My friend and a member of our artistic community, Dave Hunter, changed forms to start the week. After a somewhat brief but extremely brave battle with cancer, Dave took up residence among the invisible this week. By definition of its properties, Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it transforms from one form to another. In keeping with that thought, when you feel the presence of those you have loved around you, they’re definitely right there with you. Losing the matter that helps us recognize them on this plane of existence is always a heartbreaking experience for even the most evolved of souls. Ya can’t hug energy without it being within the confines of this cumbersome and fragile earth suit known as a body. That part hurts for most of US. Dave created posters for countless bands that we all dig and you might have one hanging on your wall. He did a few for Dead & Company like this one for Shoreline last Summer. That’s his soul mate Megan with him. Keep her in your most loving and compassionate of thoughts along with his family.
I was moved to write when I heard the news and I penned this poem in Loving Memory of our brother, Dave.
I saw a poster shed a tear from psychedelic eyes
The painting lives to tell a tale, its creator sadly dies
The ink is holding out today, the pigments much less bright
As if they had a heart of flesh and heard the news last night
I try to think of what the maker thought when he painted you
His palette rich with gifts and treasure reserved for just a few
While we look through all the paint we’re left with here today
It seems we’re left with nothing but shades of blue and shades of gray
How and why and why and how we’ll ask ourselves forever
Maybe it will all make sense in a time reserved for never
Everywhere your artwork hangs a piece of you is living
Just like you, a piece of work, a gift that keeps on giving
Your presence has been framed and hung in homes both far and wide
Where folks that never knew you get to take a look inside
The feelings that they get are just a piece of what you gave
We’ll look to them forever my brother, I hope you hear US Dave
We hold the paintings you loved most in arms inside our mind
Your daughter, family, Megan, all that feel so left behind
The matter you were made from might have quit but you’re still here
The energy can’t be destroyed, just transferred to something near
Forever we will see you in the things you loved to love
Today you hike where lions roam while guided by the dove
The clouds inside our hearts are heavy, producing lots of rain
And though it’s been removed from you, we’re left here with that pain
I pray the skies will clear up but I’m sure it won’t be soon
Another one we’d rather be with while Standing On The Moon
If there was something I could do, something I could handle
I would’ve added wax on to the wick that was your candle…
Rock In Peace my brother…
A day later in Atlanta, Col. Bruce made his exit during the encore of his birthday show. After the initial shock eased a little, I read what Jon Fishman wrote about it. It’s the best piece I’ve read that emerged from the incident and experience. When it comes to dying, I’m not sure there was a better way for Bruce to go. When considering some of the alternatives, like being in a hospital bed, tubes and beeping shit hooked up to you, eating fuckin jello and waiting for the Grim Reaper, Bruce’s exit was abundantly better.
The closer folks get to the reality of death, the scarier that shit seems. The morning after, I was reading through people’s posts and my 5 year old asked me what I was doing. I told him a really amazing musician and performer died on stage during the encore of a concert. He asked me what an encore was… I told him at the end of a concert, the band usually comes out and plays a final song or two before the show is over. He didn’t hesitate at all, just immediately said, “Sounds like the right way to die for a guy that plays music.”
A lot of folks felt very concerned about Taz, being a young dude that had the Col. die at his feet. I personally felt like it was the most appropriate way to make an exit. Colonel Bruce gave up the ghost right at the feet of the newest generation of music makers. Totally gave 100% of his energy to the moment. Taz will probably handle it much better than most of us folks. I could be wrong but I absolutely believe that once some of the greats truly know the future of their tribe is secure, they’re able to move along and take their energy someplace else. Taz has a piece of all the greats infused into the fibers of his being. Hopefully, the scene will give the young brother the space he needs to breathe and develop as a musician without smothering him too much. We Love ya Taz!
For a much greater view of the incident, see Jon Fishman’s message. Nobody said it better… https://www.relix.com/blogs/detail/read_jon_fishmans_entire_touching_remembrance_of_col_bruce_hampton
Love You Forever!
Dean