My Thermos

It's been a busy month here in My Thermos, here is a rundown of some of what I've been tracking since I last checked in.

Earlier this month we lost our sweet and wonderful Abbey Cat. She has been with us since we moved in to our house 15 years ago and we've never lived here without her. There is an emptiness in our home now that I'm not sure we'll ever really get used to. As usual, Gina has the perfect words over at her blog.



We miss you Abbey!

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Last month Gina and I were involved in an auto accident and while we weren't injured, our car ended up being totaled by our insurance company. I'm grateful we weren't injured but what a tremendous pain in the ass it is to deal with the aftermath of something like this. Finding a replacement car, fighting with claims departments etc. This was so not even remotely our fault but we ended up being horribly inconvenienced and put out by the whole process.

Michael Jackson passed away. I know you've likely already heard that, and may be surprised to see my writing about it, but I do have some thoughts to share.

• I am not what I would call a fan really but I know the sense of loss I felt and still feel when my idols are lost. I remember the night of Dec 8th 1980 as if it were yesterday so I understand the shock, the need to gather, and the trauma that one can feel. People mocked the sadness of his fans, I understood it all too well.
• I was horrified at the way that the news was spread, unconfirmed, on Twitter and other social networking sites. I understand it is a "paradigm shift away from old media" and such, but what I witnessed was just unconscionable.
• I hope that one day we can move past the sensationalism and see the tragic, sad and damaged soul that he was. And remember the talent. Not my cup of tea but man I can't deny the talent.

See you on the flip side. Hopefully soon.

SB

but I've been meaning to write something about the death of Delaney Bramlett since he passed away on Dec 27, 2008.

Delaney is one of those musicians who was much better known and regarded in the musical community than he was by popular culture. This is a terrible shame as he was a tremendous talent and a major influence to the greats he worked with incl. Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, George Harrison and many others.

I've heard wonderful stories about the Delaney & Bonnie and Friends live shows and wish I had the opportunity to experience one of their amazing revues.

Here is a great clip featuring the aforementioned Clapton.



Delaney Bramlett was 69 years old.

SB

Had he not died tragically in October of 1971, Howard Duane Allman would have been 62 years old today.

In addition to his amazing work with The Allman Brothers Band, Duane was also an accomplished session musician playing with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Herbie Mann, Wilson Pickett, Otis Rush, and Boz Scaggs. In fact, his work on Loan Me A Dime remains one of the most powerful guitar solos I've ever heard and makes it a favorite song of mine.

His contributions to the Derek and the Dominos masterpiece Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs are just staggering as well.

It's no secret how much of an Allman Brothers Band fan I am, and even though Duane's time with them was short his influence was huge and continues to be so to this day.

It is sad when such a bright spark is extinguished just when it is getting its chance to shine.

Photo via Ed Berman and Wikimedia - Fillmore East June 1971

I'm just now getting official confirmation but it appears that Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience has been found dead in Portland Oregon.

Mitch was truly an amazing drummer as evidenced in this video from Jan, 9, 1969 - truly outstanding.

RIP Mitch

SB

<update: link to story here >

We lost a great one this last weekend as Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops passed at age 72.



RIP Levi

The dream is over
What can I say?
the Dream is Over
Yesterday
I was the Dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the Walrus
But now I'm John
and so dear friends
you'll just have to carry on
The Dream is over

John Winston Ono Lennon
October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980

--

A couple of things:

The photo is one we took on one of our many trips to New York, this being one of the rare ones in Summer months. We always found time to spend in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. Such a wonderul peaceful place. I don't see anyone with a guitar in this photo but there was likely someone there, or at least would be in a matter of moments. I was there on Dec. 8, 1990 and it was an experience in my life that I will never forget.

I recall Yoko once saying something about while she understood how everyone else felt about losing "Beatle" John, she also lost her friend and husband, and his children lost their father.

John was 40 when he was killed, and I just turned 40 this year. Not that we have led similar lives but it's something that I am having trouble reconciling. This year, because of that common thread, it is really hitting me just how much life he had left, and how much time with him we missed. John would have been 68 this year.

Some call Double Fantasy the album where he made peace with his aging, little did we know at the time that it would be such a final statement.

Happy Birthday John

SB

Richard Wright, the keyboardist and Vocalist with Pink Floyd has passed away at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer.

I heard rumblings of this about 10 minutes ago but held off posting until I could get confirmation, which sadly a spokesman has just given.

I've been a fan of Pink Floyd for a very long time and Richard's amazing piano work has always been a key part of their distinctive sound. I've also been a fan of his solo work, particularly his Wet Dream album from 1978, which I have always felt was tremendously underrated (see clip below.)

Rick - I know I won't be the only one to say this, but I wish you well at your Great Gig In The Sky. I want to sincerely thank you for your music which has affected me most deeply. I'm not sure I would have made it through my teenage years without you and your Floyd bandmates.

You will be missed.

 



SB

Image via Deep Schism @ Flickr