Steven Wells - Tributes

Tributes

There were many tributes to Wells after his death. Musician Billy Bragg wrote: "The antithesis of the bonehead racist, he was in fact an articulate left-winger and unlike the bully boy who only picks on those weaker than him, Swells chose to target the powerful, the popular, the hip and the cool."

Music journalist Everett True described Wells as "a tastemaker. He informed people’s opinions, challenged them, led them, changed them…most of this by default, by sheer force of his personality and peerless ability to entertain.".

Boff Whalley, of anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba wrote: "Seething (Steven) Wells died two days ago. Then tonight, starting to write this, I find out that Michael Jackson has died. One of these two men owned a ranch called Neverland and had three children called Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II. The other one was the King of Pop."

Gareth Campesinos!, singer for the indie rock band Los Campesinos! wrote on his band's website that "...here have been a few things that have stood out above others in Los Campesinos!’ short history that have made me think "shit, we’re really doing this", and one of them was the first time I read Steven Wells ranting against us. That we were on his radar, and that he deemed us worthy of his bile was an honour"."In October last year, Swells wrote: “I have seen the future. It’s Garry Bushell being kicked senseless by Gareth from Los Campesinos! forever. So it’s not all bad.” I promise, if I ever get the chance, for the only good thing I can think of to ever come from Swindon, I will do that".

Welsh rapper Akira The Don, devoted an entire mixtape to Wells shortly after his death, with the song "He Was The Greatest" entirely about Steven Wells in particular. The Wildhearts' 2009 album Chutzpah! is dedicated to Wells.