Hundreds of Bonnie Tyler fans lined the streets and burst into a rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart as the late singer's coffin returned home. Bonnie died in July at the age of 75, leaving her fans around the world devastated. Her death came just months after she was treated in intensive care after being placed in an induced coma following an emergency intestinal surgery.
International Fame in the 1980s
The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s with the release of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which shot to the top of the charts in the UK and the US. Faster Than The Speed Of Night, the album which featured the track, was also a chart-topping success. She went on to release many other hits, including Holding Out For A Hero, It's A Heartache and If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man). Wales native Bonnie even represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with the song Believe In Me, finishing in 19th place.
Fans Gather in Mumbles
Over a month on from her passing, the streets of the Mumbles, Swansea, where Bonnie was packed with people who knew and loved the singer on Saturday (August 15). Draped in a Welsh flag, her coffin made its way down Newton Road as the crowd burst into applause and song. Some fans had travelled from as far as Austria or Germany to watch the procession on Saturday but many knew Bonnie from living locally.
Among them was Sarah Thomas, who described Bonnie as 'a normal person who happened to be famous'. While Carys Edwards, 18, stated: “Her music touched a lot of people, especially me. I’m quite surprised how many people came here today, but then not as well, because she was such an icon.
“She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales. Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales, we loved her a lot. When we found out she passed away, it was such a heartbreak to all of us. We cried and everything.”
Celebration of Life
A celebration of Bonnie’s life, for family and friends, will take place at Swansea Minster on Monday (August 17). The singer will then make her final journey through her hometown of Skewen.
