"Ahhhh!" Magnus shouted in my phone.

"What's wrong?" I said.

"Kevin Gilbert is coming to Stockholm! He's in Europe by Interrail, and he just called me and asked if it was okay if he could come up and visit us!"

And sure he came. We had three great days together. He enjoyed Stockholm, he said. "It's so clean" . . . "Such beautiful girls." He told us that some tarot cards told him that he would find his wife during a trip when he was thirty years old. During these days, we discovered a friend in Kevin, not only a musical hero and a cool pop star.

"What?" said Kevin, "do I have a song on the new Tina Turner record?" He didn't know that when we told him it was cool that he had. "Then the next beer is on me," he said. Magnus and I looked at each other and smiled.

"You know, there's a great band coming from Stockholm," Kevin said. "They're called Landberk. Do you think we could meet them?" We went out to see them one night. Kevin explained that one of their songs is such a beautiful tune. If you close your eyes, you can see the river floating by.

Kevin bothered about other people's music. He was a truly a music freak, just like us.

On a dinner at my place, I showed him some obscure stuff with Rupert Hine, a hero for both him and us. It's not often you meet musicians so interested in other's artist's music. Kevin was. He was just as corny as we are. Who's producing? Look, it's written by . . .

Magnus called me late that night. He asked me if I'd been into Internet that night. No, I said. Magnus was scared. He said that he heard rumors saying Kevin Gilbert was dead. I went into the Internet to see if I could get any information. No, nothing. I wrote an E-mail to Kevin, asking him where these stupid rumors came from.

Then Magnus called me again telling me the rumors were true. I couldn't believe my ears. I was cold. "This isn't true, I thought, this isn't true . . . "

But it was, and now I'm writing this, and I just ask me, why in the hell take Kevin away from us? I don't know why. Some people say they found him at home preparing a dinner. The stove was on. Some people say they found him in the studio. I don't care where they found him.

I just wonder, why?

It's a stupid question, but I can't understand. The life is so unfair sometimes. Kevin, 29 years old. In the beginning of a brilliant career. The Mozart of pop, a friend of mine said.

Now I'm sitting here writing this. I haven't listened to Kevin's brilliant "Song For A Dead Friend" yet. I don't want to. I don't' think I'll listen to that song in a long time.

I heard Kevin didn't know that he was going on tour with his favorite band, Genesis. His manager was on his way telling him the good news. Ridiculous is the word. Or perhaps typical is a better word to use.

I will never forget you and your music, Kevin, and I know I speak for all of your Swedish buddies.

I will always enjoy "Goodness Gracious," and"Turn It On Salvadore." I will always be amazed when I'll listen to your Giraffe albums, and your music will live in me through my whole life.

Believe me, that is something to be proud of. Take it cool up there, Kevin, and keep up the good work. In 60 years, we're coming, and you must have some new stuff to play for us then.

I hope you understand you would have been on the cover (of our magazine) anyway! God bless you, Kevin!