A lot of people ask me what kind of music I like. I love "soul music". My "soul music" isn’t a style, genre or niche. It’s music that is genuine. It’s
a painful lyric, a dirty bassline, it’s a harrowing vocal, it’s feedback, it’s an anthem, it’s a love song, it’s anarchy. I’ve got my personal
favourites but in the end it doesn’t matter who or where it comes from... so long as it’s good and it's real.
- Paul Morris, music director at 97.7 HTZ-FM
I don't remember much of Joe, but do remember seeing him on here, and I think it might actually be years now since he posted
I kinda remember him having some serious health afflictions, and maybe being wheel chair bound if my memory serves me correctly, but don't quote me
nonetheless, it's tragic for a dude to die young
Joe, may you now have peace and rest well.
Joe was an interesting kid. I'd like to say that we always got along but that was not the case. The details of our brief falling out are pointless at
this juncture but I'm glad to say that we were able to resolve things a couple of years ago. I would feel even more terrible about his passing if we
hadn't. I still have two major regrets tonight though: Joe and his sister, Anne, asked me to play his birthday party last September. I was so moved by
the fact that he really wanted to hear my songs that I jumped at the chance to play. But as it drew closer I had to cancel because I lack
transportation and needed to be two places that day - at his party and at my younger brother's birthday gathering. I figured Joe would understand and
I could always make it up to him later; my younger brother is just 12 years old and I figured that he would be much more offended that I missed his
birthday. It was a crappy scheduling conflict on my part and I should have known better. I traded emails with Joe afterward (actually his sister had
to write for him, though I wasn't fully aware of that at the time - though I suspected) and we agreed that I would come out there in the fall and play
for him. He even asked for Brit to come too...... just cuz the dude was bound to a wheelchair didn't mean he didn't like eye candy and he even said so
in the email. lol. Well, shortly after that Anne emailed me and a bunch of other people telling us that Joe was going into the hospital for a while
and he wouldn't have access to the web. In my recollection there was no indication that he wouldn't be coming home. So again, I fucked up by not
visiting him. I just kind of went on with things assuming that the plan to play at his house was being pushed out to a later date. And then I hear
this today. These are regrets I will carry for a long time.
I met Joe through Doug when he joined Ducky Boys. I don't recall exactly when I became aware of his situation but what I understand of it is that he
had a rare neurological disorder. It was so rare that doctors weren't able to pinpoint what it was and therefore were unable to treat him. And it got
worse and worse. He probably stopped posting here because he became unable to type with any accuracy. Last time I saw him was at an Unloved show....
probably two years ago in Worcester, MA. The show was on the second floor and a few of us had to carry him upstairs. I can't imagine what he went
through. He lost his mobility, his ability to stand, speak at times and just do any of the things that we take for granted each day. And I know that
needing to be carried upstairs but club security and the bands you were going to see can't do much for your dignity. But he kept a smile on his face
and focused on the positive. I can remember seeing his face from the stage and it was just a big shit eating grin. I guess he was looking at the
chance to get out of the house and hear some music as being bigger than his illness that night.
They eventually figured out what he had and there was something crazy like only 8 or 9 other people to ever be diagnosed with the illness in medical
history. Anne gave me the name of it and I looked it up at the time and probably should have realized that he wasn't looking at a long road ahead of
him but I think it was partly denial cuz it just didn't click when it probably should have. What he had progressed to the point where it killed him.
Lenny Lashley and his wife, Shelley, have kept in closer touch with Joe and his family and I know they visited him in the hospital. Shelley's Facebook
post tonight showed just how grim the situation was and many people were unaware. Evidently the doctors discharged him from the hospital and he passed
away at home today.
The thing about Joe is that the internet was often his only connection to the outside world. Not out of choice like it is for hermits like me but
because he really couldn't leave the house. He used message boards to have some connection with life outside of his room. Sometimes he made enemies on
those sites because he might lash out at someone. But can you blame him for being angry with the world? I can't. Not with what he dealt with every
day. He was a decent guy just trying to fit in like the rest of us. And he really got the shaft in life. Nobody deserves the health issues he had. I
feel like I have a new perspective on life tonight. Hopefully it lasts and doesn't fade as time goes on. If there's anything that can be taken from
Joe's untimely passing then it's that we should really enjoy our health, appreciate the people we have around us while we have them and take every
small blessing as the positive thing that it is rather than being so cynical or negative. That's what he did and I feel like my life is better for
having witnessed him dealing with such a terrible illness in such a unique way.
Not much more to add. For a guy who got dealt such a shitty hand in life, he seemed to handle it much better than the rest of us would have. All I
can say is that I hope he's in a place of peace now.
This really sums up my thoughts:
Quote:
Originally posted by lifeisabitch
you goons are pretty much the only people I would call friends
and to hear of one of us passing sucks ass.
Rest in Peace Joe
Unfortunately, Joe wasn't the first one of us to pass. Jeff/upyerbum passed away from a heart attack about a year and a half ago.
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, ?You know, I want to set those people over there on
fire, but I?m just not close enough to get the job done.? George Carlin
Originally posted by random
Not much more to add. For a guy who got dealt such a shitty hand in life, he seemed to handle it much better than the rest of us would have. All I
can say is that I hope he's in a place of peace now.
This really sums up my thoughts:
Quote:
Originally posted by lifeisabitch
you goons are pretty much the only people I would call friends
and to hear of one of us passing sucks ass.
Rest in Peace Joe
Unfortunately, Joe wasn't the first one of us to pass. Jeff/upyerbum passed away from a heart attack about a year and a half ago.
Yeah Jeff was a tough one as well...
To all of you our there whose names start with J this board is cursed run while you still can...
Originally posted by random
Not much more to add. For a guy who got dealt such a shitty hand in life, he seemed to handle it much better than the rest of us would have. All I
can say is that I hope he's in a place of peace now.
This really sums up my thoughts:
Quote:
Originally posted by lifeisabitch
you goons are pretty much the only people I would call friends
and to hear of one of us passing sucks ass.
Rest in Peace Joe
Unfortunately, Joe wasn't the first one of us to pass. Jeff/upyerbum passed away from a heart attack about a year and a half ago.
Yeah Jeff was a tough one as well...
To all of you our there whose names start with J this board is cursed run while you still can...
I was just wondering about him the other day and was going to post up to see if anyone knew what was up with him lately. Never met the guy but always
loved watchign his vids and his posts here.
Darkbuster & The Welch Boys videos are 2 Boston classics that will never be forgotten... RIP Joe
Quote:
Originally posted by REV.PAULIE
HONUS-as much as i can't stand a great deal of what you really like (for my own reasons that i would never hold,nor impose,against you),YOU FUCKING
RULE!
Originally posted by REV.PAULIE
HONUS-as much as i can't stand a great deal of what you really like (for my own reasons that i would never hold,nor impose,against you),YOU FUCKING
RULE!
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