Never Stop Rockin': Carlo's final years

With all the resulting publicity and attention from his Rolling Stones connections, Carlo Little decided to reformed the All-Stars in 1999 with the original bassist and fellow early Stone Rick Brown. Art Wood of the Artwoods (and Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood's brother) replaced the late Cyril Davies as vocalist, Eddie Armer of the Lonegans on harp, Alex Chanter on lead guitar, and Johnny Casanova on keyboards. Based in London, the band recreated the energetic R&B sound that once captured the imagination of impressionable teenagers back in the 60's. The Carlo Little All Stars headlined at the Rolling Stones Convention at the Brixton Academy and performed at the Ealing Blues Festival in July 1999, as well as performing a string of gigs at London venues to enthusiastic fans. On Saturday 12th June 1999 Carlo and his wife Iris were invited by Charlie Watts to again meet the Stones backstage at Wembley Stadium during the UK arm of Bridges To Babylon tour. Again, the boys were delighted to see their old chum from the 1960's, as was Carlo. He was selling burgers outside when he got the invitation! It was shortly after this event that Carlo discovered his very good friend Screaming Lord Sutch committed suicide. Read more here.

The Carlo Little All Stars. L-R: Eddie, Carlo, Art, Johnny, Rick, Alex

By popular demand in 2000, The Carlo Little All Stars went into the studio to work on their debut album. Jeff Beck joined his old mate Carlo with the band for 3 amazing tracks, including one of Jeff's favourites Mystery Train. Ronnie Wood guested on Country Line Special, and Long John Baldry sang Iko Iko. Keith Richard also wanted to guest and he told Carlo by telephone, "I gotta play with that rhythm section, man!" but his commitments meant he couldn't. The band completed the album, entitled Never Stop Rockin', but could not secure a record deal, and sadly the master tapes lie gathering dust. Anyone want to release it?? Listen to the album here. Album review here.

Carlo eventually sold his catering business in 2002, and he and his wife Iris decided to retire to the North East of England where she had grown up and still had family. He had not been well for a few months, with continuous chest infections, and had been in hospital for tests. Despite this, in May 2003 they bought a beautiful house in Tyne & Wear with a swimming pool, always his dream, and were excited about the future.

Devastatingly, just two weeks after the move, with everything to live for and a new grandchild, Ruby, Carlo was told that he had terminal lung cancer. In true Carlo spirit, he did not wallow in the bad news, but instead soldiered on the very next day with a tribute night he had organised at the Ace Cafe in London in memory of his friend David Sutch; the now annual 'Sutch A Night'. His friends and family, however, were devastated.

Carlo spent the months from June to December 2003 having extensive chemotherapy. He lost his hair and was frequently hospitalised with low blood count-related infections, but never complained or talked about the cancer. He had told his consultant he would do whatever it took to fight it, but never wanted to be told any more bad news about his future. He even agreed to have his picture taken for the local newspaper when they found out they had a celebrity living in their town! By the end of the year Carlo was told that the chemotherapy "had worked for him", the tumour had shrunk, but he was offered a month of radiotherapy just to make sure. By the end of all this treatment, Carlo was pretty weak and not really the same person - but despite sitting in silence, lost in his own thoughts, he would never talk about the cancer.

Through most of 2004 Carlo tried to get his strength back after all the treatment. He again organised the 'Sutch A Night' tribute at the Ace Cafe for Screaming Lord Sutch in June, in memory of his friend, but by now was struggling to play the drums as fiercely as before. At a regular check up in August of that year he found out the cancer was back, and again he endured several months of gruelling chemotherapy. Throughout this time he simply accepted the treatment, and never complained or talked about his illness.

