An emotional musical tribute has been played on an iconic organ in Glasgow following the death of beloved Friends star Matthew Perry.
The 54-year-old actor was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Sunday following an apparent drowning, reports said.
On Monday, visitors at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery were treated to a rendition of the Friends theme tune – I’ll Be There For You by The Rembrandts – by the gallery’s organist Paul Carroll at the daily lunchtime recital.
Dozens of onlookers who had gathered in the centre hall applauded and cheered the poignant performance.
A video of his tribute was posted on social media by Katie MacFarlane who described it as an “emotional moment”.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumShe told STV News that she has grown up going to the museum and hearing many recitals but this was one of the most emotional.
“We were enjoying various classical songs Paul was playing over lunch, and suddenly everyone stopped and paid attention,” she said.
“When he started playing the Friends theme song the room went quiet apart from the organ.
“It was really touching to see so many people, of different ages, getting emotional and watching him play. It’s weird but wonderful how Friends seems to have that hold on most generations.”
Others who heard Mr Carroll play the theme song said that they had a “lump in their throat” hearing it.
“I play in the Kelvingrove a few times a month and yesterday was one of the times I was there,” Mr Carroll told STV News.
“I had pretty much decided on a classical programme for Monday because it can usually be quite a calm and quiet audience.
“When I went to the front desk an American woman with an accent came over to ask about the programme and when I was going upstairs I thought it would be interesting to play it.
“Growing up as a kid you watched Friends, so I remembered it and it’s a household tune.
“There was a bit of apprehension about how it would go down because I know its a sore point, an emotional point, but the reaction seemed to go down really well – I hadn’t realised that people were recording it.”
In a joint statement, the cast of Friends have said they are “utterly devastated” by the death of their co-star.
Perry was best known for playing witty and sarcastic Chandler Bing on the hit US sitcom.
His fellow stars, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer, said in a joint statement that they were “more than cast mates. We are a family”.
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