Tributes paid to 'the Jimi Hendrix of the North East' after Sunderland guitarist's death at the age of 67

Sunderland rock guitarist Peter Barclay played for a number of bands on the region’s pubs and clubs’ circuit from the 1960s through to the late 1980s.

They included the group he is mainly remembered for, Lucas Tyson, plus Freight, Gambler, Rocky and Once Bitten.

Peter, who was born with spina bifida and was a wheelchair user in recent years, died on January 16 with a funeral service to take place on Thursday, January 28.

His best friend and former roadie, Ray Bateley, 70, of Newbottle, said: “He was a brilliant guitarist.

"A lot of people referred to him as the Jimi Hendrix of the North East. He could play anything by him and there would be queues outside the club doors to see him.”

Left handed like his music hero, Peter’s trademark guitar was a right-handed white Fender Stratocaster which he restrung to play upside down.

Mr Bateley, a retired mechanical fitter, factory worker and courier, said: “He even tried to play right handed and could just about manage it. But he came into his own playing left handed.”

Peter’s sister-in-law, Margaret Barclay, 69, of Sunderland, also paid tribute to him, adding: “He was a typical musician, very temperamental.

"But he was also generous, loyal and talented.

"He had a lot of friends and was very devoted to his late parents.

"If he saw a charity appeal on television then he would donate towards it even if he did not have a lot himself.”

Mrs Barclay’s late husband, Steve, who was Peter’s elder brother, used to attend many of the gigs to help with lighting and to “keep an eye on Peter, not always successfully”.

Peter, who attended the city’s Argyle House and Thornhill schools and lived in Ashbrooke, also battled a rare condition which meant he could not feel pain.

Mrs Barclay said: “Nothing seemed to hurt him so he was not frightened to do anything. That resulted in a lot of broken bones and spells in hospital.”

Thursday’s 4pm service is restricted to close family members owing to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

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