‘Gaps’ Hendrickson: Pauline Black pays tribute to The Selecter frontman

Black visited Hendrickson in hospital on Thursday before flying out to perform two gigs in America with their other bandmates.

“We knew this was going to happen but when it finally happens it’s dreadful,” she said.

“Fortunately, we had some time before we went to America. We probably knew that was going to be the last time.

“Sometimes you just have to say things to people maybe you’ve never said before.”

Black had planned to go straight back to the hospital to see Hendrickson on returning from America but their flight arrived four hours after he died.

“Gaps was a religious man. He was not your average Christian but he was always quoting at me ‘you’ll be fine, you’ll get saved, don't worry, you’ve got me to talk for you’,” Black said.

He would often quote from the book of John to her, she said: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

“That was always what he said to me and I hope he’s found it and if there is a hereafter I hope I can join him and we can all be together,” Black said.

“All of those people of the ska world who have gone, just doing some ska.”