Power Of Dreams pay tribute to their former bandmate Robbie Callan

Hot Press is deeply saddened by the death following several months of illness of Robbie Callan, the Dublin guitarist who was a pivotal part of the early Power Of Dreams line-up and went on to perform as part of Crush and with his own outfit Callan.

He was the supplier of many of the memorable licks and riffs to be heard on Immigrants, Emigrants And Me, POD’s classic 1990 debut album for Polydor, which came tantalisingly close to breaking them internationally. Still as vital sounding now as it was back in the day, it's a record that no self-respecting collection should be without.

"Farewell to our bandmate, brother and friend Robbie Callan,” the band say in a joint Facebook communiqué. “We are devastated at his too soon passing. We would like extend our sincerest condolences to Robbie’s Dad Joe, his sisters Margaret, Carmel, Pauline and Mary and to all his extended family and friends. Funeral arrangements will be made available early next week.

“Robbie joined Power of Dreams in 1988. He was a couple of years older than we were and had far more experience in bands than we did at the time. He taught us a lot about professionalism and the importance of rehearsing. As a result we became a much better band and within 18 months we signed a major label deal.

“We spent endless hours together, in rehearsal rooms, in the back of vans touring and most importantly as friends. Wherever we were, Robbie brought a lightness, a sense of fun and endless laughter.

“Onstage, Robbie’s presence was an awe inspiring display of punk rock attitude. He was fearless. Years later Robbie still had the power to charge a live room.”

In the first of a series of personal tributes, Craig Walker, who still fronts the rebooted Power Of Dreams, remembers catching a Callan show in 2007.

“It was a small venue and it was half-full,” he says, “but it might as well have been Wembley Stadium for the energy Robbie created. It was theatrical and punk. Midway through the last song Robbie jumped offstage with his guitar, went through the bar, down the stairs, out of the venue, onto the street and came back up into the venue behind the audience. He jumped back onstage and without missing a beat, joined in again with the band. All these years later and he was still a master of his craft.”

Power Of Dreams bassist Mick Lennox adds: “I first met Robbie through Spike, Henny, Darren, Amanda and Nicky. I was a wannabe Cure head and the gang was all the local punks and goths. I remember our first jam session with Robbie and Craig in Robbie’s shed. Craig played him some of the tunes we would go on to do together on Immigrants…. Robbie could write a lick like ‘Stay’ or ‘100 Ways’ as turning on the amp. I remember we were buzzing walking out of his shed with Craig knowing this was our guitarist, the final piece of Power Of Dreams.

“Rob didn’t need millions of dollars or boats or hanging out in L.A but he was everything a rock star should be. Always about the music and the vibe. Robbie was hailed by Sounds magazine as the new Terry Bickers. I remember us playing this massive festival in Nice, France. The journalist Dave Cavanagh could not have been more in love with Robbie’s playing .

“Rob was a unique person who’d instantly make any night out a million times more fun. Robbie just had that aura about him; he was one of the funniest guys I ever met and that never changed, all the way through our friendship. We had some brilliant nights in the Columbia hotel meeting Lemmy and anyone else that hung out in the bar where we held court.

“My last time with Rob was at my stag do, when as always in five minutes of arriving he had everyone on the floor in fits. You'll always be a hero to me and a rock star and I will miss you deeply. Love you always my pal. As you always said, This is it! Robbie D, the one and only.”

Keith Walker paints an equally vivid picture of Robbie the friend and bandmate.

“I was only 13 when I first met Robbie, he was quite a bit older than me but he didn’t treat me like a kid as many of my peers understandably did,” he says. “I was completely in awe of his guitar playing, his style and his rock 'n' roll energy. ‘Keith man, hit them harder’ and I did.

“Robbie and I clicked from the jump and remained good friends for 30+ years. There are literally hundreds of stories I could share of laughter as we zig-zagged across the globe with POD and then later when I rejoined Robbie along with Vinny Ryan to form Crush. Robbie was an absolute joy to be around and a joy to play music with, his guitar playing and stage presence were both electric. I am beyond sad as I write this and will miss you dearly my brother. Sleep easy, Robbie D. Love you man!”

Team Hot Press extends its condolences to Robbie's friends, family and bandmates down through the years. His is an extremely sad loss.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say farewell to our band mate, brother and friend Robbie Callan.
We are devastated at his too soon passing. We would like extend our sincerest condolences to all who know and loved Robbie 💔 https://t.co/so2GhJqvVt

— powerofdreams (@powerofdreams30) January 3, 2021

RIP Robbie Callan @powerofdreams30 have lost a brother - love to his father Joe, sisters Margaret, Pauline, Mary, Carmel 💔 pic.twitter.com/F5tqhpVq27

— Craig Walker (Official) (@craigwalkeroff) January 2, 2021