Legendary Clare Musician, Johnny Fean will be laid to rest on Thursday afternoon after passing peacefully at his Shannon residence last week.
Born in Dublin in 1951 , Johnny’s lengthy and successful musical career began at a young age where throughout his teenage years, spent in Limerick City & over the river in Shannon, Johnny could be found playing at sessions on any variety of the guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica.
Despite flourishing early ventures with progressive country rock groups ‘Jeremiah Henry’ & ‘Sweet Street’ , Johnny was best known for his tenure with Irish Celtic Rock Band , ‘Horslips’ whom he joined as lead guitarist in 1972.
Under Johnny’s influence, the band produced some of their most famous tracks including ‘Trouble With A Capital T’ & ‘Dearg Doom’.
The guitar riffs from ‘Dearg Doom’ would later be incorporated as a large component of the instrumentals for the Irish Soccer teams 1990 World Cup Song ‘Put Em Under Pressure’.
The band paid tribute to Johnny on their official Facebook page on Friday afternoon.
“Horslips are deeply saddened to announce the passing of band member Johnny Fean, who died this morning at his home in Shannon.”
“For well over 50 years Johnny was our best friend, our creative collaborator, our guitar hero. Johnny wasn’t only one of the greatest guitar players ever, he was also the sweetest man in rock and roll.”
Johnny is Deeply missed by his heartbroken family, wife Maggie, brothers Donal, Shearie and Ray, sisters Gail and Corna, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, Horslips band members Barry, Jimmy, Charles and Eamon, nephews, nieces, extended Horslips family, neighbours and his many friends.
Johnny will lie in Repose at Mc Mahons Funeral Home Shannon this Wednesday (3rd May) from 5pm to 7pm followed by removal to Mary Immaculate Church for Funeral Mass Thursday (4th May) at 11am followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium at 1pm.
Further information can be found here
