sting Like A Bee on our first tour of Holland. He left S.L.A.B. to return to the Superclarks, theoretically to pursue his "own" music. Next time I saw the Superclarks Titch was playing my songs! Great guy. Sorely missed.
Sab, France
I have met Tich in 1993 in the Royal Oak and was privileged to have a few guitar lessons from him. He was humble, human. I just happened to search on youtube some of his videos and was really stunned to see he was gone..... He is the best guitarist I've ever seen. Repose en paix mon ami.
Bob Hill, Australia
I grew up watching and listning to Titch in the Oak. I would be in work and couldn't wait to get down the pub and have a pint, and get lost in the world class music that pub was home to. There is no doubt he was a master and an inspiration. And by god he was loud - ha ha hah! Rest in peace, mate.
Peggie Blyth ex Cardiff
Still think about gigs at Moon and Royal Oak. Tich will be a great miss both to friends and fans.
Wyn Griffith from Yeovil
In the mid to late eighties I used to drive up from Yeovil to stay with my brother Alun in Cardiff on weekends - we had the best of times. Sunday lunchtime with Phil and Tich and loads of Guiness/Hurlimans/SA as was your choice...(Sunday evenings with Snatch it back - unfortunately it meant an early start to get back down to somerset for work on Monday)I got married in 1990 and booked The SuperClarks to play at my wedding (in the Bell in at Ash outside Yeovil). Fond memories of a true talent and a really nice guy. Thanks for the music Tich.
alice, crosson
I grew up with Tich being the daughter of Phil. (aka Phil and Tich) I remember the many Sundays my dad would take me to The Royal Oak. Its a part of my life I will always treasure and appretiate. May you rest in peace Tich. Alice Mignaud.
Darren McGregor
Every week I would make sure I would be there at the Royal Oak - no matter what! Such a sad loss for everyone.
Vince Owen
To know Tich and to see him play ... what a guy. Sadly missed, never forgoten ... if I could turn back time...
John Newman, Salt Spring Island, Canada
Surely one the all time greats in the Welsh music world. I remember Tich's amazing energy and sheer dedication to his craft. The freezing cold practise halls and the slogging gigs at numerous valley clubs did little to blunt his passion. I spent many crazy nights on the road with Kimla Taz (going by the name of Comrade) and survived a gig at the infamous Sands Club due to Tich's quick intervention!Your music lives on in our hearts Tich.
Andy Thompson, Cardiff
Sundays and Thursdays in The Oak, Phil and Tich, no drums no bass ... superfluous. Some of the greatest nights of my life spent in that dingy yet wonderful back room. "Sabre Dance Tich, let's all go home on a high". Now you're gone my brother ... the peace is yours, the memories are mine.
David Burns, Cardiff
Titch Gwilym and the Royal Oak were a fantastic combination whatever he played – acoustic or electric. A great musician and a gentle man. Sorely missed.
Lee Tantum from Beddau
Titch was an old friend of my auntie (Liz Tantum) and also knew my fahter (Dai Tantum aka Dai Elvis aka Spider from Maesycoed). My dad showed me Titch playing guitar on a TV show for S4C called Mardi Gras, and I loved his playing from that day. He played a song which was his own composition, and I fell in love with it. But because I was only a young guitarist at the time, I couldn't figure out how to play it. Somehow my dad found out that Titch and the boys played in the Royal Oak every week. So we went down to see him, my dad and him caught up with a chat and what not.. then we seen him play and my God was this guy amazing. After the gig my dad told Titch that I was trying to learn his song, so Titch took me up to the stage and he taught me there and then how to play the song. He said it was called "Going South" or something like that... he didn't seem too sure himself! I was only about 14 or 15 years old at the time and I remember being so chuffed that Titch himself had taught me somehting on the guitar. I have respected him since that day. Sadly I never saw him again after that. Now I'm putting a blues band together, and will be playing that song in tribute to the legend that was Mr Titch Gwilym. May God Bless your resting soul Titch... you'll never be forgotten!
Dave Watkins, The Drummer and Superclark
Tichatus, was one of the best and without doubt THE most exciting guitarist I've played with. Those sessions at the Royal Oak in Cardiff remain one of the highlights of my drum playing career especially after Cass's Room. Tich, Burke Shelley and I had some great moments and I am lucky enough to have a few recordings of those days ... as Mike Monk will verify ... we've actually seen his amp catch fire during a Hendrix tune. Whatever harp he's playing it had better be strong. We all loved him ... and still do.
