The Norwich duo ‘Let’s Eat Grandma’ have cancelled their US tour, due to the death of member Jenny Hollingworth’s boyfriend. Billy Clayton passed away last week, aged 22, with an aggressive form of bone cancer. Hollingworth took to Twitter on Tuesday with a heartfelt post to announce the death of her partner, stating that despite cancelling their US tour dates, Let’s Eat Grandma still plan to take to the stage in Coachella “as a tribute to Billy and his memory”. She and fellow band member Rosa Walton were due to fly to the US on Saturday 30th March to begin their tour, after previously only cancelling their Washington show that was due to be taking place on 1st April.
Billy Clayton battled Ewing’s sarcoma for three years before his passing, and much like his girlfriend, he was also a talented musician; having had performed on the Inbetweeners stage at Latitude Festival in 2018. BBC Introducing in Norfolk had worked with Billy in his musical career, stating that they “were impressed by his originality and songwriting”. A benefit concert ‘Benefit for Billy’ was held in Norwich in 2018, raising more than three thousand pounds towards his two hundred thousand pounds goal to help treat this rare form of cancer. Billy was allowed out of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge to attend. Jenny described Billy as “not only my boyfriend but my best friend” and that she plans to bring Billy “spiritually and musically” with her to Coachella – a place where he had dreamed of performing himself.
Let’s Eat Grandma released their second studio album ‘I’m All Ears’ in 2018 which accumulated widespread acclaim quickly, and was named ‘Album of the Year’ at the Q Awards and climbed to twenty eighth in the UK album charts. The album was also given four stars on NME, who described it as “light years ahead of their debut”. ‘Hot Pink’ was the debut single for the album, released in January of 2018. The cancelled US tour consisted of 8 dates throughout early April, with Coachella being where the duo will perform for the first time since the tragedy, taking to the stage twice.
Their remaining tour dates this year are as follows:
12/04 – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – Indio, CA
19/04 – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – Indio, CA
06/06 – NOS Primavera Sound – Portugal
08/06 – Sideways 2019 – Helsinki, Finland
13/07 – Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park 2019 – London
18/07 – Latitude Festival – Suffolk
19/07 – Larmer Tree Festival – Salisbury
08/08 – Ypsigrock Festival – Castelbuono, Italy