Yeah, I saw... Got in touch with him again this year after many years of being out of touch... He drove me back to London from his place in Rugby one time, it was fucking terrifying... Always had a giant spliff on the go BITD... I had a lot of time for him, genuine music cat...
Not sure about his driving, but he seems to have had a good year with first (tasty) solo album in a couple of decades
http://carparkrecords.com/news/sonic-booms-latest-album-all-things-being-equal-out-now/