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Michael singing in The Moonlight Club in West Hampstead, Camden, in 1980, with brother Peter |
Tragic death of musician who ‘longed to make it in the charts’
Family’s tributes to well-known tube station busker found dead in his flat
THE family of an Angel tube station busker who was found dead in his home on Wednesday have paid tribute to his love of music.
Guitarist Michael Risingham was discovered hanged in his Midway House home in Manningford Close off Goswell Road, Finsbury, by police a day before his 49th birthday.
Family members had become concerned after he left answer phone messages on relatives’ machines at 6am.
They could not get hold of him later that day and alerted emergency services.
Speaking yesterday (Thursday), his brother Peter Risingham, also a musician, and his sister Ann Langford paid tribute to him as a “great brother and son” and remembered his passion for music and love of the band Talking Heads.
Peter recalled how in 1979, after a happy childhood in which the brothers would often go off camping and cycling and did “everything together,” they moved to London.
He described Michael, known affectionately as Mik, as a “good-looking guy” who had no trouble getting girlfriends and said life in the early days was good as they toured venues across London, including the legendary Marquee club and Camden Palace, now known as Koko, with the band The Singles, playing “power pop punk”.
Around 15 years ago Peter moved back to York while Michael, who shared the stage name Rizzo with his brother, stayed in London after joining a new band, The Passengers.
But Michael became increasingly withdrawn as his dreams for a hit record didn’t materialise and he began to struggle with relationships, Peter said.
Although Michael enjoyed busking – and could often be seen singing his own songs at Angel tube station– chart success eluded him and he began to long for home too, telling Peter he was “at his wits send” and trying to exchange his flat in London for one in York.
One of seven children, Michael never told his siblings he was suffering from depression until the later stages of his life.
Following a breakdown during his mother’s funeral in November when he began crying and warning that he needed help, Michael tried to take his own life three times and became increasingly beyond his family’s reach.
Peter said: “He changed overnight but said later on he was depressed for years.
“On the day of the funeral he collapsed and started freaking out saying he needed help. It was such a shock.”
Peter and Ms Langford said they thought their brother should have been sectioned after his previous suicide attempts.
Peter said: “He was a great brother and he was great to my dad. They would write screenplays together.”
Ms Langford said: “He was a lovely natured, witty lad.
“He liked the odd pint and he liked reading, but busking, music and writing his own songs were his passion.
“He always wanted a hit.”
At an opening at St Pancras Coroner’s Court yesterday (Thursday), Michael’s inquest was set for April 21. |
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