Mea Cardiff, Wotton-under-edge
I went with my boyfriend's family to his wake and the tribute gig. Although both were quite sad, emotional occasions, I have to say both meetings rocked! I never knew the guy but I think he would have been proud! Fair play!
Howy from Roath
I gave Tich gigs and beef stew - he could play any style, copy anyone, play anything. But he was best being himself. No argument about Hendrix ripping Tich's version of 'Mae Hen Wlad Fy'n Hadau' - Jimi couldn't live with him. Miss him.
Tony Velasquez, Panama
Tich and I including Phil were great friends back in Cardiff early 80´s. Shared the best of times. I still have a recording he gave me before I returned to Panama where he plays the charango (Bolivian little guitar - 10 strings). Through this instrument we became friends.
Andy Thermal, Pontypridd
We (The Royal Oak Formation Drinking Team) had the immense luck to have had Tich playing twice a week for so many years. Hundreds of gigs, gallons of good ale,a nd the odd jazz woodbine! I feel priveledged to have known him, proud to have played with him and thankful for all the great music he opened my mind to. A tiny, twitchy, nervy, giant of a man.
Jimsim, Holyhead
Never forgotten! You rocked.... the anthem ...forever...
Jonathan Hibbert, Tonypandy
Always wanted to know this guy. Met him briefly once through a friend. Seen him one afternoon in a local pub and he played Hendrix, one of the best afternoons I've ever had.
John Westerman
Jimi Hendrix was a consumate artiste who understood that it's not the timing of the notes one played but the spaces in between. Titch must have known this at some level as his renditions of Hendrix at the Royal Oak could not be bettered by any guitarist living or dead and would have made the Man himself respect and appreciate Titch whose humilty and talent are so sorely missed by all who knew him. I have no doubt that they are jamming right now on Jupiter, the planet of music, where I have spent some time enjoying Jimi's company. God bless them both.
Mike Jenkins, Penygraig, now Cardiff
Titch and I were boys growing up in Penygraig and my dad was a radio ham who got cards from all round the world and Titch collected stamps. So did I, and we would meet over his house to swap the exotics l got off my dad's cards - from places we'd never heard of like the Belgian Congo or Balikpapan Island in Borneo and the like. Many years later we met up again in Cardiff in the 80's after my London days and I discovered how great he was on guitar - a true talent that could have easily found a place in any band in the world. Underneath it all a genuine, modest, honest and open guy - impossible to do anything other than really really like the man. Couldn't believe it when I heard of his death. What a loss and how sad and unlikely the circumstance that brought it about. Can still see us as boys now arguing over which stamp was better and how many would we swap for that one or this ... innocent days in the Rhondda, sometimes you don't know just how precious those kind of days are, or the people you share them with.
Jamie Dore from Australia
From rocking the Royal Oak in Cardiff to playing cherranga in Bethesda Rugby Club, he was a complete and utter professional and a gentleman. Such a loss. His rendition of 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' sent shivers up your spine. What a guy. What a loss...
Keri Thomas
Titch used to play with Phil, who then left for Florida. I was a regular attender at The Royal Oak, in Cardiff, for many years. We used to count the takings from the pint glass which was passed around after a session.
I believe the much-disputed, was it or wasn't it Jimi Hendrix version of the Welsh National anthem - was Titch. I know I'd been on the lager but I heard it so many times and with so many variations, according to Titch's mood. Titch had gone for interviews for session work and was told that his voice was't strong enough! He was a great guy, who had great talent and enormous capacity to engage an audience. He was fantastic playing South American folk music on his Turango (if that's the right spelling).
I miss him a lot.
Julian Fedosiuk, London
I saw him many times down the Royal Oak in 1994-5. It's such a sad shame someone with this talent never got the respect that he truly deserved. Cardiff and Wales' best kept secret.
Clem, Pen y graig
I knew Titch when he lived in Pen y graig in the Rhondda. He would come over the house to see my mother when she was ill. That was Titch - a lovely friend, sadly missed. God bless you Titch.
Mackey, Planet Earth
I knew Tich before he was recognised as a giant ... he knew me before I knew myself. Tich was a musician's musician, as essential to Welsh music as mountains are to Wales, although there were and still are no boundaries that could contain his love and expression of music. You're a good man gone Tich, sadly missed as a musician, even more as a friend. Those who heard you will remember. those who didn't will never know what they missed. I will remember for them. Rock on.
