Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Amy Winehouse post-mortem takes place

A post-mortem examination into the death of Amy Winehouse has taken place.
No cause of death has been given, while an inquest was opened and adjourned until 26 October. Results of further toxicology tests could take four weeks.
The 27-year-old singer's body was found on Saturday at her home in Camden, north London.
Her father Mitch thanked fans for their tributes saying: "I can't tell you what this means to us. It really is making this a lot easier."
Visiting his daughter's home, he added the loss left him "speechless".
"Amy was about one thing and that was love. Her whole life was devoted to her family and her friends and to you guys as well," Mitch Winehouse told fans gathered in Camden Square.
The singer's mother and brother also visited the site to see the flowers, cards and photos fans laid in tribute.
A representative for Winehouse said the funeral would not take place on Monday.
A family spokesman said earlier the funeral would be held as soon as possible, with coroners issuing interim death certificates allowing arrangements to be made.
Traditionally, Jewish funerals take place as quickly as possible following a death.
In a statement, her family said they had been left "bereft" by their loss, adding: "She leaves a gaping hole in our lives."
'Musical soulmate' The Brit and Grammy award-winner had struggled with drink and drug addiction for many years and had recently spent time in rehab.
But police have declined to say whether her death was drug-related.
Police spokesman Supt Raj Kohli said: "It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death."
He added: "My sympathy extends not just to her immediate family but clearly to the thousands and millions of fans across the world."
There have been no arrests made.
Flowers, pictures and messages are left in tribute to Amy Winehouse 
Celebrity friends and her fans have been paying tribute to the singer
The singer, who topped the charts with her album Back To Black, was found dead by a member of her security team.
The album re-entered the charts on Sunday almost five years after it was released. The record, produced by Mark Ronson, climbed to number 59.
Tributes have been pouring in from her celebrity friends.
Ronson, who produced Winehouse's second album Back to Black, said: "She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life."
Comedian and actor Russell Brand posted a statement on his website, saying: "We have lost a beautiful and talented woman."
Brand, who has also struggled with drug addiction in the past, described one of the first times he saw her perform.
"Entering the space I saw Amy on stage with [Paul] Weller and his band; and then the awe. The awe that envelops when witnessing a genius," he said.
At the time he met Winehouse, Brand had not yet completely stopped taking drugs and he said the pair of them "shared an affliction, the disease of addiction".
Camden stage Winehouse made her last public appearance on Wednesday night when she joined her goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield, on stage at the Roundhouse in Camden.
The singer danced with 15-year-old Bromfield and encouraged the audience to buy her album in the impromptu appearance.
Just two hours after news broke of the singer's death, Bromfield took to the stage at a festival in Pontypridd in Wales and did not mention her godmother.
Music promoters said she had been under no pressure to perform and commended her professionalism.
Mitch and Amy Winehouse  
Amy Winehouse was close to her father Mitch
Last month, Winehouse pulled out of a comeback tour after she was jeered during her first gig in Serbia, when she appeared to be too drunk to perform.
For 90 minutes, she mumbled through parts of songs and at times left the stage - leaving her band to fill in.
She had recently finished a course of alcohol rehabilitation in London and was under strict instructions not to drink.
Former head of Island Records, Mark Marot, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the singer's record company had behaved responsibly.
"Island has behaved very well with Amy, and has taken very public measures to wean her away from self-harming behaviour."
Alan McGee, the man behind Creation Records, which launched bands like Oasis, Primal Scream and Super Furry Animals, said: "If someone takes too many drugs, it's their problem."
McGee, who had a well-documented drug problem himself in the 1990s, added: "Only you can get yourself clean, it's all immaterial unless you get clean."
Winehouse won widespread acclaim with her 2003 debut album, Frank - which was nominated for the Mercury Prize.
But it was 2006's Back to Black which brought her worldwide stardom, winning five Grammy Awards.

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