I keep reliving the day11 Joe died.. I need time to leave it behind now
Heartbreak led to Roman’s radio sign-off
ROMAN Kemp says losing his best friend to suicide meant he had to move on from Capital FM.
The DJ and host insists he has no plans since his exit on Friday, saying he needs time for himself after seven years of gruelling wake-ups for the Capital FM Breakfast Show.
The 31-year-old also said he is still processing the death of friend and former producer Joe Lyons in 2020.
Roman said: “I’ve tried to spin the plates and tried to do everything and I’ve realised it’s getting in the way of my life. You can’t enjoy your own life.
“If you think of a radio show, every day you’ve got to go out in front of the public and dance and every now and then you’ve got to give yourself a rest and I’ve not been doing that for myself.
“It came to that point of ‘I need to leave this behind now’.”
Roman was at the studio the morning he found out Joe had died.
He added: “Imagine a tragedy happened in your house, you’re going to want to move. I went through such a horrible moment in that studio, and I’ve been living that same day over and over again, without the awful event.
“Every day I walk in there and I see Joe, that’s a weird thing to do. I think it’s going to be really good for me to move on with my life. I can go and enjoy my life for a bit and I want to enjoy what I have achieved.”
Los Angeles-born Roman is in the World XI squad for Soccer Aid in June, alongside Usain Bolt and Tommy Fury as well as a handful of football legends.
It will be his third appearance in the annual UNICEF fundraiser, this year being held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground in West London.
The keen Arsenal fan said: “If Thierry Henry goes anywhere near Soccer Aid, I don’t know what I’d do.
“I’ve been lucky enough to do this a few times now. Even to say you’re in the same dressing room as them is like an out-of-body experience and for someone like me, I would do anything for any form of football in my life.
“I melt in the presence of footballers, I can meet anyone in our industry but as soon as it comes to a footballer, I’m gone to the world.”
He added: “It seems on the exterior like this is a really serious match but it’s such a wonderful vibe, everyone is friendly, everyone is happy to be there and it raises so much money.
“It’s really for a good cause and we get to live out our childhood dreams.”
■ Soccer Aid takes place on Sunday, June 9. A family of four can attend for £60 – visit socceraid.org.uk/tickets.