The metal community has lost one of its brightest, kindest souls.
Metal For Good announced this week the heartbreaking news that Neil Cossey, trustee, friend, and all-round legend, passed away from cancer on Sunday, 12th October.
Neil wasn’t just a member of the Metal For Good board — he was part of its heart and soul. Since the charity’s inception, Neil gave his time, expertise, and boundless passion, blending his accountancy and charity-sector smarts with a proper rock ’n’ roll spirit. A rare balance of brains and heart — tidy, mun. 🖤
🎸 A Life Lived Loud, With Grace and Grit
Neil was described as someone who found friendship, comfort, and support through the metal community. He faced his cancer journey with an incredible amount of dignity, grace, and humour — the kind of strength that defines true rockers.
Even in tough times, he stayed positive and continued to support others. That’s metal as hell. 🥁🔥
💬 A Message From the Board
Metal For Good chair Hugh Evans shared a touching statement:
“Neil had a profoundly positive impact in whatever he did. Personally and professionally, he was one of life’s good guys. Good friends are hard to find; great ones even harder. We shall dearly miss our great friend and colleague.”
That quote hits hard — and perfectly sums up the man behind the name. Neil wasn’t chasing the spotlight; he was quietly making a difference, the kind of person who made things better just by showing up.
🕊️ Family, Friends & Legacy
The team’s thoughts and love go out to Neil’s wife Rachel, his sons Dan and Tom, and his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. ❤️
Neil’s contribution to Metal For Good will live on for years — not just through the organisation’s work, but through every person he inspired. His balance of positivity and pragmatism, humour and heart, leaves a mark that won’t fade.
As Metal For Good said: “Neil will be missed by us all, and his contribution will continue for many years to come.”
🍻 Raise a Glass, Rocker
In true festival spirit, we’ll remember Neil as he’s pictured — pint in hand, rocking a Black Stone Cherry tee, smiling under a big top, surrounded by friends and riffs. That’s the kind of send-off any metalhead would want.
So tonight, wherever you are, raise a glass to Neil Cossey — a proper gent, a rock fan through and through, and proof that doing good and loving metal go hand in hand. 🤘💀🎶
Rest in Power, Neil.
Your legacy will forever echo through the amps.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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