Dear Pete...

I'm very sorry you had to leave us so soon.  It may be selfish of me but I wish we would have had one more bull session or one more concert together.  I dare to say that I ran into about a hundred others this past weekend who would have been just as selfish.  It made me happy to see Brett and Melissa again and to reconnect with Jet, Mallie and Jim.  I'm glad I got to make the acquaintance of several  others from your teenage days, some I remember, some I didn't (I'm sorry), and some for the first time.  They all knew you better than I did and it's difficult to fathom how they feel knowing how I do.  One of the stories that kept popping up Friday night was about a band nobody seemed to know anything about and how you steered them to me saying if anybody could get it...  Well, that band was Fields Of The Nephilim and I've been listening to them all weekend in your honor...



Another favorite band we shared was Masters of Reality and I was so happy to hear some Sunday at the gathering at Park Ave CDs where they were spinning from your actual collection.  Since I still have a couple of their recordings readily attainable from my Featured 500, I grabbed "Live At The Viper Room" for a listen.  The version of "Goin' Down" flat out kicks ass, as you know...



Three concert stories to remember and share...  The first is one when you really had zero interest in the band but under the threat of terminating your employment I made you go (yeah, like that was necessary...).  It was January 13, 1993, and Widespread Panic was on the road just before dropping their third album, "Everyday," which would go on to be the band's first to crack Billboard's Top 200...barely.  The show was at Fern Park Station, made of converted railroad cars, so maybe a couple of hundred people max.  About halfway through the second set, I look over and you are twirling under the finger of a cute Rollins co-ed with this huge smile on your face...priceless.  The second story is about a band you were very fond of, Fishbone.  I don't recall the song but I remember Angelo jumping onto the floor at The Beacham for a romp through the modest crowd.  A line of followers grew behind him...and suddenly I noticed you were at the head of said line.......again, that wide grin...



The last story was getting you to The Social for a band you knew nothing about at the time, dredg.  Couldn't have been three minutes into the show when you turned to me with a wide-eyed, jaw-dropped look of amazement and mouthed the words "thank you" to me.  I'll never forget that as long as I live.

I'm very glad I got to see your mother again Sunday and to also meet the rest of your family.  The room full of people had been touched by your love of music and your ability to relate to each and every one of them.  I tried desperately not to get misty-eyed but couldn't do it.

Well, buddy, we had long existential conversations which you now have another slant on.  When I take the next step, please look me up so we can continue our chat from our new vantage point.

With much love from your friend,

Phil