Primal Scream’s Denise Johnson laid to rest in Manchester with a horse-drawn hearse
Primal Scream’s Denise Johnson, whose vocals featured on Don’t Fight It, Feel It, had hundreds of people lining the streets – including Terry Christian – to pay their respects while she was laid to rest in Manchester
Primal Scream’s Denise Johnson was given a funeral in Manchester.
Denise died aged 56 on June 8 earlier this year. The cause of her death was not made public.
The singer was famed for singing alongside bands Primal Scream and New Order.
A horse-drawn hearse carried her coffin, which had her name scrawled on the side, to Manchester Crematorium.
It was a spectacle to behold as the horses wore impressive blue feather headdresses for the occasion.
Broadcaster Terry Christian led the hundreds of guests lining the streets and gathering outside the crematorium to pay their respects to the late star.
Many family and friends turned up to line up along to Southern Cemetery to say their final goodbyes to the songstress.
The order of service was beautifully decorated with a collage of Denise’s photos with her family and friends.
Its front cover read: “Denise Johnson. Rays of the rising sun.”
Inside there was a poem about remembering the star had lived a wonderful life.
Coronavirus restrictions meant only a limited amount of people were able to attend the funeral service which was “so disappointing” for her family.
However, her family lifted the lid on their elaborate plans to have a celebration of her life to be held next year in summer 2021 on the singer’s birthday July 31.
Denise’s close friend Sue Langford circulated a statement from her family on Facebook ahead of the funeral.
According to Manchester Evening News, they said: “We’re so disappointed that what should be a fabulous celebration of Denise’s life has to be limited under the current restrictions, so have already started planning an event in her memory, on her birthday next summer, 31 July, 2021.
“Her funeral will take place at the Manchester Crematorium, Southern Cemetery, at 1pm on Wednesday 19 August.
“Due to restrictions on how many mourners are allowed inside the crematorium grounds, well-wishers are asked instead to line the route that Denise will take.
“Close friends have been invited to gather in the grounds of the cemetery, with family making up the very small number of guests allowed inside the chapel. We respectfully ask that anyone not already invited should take their place in the lining of the route instead.”
Sad news was confirmed on Twitter by a friend of the Don’t Fight It, Feel It hitmaker.
Cause of death has yet to be announced but her family did reveal Denise suffered with an illness in the week beforehand.
Her family statement read: “[She was] ill in the week prior to her death, but told friends she was ‘much better’ days before.
“The cause of death is not yet known, although she was discovered holding her inhaler on Monday morning.”
Denise’s biggest hits with Primal Scream included Don’t Fight It, Feel It and Higher Than The Sun.
She lent her vocals to the band from 1990 to 1995.
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