I read this whole thing not realizing the lead singer of Wilco had died, then I googled it and now I have to re-read it with the right person in mind. 🤦♀️
Hahahah! Well I won’t tell Jeff Tweedy you thought he was dead. He’d probably say that people thought that about him many times in his life including himself! Speaking of which, the Tweedy family had a fun Instagram show that they’ve been doing for a while that has made me love the guy and his wife/kids even more than I already did. I’ll be writing about it for Tuesday newsletter!
Great work here, Steve - gonna devote some time to your references - always liked his music, but kind of an outlier for me. I get it though. John Prine’s passing was a very sad event for me, though he probably did his best to prepare (Tree Of Forgiveness). I was fortunate to see him live in Portland - as unforgettable for me as your evening with Mr. Buckley.
Thanks, Michael! The video that I share that goes into the technique of Jeff’s vocals is super interesting. And John Prine’s passing was sad for me too; not only did his lyrics and music speak to the heart, he as a person always exuded such warmth and humanity. The difference for me is that he got to live a full life and experience a long and winding career. I felt sad but it didn’t feel devastating the way Buckley’s death did.
Tender piece Steve. A good reflection for start of New Year. My person as you know is Prince. I’m still not over it. Listening to his music is a religious experience (always has been but more so now). The world changed and started to fall apart in April 2016 after he died within the same 3 months as Bowie, Maurice White and Phife Dawg (all my people). I’m still processing and learning after his epic loss and all he contributed, beyond his music. I credit him for keeping me sane (alive) in my youth. I couldn’t listen to his music for a year after his death. My life changed dramatically and in some strange ways refocused me. I could write all day about him, I still do. I know it sounds crazy but his spirit still talks to me, thank goodness…
I had forgotten that all those amazing, iconic musical world-changers died in the same three months! Geez. I think the Prince death hit me the hardest, not only because of the enormous impact his music had on me, but because he was so young and so much of a health-nut. And I had seen him in concert just weeks prior. Bowie’s death was a surprise to many, but also many knew of his cancer. Also Phife Dawg’s issues with Diabetes was well known, so his death was less shocking than Prince to me. And Maurice White, I can’t remember how he died but he was older and I want to say was sick for a while. Not that it’s anything that can be quantified or compared, but the sudden deaths, especially the ones that happen to people under the age of 60 seem extra impactful to me.
Prince: I had also just seen him 3 weeks before in Oakland and then tried to go to his 1am show in the Tenderloin but it was raining, I was tired and famous last words told myself the classic “I’ll go to the next one”! Regrets!!
Yeah Prince was the hardest because his secret pain med addiction and being so vocal about his health commitment felt shocking (I thought he’d live forever). But it was a good reminder of being human and the realities of a body breaking down from 50+ years of jump splits in boots add odds with his faith.
The avalanche of losing all those legends in that moment, even the expected ones was painful. Mass exodus.
Hallelujah, Steve, what a glorious piece, tender, evocative, and erudite. A live performance in itself.
Suzanne, thanks so much for reading! What glorious feedback. Great hearing from you!
I read this whole thing not realizing the lead singer of Wilco had died, then I googled it and now I have to re-read it with the right person in mind. 🤦♀️
Hahahah! Well I won’t tell Jeff Tweedy you thought he was dead. He’d probably say that people thought that about him many times in his life including himself! Speaking of which, the Tweedy family had a fun Instagram show that they’ve been doing for a while that has made me love the guy and his wife/kids even more than I already did. I’ll be writing about it for Tuesday newsletter!
Great work here, Steve - gonna devote some time to your references - always liked his music, but kind of an outlier for me. I get it though. John Prine’s passing was a very sad event for me, though he probably did his best to prepare (Tree Of Forgiveness). I was fortunate to see him live in Portland - as unforgettable for me as your evening with Mr. Buckley.
Thanks, Michael! The video that I share that goes into the technique of Jeff’s vocals is super interesting. And John Prine’s passing was sad for me too; not only did his lyrics and music speak to the heart, he as a person always exuded such warmth and humanity. The difference for me is that he got to live a full life and experience a long and winding career. I felt sad but it didn’t feel devastating the way Buckley’s death did.
Tender piece Steve. A good reflection for start of New Year. My person as you know is Prince. I’m still not over it. Listening to his music is a religious experience (always has been but more so now). The world changed and started to fall apart in April 2016 after he died within the same 3 months as Bowie, Maurice White and Phife Dawg (all my people). I’m still processing and learning after his epic loss and all he contributed, beyond his music. I credit him for keeping me sane (alive) in my youth. I couldn’t listen to his music for a year after his death. My life changed dramatically and in some strange ways refocused me. I could write all day about him, I still do. I know it sounds crazy but his spirit still talks to me, thank goodness…
I had forgotten that all those amazing, iconic musical world-changers died in the same three months! Geez. I think the Prince death hit me the hardest, not only because of the enormous impact his music had on me, but because he was so young and so much of a health-nut. And I had seen him in concert just weeks prior. Bowie’s death was a surprise to many, but also many knew of his cancer. Also Phife Dawg’s issues with Diabetes was well known, so his death was less shocking than Prince to me. And Maurice White, I can’t remember how he died but he was older and I want to say was sick for a while. Not that it’s anything that can be quantified or compared, but the sudden deaths, especially the ones that happen to people under the age of 60 seem extra impactful to me.
Prince: I had also just seen him 3 weeks before in Oakland and then tried to go to his 1am show in the Tenderloin but it was raining, I was tired and famous last words told myself the classic “I’ll go to the next one”! Regrets!!
Yeah Prince was the hardest because his secret pain med addiction and being so vocal about his health commitment felt shocking (I thought he’d live forever). But it was a good reminder of being human and the realities of a body breaking down from 50+ years of jump splits in boots add odds with his faith.
The avalanche of losing all those legends in that moment, even the expected ones was painful. Mass exodus.