Custard Beast DJ dies in son's arms
With?his top hat and leopard-skin jacket Melvin Hartshorne was a larger than life character renowned for the madcap sense of humour which had venues across the Midlands roaring with laughter.
Today tributes were paid to the 'Custard Beast' DJ after he suffered a fatal heart attack, aged 62, and died in the arms of his son Blake, 29, at the family home in Hednesford.
He was renowned for performing sketches in between playing records, while he also campaigned for a seat on Cannock Chase District Council as a member of the Monster Raving Loony Party.
The father-of-one worked for Pritchard Holdings as a gardener and labourer but by night he played his beloved rock music at venues around the Midlands. He eventually gave up his day job when the DJ work took off and he was performing at weddings, parties and discos up to seven nights a week.
His wife Diane, 61, said: "He was full of tricks. He never rehearsed his sets. He'd try to but he'd get sidetracked and in the end it just came together on the night."
Good friend Andy Wood, 43, who runs Woody's Music Bar in Hednesford, spoke of a classic gig he performed at The Double M pub in Hednesford shortly after the controversial documentary In Bed With Madonna was broadcast.
"He turned the whole stage into a double bed and called it In Bed With Ma Dinner. He brought the house down," he said. "No one could rival him. He lit up the place. All the bikers loved him, everyone loved him."
Council leader George Adamson remembered him electioneering with party leader Screaming Lord Sutch in the early 1990s.
"He stood in a number of seats and was known as a character. He certainly added a bit of colour to the count on election night."
Mr Hartshorne is thought to have raised thousands of pounds for charity through his gigs. But his wife said working night and day was a punishing schedule.
"For a long while he'd get up for work, come home and have a couple of hours sleep before going out to put on a disco somewhere," she said.
The couple, who were married for 34 years, had lived in Bradbury Lane for the past three years after moving from Heather Lane, Pye Green. Mrs Hartshorne said: "His son was the apple of his eye. Blake tried to help him after he was taken ill on Sunday. He was holding him when Mel passed away."
