Matthew Perry’s family and Friends co-stars were reduced to tears by emotional Peter Gabriel song at funeral

• Perry, 54, was found dead in his hot tub at home last Saturday in Los Angeles 

Matthew Perry’s family and friends were left in tears after an emotional Peter Gabriel song which has long inspired people struggling with addiction was played as the closing note to his funeral, which was attended by his Friends co-stars. 

Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc all dressed in black suits and looked sombre as they prepared to say their last goodbyes to Perry at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles in a private ceremony.

As the funeral drew to a close, a rendition of Peter Gabriel’s Don’t Give Up was played, which includes the lyrics: ‘No fight left or so it seems, I am a man whose dreams have all deserted, I’ve changed my face, I’ve changed my name, But no one wants you when you lose.’

Perry, 54, who spoke openly about his lifelong battle with alcohol and drug addiction, was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home last Saturday. Those close to him said he had been sober and doing well shortly before his passing.

His tearful mother Suzanne Morrison, 84, and Dateline journalist stepfather Keith, 76, were both at the private event, as was his father John Perry, 82. Keith Morrison was one of the pallbearers. 

Matthew Perry, 54, who spoke openly about his lifelong battle with alcohol and drug addiction, was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home last Saturday

As the funeral drew to a close, a rendition of Peter Gabriel’s Don’t Give Up was played (Pictured: Gabriel with Kate Bush in the song’s music video)

Jennifer Aniston (left), Courteney Cox (second left), David Schwimmer (center), Lisa Kudrow (second right) and Matt LeBlanc (far right) are seen on Friday at Matthew Perry’s funeral

Perry’s cause of death is not yet known, but initial toxicology tests showed there was no meth or fentanyl in his system.

An onlooker at the service said there was ‘not a dry eye’ by the end of the song. They said: ‘There was not a dry eye in there. There were a lot of tears and laughter. Only close friends and family spoke.’

Heartbreakingly the song also features the lyrics: ‘Don’t give up, ‘Cause you have friends, Don’t give up, You’re not the only one, Don’t give up, No reason to be ashamed, Don’t give up, You still have us.’

The song, written by the former Genesis lead singer Gabriel, also features the British singer Kate Bush.

It was written during the 1980s under the premiership of Margaret Thatcher, being released as a single in 1986 just after the miners’ strike of 1984-5.

Gabriel initially approached US singer Dolly Parton, but said she turned the offer down.

‘I’m glad she did because what Kate did on it is… brilliant,’ he told The Quietus in 2011.

In 2014, Sir Elton John revealed that the song ‘saved my life’ and helped him on journey to sobriety.

He said: ‘This was one record that saved my life. That record helped me get sober.

Jennifer Aniston (at the back), Courteney Cox and David Schwimmer (center) and Lisa Kudrow (front) are seen on Friday at Forest Lawn Church of the Hills, in Los Angeles

Perry’s stepfather Keith Morrison, with the gray hair served as a pallbearer

Friends and family of Matthew Perry are seen arriving for the funeral on Friday

Perry’s coffin is pictured being carried into the church on Friday

Matthew Perry’s mother, Suzanne, and stepfather Keith Morrison are seen on Friday morning

Heartfelt: Tributes were left outside Matthew Perry’s Los Angeles home, including Friends memorabilia 

Tributes have flooded in for Friends star Matthew Perry after he was found dead on Saturday

‘So she [Bush] played a big part in my rebirth. That record helped me so much. I never told her that but it did.’

READ MORE: Friends stars console each other after saying their final goodbyes to Matthew Perry at private funeral service for the actor in Los Angeles cemetery 

He added he was particularly inspired by the lyrics: ‘Rest your head. You worry too much. It’s going to be all right. When times get rough you can fall back on us. Don’t give up.’

The song peaked at number nine in the UK charts in 1986, but made it to the number four slot in Ireland and the Netherlands. 

After the song was played at Perry’s funeral, he was buried in a dark wooden coffin in a family-only ceremony.

On Monday, the Friends cast released a statement describing their shock and sadness.

‘We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,’ the cast said.

‘There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.

‘In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.’

After an initial investigation, the Los Angeles County coroner has deferred giving a cause of death, which may take weeks to determine.

Initial toxicology tests did not show fentanyl or meth in Perry’s system, but more in-depth testing is underway. When police responded to Perry’s home (pictured) they found prescription medication that was properly labeled and stored 

Perry wrote in his memoir that he had spent $9 million trying to get sober 

Perry wrote at the beginning of his million-selling memoir: ‘Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.’ 

On Sunday, Perry’s book was ranked No. 1 on Amazon, supplanting Britney Spears’ memoir.

As he filmed the sitcom-hit Friends in the 90s, many people were unaware of the struggle Perry had with addiction and an intense desire to please audiences.

‘Friends was huge. I couldn’t jeopardize that. I loved the script. I loved my co-actors. I loved the scripts. I loved everything about the show but I was struggling with my addictions which only added to my sense of shame,’ he wrote in his memoir. 

‘I had a secret and no one could know.

‘I felt like I was gonna die if the live audience didn’t laugh, and that’s not healthy for sure. But I could sometimes say a line and the audience wouldn’t laugh and I would sweat and sometimes go into convulsions.’ 

Perry wrote: ‘If I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get I would freak out. I felt that every single night. This pressure left me in a bad place. I also knew of the six people making that show, only one of them was sick.’

Elton John credited the same song with saving his life and helping him on the road to sobriety

Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush pictured together in 1987, a year after the single came out

A fellow member of Perry’s recovery program told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview Tuesday: ‘Matty wasn’t drinking. He was a big part of our AA community. He was attending meetings, speaking at meetings and was working with a handful of newcomers.

‘He had a sponsor and was a sponsor. He seemed to be doing well.’

The insider said the actor had been focused on helping others battling addiction and had recently expressed interest in sharing his story through public speaking events.

‘Matty said he wanted to return to universities and speak about alcoholism. That was his gift. He could speak so well and motivate people,’ the source added.

‘It was important for him to reach the younger generation and spread his Don’t Give Up message. He really lived by those words.’

Peter Gabriel’s Don’t Give Up: Lyrics in full

In this proud land we grew up strong

We were wanted all along

I was taught to fight, taught to win

I never thought I could fail

 

No fight left or so it seems

I am a man whose dreams have all deserted

I’ve changed my face, I’ve changed my name

But no one wants you when you lose

 

Don’t give up

‘Cause you have friends

Don’t give up

You’re not beaten yet

Don’t give up

I know you can make it good

 

Though I saw it all around

Never thought I could be affected

Thought that we’d be last to go

It is so strange the way things turn

 

Drove the night toward my home

The place that I was born, on the lakeside

As daylight broke, I saw the earth

The trees had burned down to the ground

 

Don’t give up

You still have us

Don’t give up

We don’t need much of anything

Don’t give up

‘Cause somewhere there’s a place

Where we belong

 

Rest your head

You worry too much

It’s going to be alright

When times get rough

You can fall back on us

Don’t give up

Please don’t give up

 

Got to walk out of here

I can’t take anymore

Gonna stand on that bridge

Keep my eyes down below

Whatever may come

And whatever may go

That river’s flowing

That river’s flowing

 

Moved on to another town

Tried hard to settle down

For every job, so many men

So many men no-one needs

 

Don’t give up

‘Cause you have friends

Don’t give up

You’re not the only one

Don’t give up

No reason to be ashamed

Don’t give up

You still have us

Don’t give up now

We’re proud of who you are

Don’t give up

You know it’s never been easy

Don’t give up

‘Cause I believe there’s a place

There’s a place where we belong

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