RIP Garry Lowe

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Longtime Big Sugar bassist Garry Lowe has died. The Canadian musician passed away early this morning following a private two-year battle with cancer. He was 65. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Lowe moved to Canada in 1976 when he was 22. He soon started playing with reggae legend Jackie Mittoo, and quickly became a respected and sought-after bassist in the city’s reggae scene, often playing with bands at the Bamboo Club on Queen. Lowe was a founding member of Culture Shock, one of Toronto’s most popular reggae bands. He made fast friends with Johnson, himself a bassist and huge reggae fan and in 1994, Lowe joined Big Sugar.

Lowe played with Big Sugar during their classic period and on many of their most notable albums, such as 1997’s Juno-nominated Hemi-Vision and 2001’s Brothers & Sisters, Are You Ready? Lowe was a featured player on nine of Big Sugar’s albums, from 1992’s self-titled release through 2003’s Hit & Run. When Big Sugar went on hiatus in 2003, Lowe formed the Truth and Rights Revue with fellow Big Sugar member Mojah, a band that played together for a short time and released one album. Among his final performances, Lowe played alongside his friends in Big Sugar and Alex Lifeson of Rush at the Danforth Music Hall in December.

In the wake of Lowe’s passing, Big Sugar leader Gordie Johnson shared the following statement:

“We lost our dear brother and sweet friend Garry this morning. He was my greatest musical collaborator, our wisest elder. We were blessed to be on life’s journey together. We were blessed to know him and share his music. Please remember Garry Lowe in all your thoughts and prayers. Rally round the Lion.”

Two Midfielders In The Talking

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Arsenal have a pair of moves in the works with the club hoping to complete the signing of Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria next week after the midfielder’s World Cup campaign came to an end on Friday. Uruguay lost 2-0 to France in the quarterfinals, finally freeing up Torreira to undergo a medical with the Gunners. According to BBC Sport, the exact timing will depend on whether he chooses to fly straight from Russia to London to conclude the transfer or whether he returns home to Uruguay for some post-tournament R&R first.

Uruguay have dropped a massive hint that Lucas Torreira could be about to join Arsenal after their elimination from the World Cup. Arsenal are understood to have agreed a £26.4million deal to land Torreira this summer but the Gunners have had to wait to complete the signing of the 22-year-old midfielder. Torreira confirmed that he chose to delay his medical until after Uruguay’s participation in Russia and it appears the Sampdoria man is on his way to north London imminently. An official statement from Uruguay’s FA revealed that Torreira was not on the flight with the rest of his team-mates as they headed back to Montevideo following a 2-0 defeat to France.

And the Gunners are also keen to move for a player who helped bounce Torreira’s side from the tournament in Russia with Sky Sports reporting that Sevilla and France midfielder Steven N’Zonzi is also on the summer wishlist. N’Zonzi has featured regularly for France in Russia and new Arsenal boss Unai Emery will know what he’s in for with the 29-year-old having established a relationship with him after managing him during his time in charge at Sevilla.