The manager of New Model Army and The Almighty, Tommy Tee, died suddenly just before Christmas after suffering from a thoracic aortic dissection. He was only 46.
Tee began working with New Model Army in 1982, initially as a driver and then as tour manager. He left to manage The Almighty in 1990, signing them to Polydor, before returning to work with NMA in 1996 as their overall manager.
An early advocate of the power of the internet for established bands, he helped NMA to self-release new material ensuring them ownership and control over their recordings, publishing rights and merchandise.
He was known for his hands-on approach, always helping to load the band's tour van and stuff envelopes despite his primary role as deal maker for a self-releasing band with an increasingly worldwide fanbase. He leaves a wife and three children.
Commenting on Tee's sudden death, NMA frontman Justin Sullivan told CMU: "Tommy's death leaves a huge hole in all our lives, not just professionally as the man who organised every aspect of the band's life but most especially as a friend and the best kind of road companion. And this sense of loss increases rather than decreases with each day that passes".