Cast paused its performance on the Oasis tour to deliver a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota.
During the set at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, lead vocalist and staunch supporter of his Liverpool FC, John Power, dedicated the band's famed '95 anthem, Walkaway, to the memory of the beloved Portuguese, who tragically passed away on Thursday. Power declared: "This is Walkaway. This one is for Diogo Jota. Take it easy brother."
Joining an esteemed lineup including Richard Ashcroft, Cast is among the official supporting acts serenading legions of fans at the monumental Oasis UK stadium tour, spanning cities like Cardiff, Manchester, London, and Edinburgh, and then across to Dublin, reports the Mirror.
The track also resonates historically, featuring in the BBC's concluding montage during England's Euro 96 semi-final match. The accident that led to Jota and his brother's deaths occurred in Spain following a car crash.
Diogo and his younger brother, Andre, met with catastrophe when their vehicle spun out after a tire burst while overtaking on the A-52 motorway. The incident unfolded around 12.30am local time, with the fire spreading to nearby vegetation before being extinguished by firefighters.
"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," the Reds said in a statement. "The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
A mourner wearing a Liverpool FC shirt pays their respects at the wake of Diogo Jota being held at Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar near Porto
A mourner wearing a Liverpool FC shirt pays their respects at the wake of Diogo Jota being held at Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar near Porto (Image: PA Wire)
"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support."
Jota made the switch to Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and netted an impressive 65 goals across his 182 outings for the Reds, bagging six in the last season, helping to clinch the Premier League title. Jota also won silverware in the form of the FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool, alongside two Nations League triumphs with Portugal.
"What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not," Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said.
"All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
Aerial photograph of people queuing outside the funeral chapel for the wake of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto.
Aerial photograph of people queuing outside the funeral chapel for the wake of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto. (Image: CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
"My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
"My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
"This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole.
"For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.
"I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be."