Tributes paid to talented Hastings frontman ‘who always put a smile on someone’s face’

Andy Crook died suddenly on March 11, at the age of 49.

The father of four children – Curtis, Leo, Loui and Kira – and grandfather to two grandchildren, was remembered by his close friends as ‘a bit of a celebrity’ who was ‘always putting a smile on someone’s face’.

Andy grew up in Hastings and in the 1980s was very well known as a champion breakdancer who went by the nickname ‘Lock it’.

Extremely popular in the Hastings live music scene, Andy was frontman and rhythm guitarist for the band Cushty, which was also previously known as No Comment and Bassment.

Denise Brinkley, who knew Andy from the age of 14, described him as ‘a bit of a celebrity in the 1980s’ when he was winning breakdancing competitions.

She added: “Whenever there was an event, people would always encourage him to do some breakdancing. I remember when he came to my wedding and he did some breakdancing on the night.

“With his wife, Gina – the two being extremely talented musicians – his energy for music was always there. He was a frontman and he travelled all over the place performing with his band.”

Denise said Andy will leave behind a legacy as the ‘kindest, loveliest person anyone could ever meet’.

“He would give you his last pound,” she said. “Even when he was not entertaining or on stage, he was always putting a smile on someone’s face with tricks and the jokes he told.

“He was really unique – there really was no one like him. His legacy is of people knowing him as a genuinely lovely guy.”

After Andy’s death, Denise’s husband Jez, who was also close friends with Andy, set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money to help pay for his funeral, and a tribute event in the summer once the restrictions allow for it.

Paying tribute to his friend, Jez added: “Andy was known to many and the sympathies shown through social media have been phenomenal and heartbreaking to see how many people care in these times.”

Jez described Andy as a ‘home grown Hastings talent’ who was known as ‘the infectious smiler, the loving father and grandfather, the man who had time for everyone, and the man who showed kindness to friends and strangers alike’.

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