Charles Haddon ‘was lovely guy’
Friends’ tributes to one of brightest talents on music scene
Published: 26 August, 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
FRIENDS have paid tribute to the frontman of a Camden Town-based band who fell to his death at a music festival in Belgium on Friday.
They described Charles Haddon, 22, who formed the band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool in Camden Town, as “one of the brightest talents” on its music scene with everything to live for.
His band – which featured colleagues Joe Hutchison and Caan Capan, both from Camden – was about to release its debut album this autumn and had planned a headline tour of Britain and a festival tour of Australia. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool had already played Glastonbury twice.
Mr Haddon had recently moved out of a shared flat in Pratt Street, Camden Town, where he lived with his bandmates. He was said to have been overjoyed at moving in with his girlfriend to a new flat in Belsize Park.
Police are treating his death as suicide after his body was found in a car park at the Pukkelpop festival on Friday. They are working on the theory that he leapt from a communications tower at the festival in Hasselt, near the Dutch border.
His death came hours after he dived into the audience and injured a female fan.
Friends described the tragedy as “totally out of character” but said that it would have been in keeping with his caring nature to have felt overwhelming guilt about the accident involving the fan. It is thought Mr Haddon feared the girl had been crippled, although more recent reports suggest she will make a full recovery.
Friend Will Robertson, 29, said the accident was the only reason those who knew Mr Haddon could give for the death. “Charlie was a very caring guy,” he added. “It would have been in character for him to be mortified, but at first none of us could believe it was suicide.
“One of his best friends said he went to the hospital and was confronted by the girl’s older brother. Apparently, the father was a doctor and it was his diagnosis that she wouldn’t walk.”
Mr Robertson, a chef at Mr Haddon’s favourite pub, the Crown and Goose in Arlington Road, Camden Town, said his friend’s death was all the more shocking because he had been happy and looking forward to the future.
He spoke to the singer just days before his death. They had planned to have dinner together this week. Mr Robertson added: “He was really happy and couldn’t wait for the tour. He was excited and thought the new material would break them into headliners. This was completely unexpected.”
He described Mr Haddon, who was brought up in Northampton, as the “heart and soul of a party”. He was the driving force behind one of the most promising bands on Camden’s famous music scene, while his fun-loving nature won him hundreds of friends in a close-knit Camden Town community.
Adie Nunn, an events programmer for Camden Town’s bars and pubs, said: “I’d say they were an important band for the area. There are not many bands around that represent the scene – it’s all east London now. They were poised for success. Their album was out in October and Dance the Way I Feel [their debut single] had sold tens of thousands in Australia.”
She recalled how, the last time she saw Mr Haddon, he was downing a bottle of Tabasco in the spirit of a drink-fuelled night.
Mr Robertson said: “The band were Camden-based but were also one of its biggest exports. It’s had a big effect on everybody – they had loads of friends here and were one of the biggest Camden bands.
“He was always happy, always smiling. He could walk in a room and light it up. He always had time for you.”
Ben McDonald, general manager of the Crown and Goose, where a wake was held for Mr Haddon this weekend, described him as “one of the loveliest people and one of the brightest talents on the Camden music scene”.
He added: “Charlie was loved deeply by all at the Crown and Goose and his presence will be sorely missed. He will never be forgotten.”
Matt Risebero, the pub’s assistant manager, said: “He was an absolutely brilliant, lovely, generous and kind guy. He was very talented and had a great future.” Friends on his Facebook page remembered him as someone who would give any fellow musician support while one paid tribute to his love of whiskey.
La Roux’s Elly Jackson and Luke Pitchard from the Kooks played songs in memory of “my friend Chaz” during festival sets over the weekend. A memory book has been placed at the Crown and Goose by Mr Haddon’s mother.