Wainwright pays tribute to late mother

Rufus Wainwright has paid tribute to his "amazing" mother Kate McGarrigle, who passed away on Monday.

McGarrigle died at her Montreal home from sarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissue.

Wainwright wrote on his official website: "When inevitably I read today in the papers that my mother lost her battle with cancer last night, I am filled with an immense desire to add that this battle, though lost, was tremendously fruitful during these last three-and-a-half years of her life.

"She witnessed her daughter's marriage, the creation of my first opera, the birth of her first grandchild Arcangelo, and gave the greatest performance of her life to a packed crowd at the Royal Albert Hall in London."

He added: "Not to mention travelling to some of the world's most incredible places with both my sister [Martha], her husband Brad, my boyfriend Jorn and myself.

"Yes, it was all too brief, but as I was saying to her sister Anna last night while sitting by her body after the struggle had ceased, there is never enough time and she, my amazing mother with whom everyone fell in love, went out there and bloody did it. I will miss you mother, my sweet and valiant explorer, lebwohl and addio. X"