Kelvingrove organist pays Friends theme tribute to Matthew Perry

An organist has paid a poignant tribute to Friends star Matthew Perry at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Paul Carroll chose the US sitcom's theme, I'll Be There For You, for the daily lunchtime recital on Monday.

His performance was greeted with applause and cheers by the crowd who had assembled in the centre hall.

Perry, 54, was reportedly found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the cast of Friends said they were "utterly devastated" by the loss of their fellow star.

In 2016, organist Chris Nickol decided to play Life on Mars at Kelvingrove after hearing of David Bowie's death on the morning news bulletins.

Mr Carroll told BBC Scotland News he spontaneously decided to perform The Rembrandts' track on Monday after hearing the accent of an American visitor at the front desk as he signed in.

He said: "Playing an arrangement of Friends had been on my mind during the whole concert and I wondered how it would go down.

"I thought I would wait until the end and see what happens.

"I was not expecting a great crowd, as Mondays are usually quiet, but it did come alive at the end and that was down to the Friends theme.

"I'm glad it worked."

A video of his tribute was posted on X, formerly Twitter, by Katie Macfarlane who described it as an "emotional moment".

Reflecting on the reaction, Mr Carroll said: "It's always good to engage with your audience."

Mr Carroll was a Friends fan and said he was sorry to hear the news about Perry.

He added: "I could not believe it, especially for him to die so young.

"The guys on the show were collectively hilarious, especially with the one-liners they would come up with."

Mr Carroll is part of a rota of musicians who perform 30-minute recitals at 13:00 from Monday to Saturday and 15:00 on Sundays.

He joked that he is known as the "rogue pianist" as he often incorporates a movie theme or Disney track into his classical performances.

Mr Carroll said the recitals introduce many members of the public to organ music, which is traditionally confined to places of worship.

And he said the grand venue and the famous organ - which contains nearly 3,000 pipes - make for a memorable playing experience.

Mr Carroll added: "It is probably the best organ gig around."