John Sicolo of TJ's RIP

[pits]

As I am getting inundated with phone calls and texts and have had to text everyone in my phone book letting them know that I know.

Anyway I believe this morning March 14th John Sicolo the man behind Sico's for all you old people out there, and TJ's as it is known now has died aged 66, I am sure there are loads of tributes and probably Facespace pages etc (personally not one for it) to show your respect for a man who did a fair bit for music in Wales and the UK, as far as I can gather the past few weeks for John weren't going to well, with Langtons failing a while back and TJ's struggling, being in massive debt and potential bankruptcy a few weeks back an auction was held for loads of TJ's and music memorabilia to try and save TJ's (not sure how it went) and now to find John has passed.

Knowing him quite well, to some he was seen as a "superhero" to others a pub/club owner, John was a fairly good guy, but no angel if you knew him well you knew he could have a bit of a temper etc.

Still a sad day, loss of a very intelligent man, a club owner and part of Newport, he was one of the people that made Newport, Newport and it will be a shame not to have him around any longer, and at just turning 66 years old 5 days ago, still fairly young.



RIP John

[Ti22]

No Way. Passing of a legend. Been going to his club for the last 15+ years.

Remember bumping into him at a cafe on duckpool road. Still had time to say hi.

RIP john!

[Mr MoJo]

I hadn't heard either, thanks for the info Pits. John was, as has been mentioned already, a real nice guy and part of making the Newport scene what it is, he'll be sorely missed. Sico's was probably my first regular haunt in Newport when I was probably a little too young to have a regular haunt IYSWIM !!

RIP John.

Off topic, James were you in The Bell on Saturday night ? I think I was sat 2 tables away from you but wasn't sure as I've only met you when you've had a hat on and didn't want to look like a wierdo by saying hello if it wasn't you

[pits]

Mr MoJo said:

I hadn't heard either, thanks for the info Pits. John was, as has been mentioned already, a real nice guy and part of making the Newport scene what it is, he'll be sorely missed. Sico's was probably my first regular haunt in Newport when I was probably a little too young to have a regular haunt IYSWIM !!

RIP John.

Off topic, James were you in The Bell on Saturday night ? I think I was sat 2 tables away from you but wasn't sure as I've only met you when you've had a hat on and didn't want to look like a wierdo by saying hello if it wasn't you

Well they can't prosecute him now, but everyone used to drink at TJ's way before the were old enough, I had many a night stumbling out of TJ's from 14-19 good times.

That was what made John good, if you weren't causing any trouble you could come in and have a drink, but if you did cause trouble then by christ watch out for the grab around the neck and being outside, I remember being in a few scuffles, John would wade in, pick the scuffle apart, look at you and go "Oh, Hi X" then pick up the person he didn't know and throw them out, John even though a tight bd, you would probably need a hammer and chisel to open his wallet, also looked after people.

I know of a few people John has taken on of the street in one way or another, a good man




ETA: Cause of death unknown by he was in the Gwent getting his knee done, so I would say cause of death would be either
Infection
Sickness
General incompetence by the staff there

I wonder if his relatives got a phone call like we did with my grandad last year, an Asian woman who could barely speak Engrish just saying "Your so and so, he gone, he dead, come to hospital"

That hospital wants shutting down, ironic really I remember once John saying to me in "Oh no, I will never ever go private, filthy hospitals, you go in for something simple and come out dead" Ironic really.

Edited by pits on Monday 15th March 10:20

[Ti22]

Mr MoJo said:

Off topic, James were you in The Bell on Saturday night ? I think I was sat 2 tables away from you but wasn't sure as I've only met you when you've had a hat on and didn't want to look like a wierdo by saying hello if it wasn't you

Yep, I was in the Bell on Saturday night - went for a meal with the GF. You should have come and said hi - though I was a little tipsy by the end of the night!

[Mr MoJo]

Haha, thought it was you, we were sat in the other corner by the window on your right (GF's left) !! We eat / drink there quite a bit, living about 300 yards away it's quite convenient !! How was your meal ?

[Earl Grey]

Sad to hear, I remember meeting the chap a few times , he seemed full of beans. My Mother has done a few Shows in TJ's, many moons ago.
For those that don't know my mother was a fire-eater and magician.

[pits]

See that was the good thing about "Teej" you got acts you would never normally see, like fire eating etc some of the Fab N Kinky nights were ace, apart from that one with the pvc, bin bags and stilts *shudder* Wouldn't of minded so much if the stilts didn't put the guys crotch essentially at eye level.


If anyone is interested I think 10 April which is a saturday is a tribute type concert going on for John at TJs probably be a messy one

[Ti22]

Mr MoJo said:

Haha, thought it was you, we were sat in the other corner by the window on your right (GF's left) !! We eat / drink there quite a bit, living about 300 yards away it's quite convenient !! How was your meal ?

It was good, we went to eat/ drink there a fair bit too. Not too far to walk home. I used to go to school with Blake (the Chef).

That sat 10th April spunds like it will be good. Sell out fast though I rekon.