By Spring 2005 it was all too clear that Carlo was not getting better. He invited his friends, the band The Good Old Boys, to Tyneside for a weekend of gigs hoping to drum with them, but frustratingly for him and after only one night Carlo was hospitalised again after the drumming had caused him too much pain. A few weeks later he asked his consultant if he was able to take a holiday abroad - his dream was always to visit America, land of Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Rock and Roll - but she said a journey of that kind would be too difficult for him. Carlo seemed to go downhill rapidly after being told this, but again he never talked about it, never complained. When the anniversary of Screaming Lord Sutch's death in June came around again, his family tried desperately to talk him out of making the tiring 300-mile trip to London, but he was so determined to get there. Even on the day of the gig, he had told his family how ill he felt, they begged him to reconsider but he said, "I am not going to let anything stop me". Many of his musician friends were at the gig that night. He was too weak to drum, he was too ill to even be there, but he sat bravely with his pint, posing for pictures and chatting to everyone.

Sutch-A-Night, June 2005. The picture shows (left to right): Ali Barber (Roadie), Mark Freeman (The Rolling Stoned), Ali McKenzie (Birds), Pete Parks (The Good Old Boys), Tom Nolan, Alan Barrett (The Good Old Boys), Carlo, Nick Simper (The Good Old Boys), Richard Hudson (The Good Old Boys/Strawbs), Michael and Rick (Tonto's Horse) and Art Wood (The Artwoods).

A week later Carlo collapsed at home and was admitted to hospital. He would never go home again. Carlo was admitted to South Tyneside Hospital in Tyne & Wear with excruciating back pains on Saturday June 25th 2005. Two days later his family were told he only had days to live, and to prepare for the worst. They sat tearfully by his bedside playing his favourite music from throughout his life, hoping for a miracle. After a few days, he was showing no signs of giving up, and then amazingly he picked up! Carlo was always a remarkably strong person, this just proved it. However, after some tests the doctors discovered the cancer had spread to his spine and he was given emergency radiotherapy. This only eased the pain for a short while.

Carlo's family tried everything to help him get his strength back. He was sitting up in his hospital bed, holding court with all the hospital staff, who had found out his claims to fame, and was even given a bottle of whiskey to drink by the nursing staff. He became extremely funny and affectionate during this short time. On August 2nd 2005 Carlo was offered a place at the local hospice. He was told it was for 'rehabilitation'.

As if it was a release, Carlo became very ill again almost immediately after being admitted to the hospice. His breathing deteriorated very quickly, and despite his adoring wife doing all she could to keep him alive, he gave up his fight at 2.05am on Saturday 6th August 2005, with his youngest daughter Emma and his sister Carole by his side.

Carlo tragically died of small cell lung cancer, the most vigorous. It normally kills people within six months of being diagnosed - Carlo had survived for over two years. Over the next few days Carlo received obituaries in most of the major UK broadsheet newspapers. He would have been honoured and flattered.
Independent Obituary | Telegraph Obituary | Guardian Obituary 

Carl O'Neil Little was cremated at South Tyneside Crematorium on Monday 15th August 2005. He made his last journey in a vintage Rolls Royce, perfectly fitting for a legendary drummer. Among the mourners at the humanist service were other 1960's music legends including Neil Christian and Nick Simper, the latter reading a fantastic tribute to Carlo as an invaluable British musician and friend. The Rolling Stones, Chas & Dave, and Paul Nicholas were among the very many who sent flowers. Carlo was taken into the crematorium to the sound of his favourite track 'Honky Tonk' by Bill Doggett, and the service ended with 'Country Line Special' by Cyril Davies All Stars, Carlo's most famous recording from 1963. His heartbroken wife of 37 years, Iris, had chosen the song 'Music' by John Miles for during the service.

Some of the many flowers for Carlo. A bouquet from the Rolling Stones is in the centre

Music was my first love, and it will be my last Music of the future, and music of the past To live without my music, would be impossible to do In this world of trouble My music gets me through

A wake, a celebration of Carlo, was held afterwards at his favourite watering hole, The Little Haven, at the mouth of the River Tyne and overlooking the North Sea. 

Many of his good friends attended and musicians played for him. Carlo's ashes were buried with his drumsticks the next day in private, with only close family in attendance, in Harton Cemetary, South Shields.

Never stop rockin', Carlo.

Read the Website Guestbook

Back Up