Colin Totterdell from Exeter
Heard of Rob's death on BBC Newsnight 3/1/07 (re discussion about Hendrix lost tapes). Absolutely gutted - worked with him at East Moors steelworks in the mid seventies and was a regular visitor to him and wife Heather's home in Cardiff. We had regular jams and he taught me loads of stuff - best player I ever met. Such a sad loss to all. I'll see you on the next one Rob so don't be late x.
Ed Welsh
Jan 2007, Hendrix lost anthem tapes fuss. What fuss, it's obviously not Hendrix. It could however be one of Titch's versions.
Terry Mason, Gelli, Rhodda
I remember talking to Tich about a week or so before he died. Fantastic, brilliant - what more?
Chris Ashton, Thailand
The last time I saw Tich was in the Old Arcade about 5 or 6 years ago. I was having a pint with his old mate, Mav. It was freezing cold and Tich walked in and joined us. He had domestic problems at the time, as I remember. Nice man. I used to go along to Royal Oak on a Thursday nite when I was back from the Far East to get a few pints down and bit of what I was missing. Tich could play Jimi, and after a few pints of SA you'd think Jimi had risen from the dead and had somehow wound up in a smokey back bar room in Splott. Phil and Tich! I remember them doing a song about waking down Melrose Avenue on an acid trip. What a sad loss. God bless Tich.
Jude 'n' Mark, Abergavenny
The Sunday lunchtimes and the Thursday evenings at the Royal Oak will be always be remembered with great joy. He was an amazing guitarist and we are glad to haver known him and be some of the many people privileged to hear him play. He played Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau unlike anyone else - he will be sorely missed. RIP beaut...
MIke (The Rev) Kenworthy Cwmbran
I knew Titch in the days of Kimla Taz and the Locomotive Folk Club with BJ, Geraint and Heather. We would frequently talk late into the night about the more esoteric and Christian things of life and this was when Titch christened me 'The Rev' whilst listening to 'A Very Cellular Song from The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' by The Incredible String Band. Titch went on to do some work with Robin Williamson.
A fitting tribute for Titch would be the last stanza of that song:
May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
Goodnight Titch.
Keep heaven rocking til I get there.
Rob Lewis, London
A great loss of an unbelievable talent. A little gang of us used to drive down from London on a Sunday morning to get into the Oak as the bolts drew back. It's very difficult to believe that I will never hear that band again
Big Al Davies
The Phil and Titch lunchtime gigs were magnificent, Dewi Watkins on double bass, who sang "Goodnight Irene" in a similar, rougher voice than his brother Geraint, I also remember them playing "Sabre Dance", Dylan, early Beatles, "Love in Vain", didn't realise how great those days were at the time, Phil and Titch lunchtime and Snatch it Back in the evening.
RIP Titch, a legend, a true star.
Phil Hexter
Titch will be greatly missed. I regularly went to the Royal Oak to see Phil and Titch (who then became Titch and Phil) and the double bassist playing. Purple Haze with an accoustic guitar, double bass accompaniment and several pints of SA on Sunday lunchtimes. Magical times.
Later the interplay between Titch and Burke Shelley when they played with the Super Clerkes was unbelievable. Music of that quality, free in the backroom of a Splot pub! Magical times.
Deb Hill (Bower) Barry
Just found out (October). Shocked and stunned! What a tragic loss to the music scene....a genius!!
I used to regularly go to the Royal Oak years ago to see Titch and Phil Mignion play....brilliant! And then later on with B Shelly, they were great gigs!
Gareth Minton from Bridgend
I met Titch in Tonypandy when I was in a band with Keith Dickenson. I was the guitar player. Then I wasn't the guitar player. Titch took my place in the band. Thanks for the lesson Titch. He became an inspiration to myself and many others around the Valley. Respect. R.I.P.
Janet, British Virgin Islands
Bouncer, you said it all. Respect to Titch.
Bouncer, Vietnam
How sad that Titch is no longer with us. This guitarist was an extraordinary musician. I first met him when he played lead for Kimla Taz and I was singing for Zap. His musicianship was an example to us all, and what a nice guy! So, come on all you Cardiff bands of yesteryear - remember your mate Titch. Let's hear the praise and feel the love for a true master of guitar. It isn't obligatory to have had a No 1 hit to achieve fame and genuine respect.
Rhys Hughes from Fishguard
There are people who can play and people where music comes from their soul. Titch was without doubt one of the greatest guitarists bar none. What a loss and what a privilege to have known this quiet unassuming hero of rock.
Dai Harding
Titch was one of the very best, man and musician. Some of the best ever rock nights out in Cardiff was when Titch was playing - he surely did rock, and such an unasumming guy.
Acclaimed Welsh rock guitarist
