Killer Mike pre-Ferguson Grand Jury speech

The United States of America's people of colour are suffering a profound moment of loss.  The extremely profoundly rare instance of a Grand Jury returning an indictment of the nature that set Darren Wilson free and left Michael Brown dead in the ground has left the nation reeling and taking it to the streets.  His death needless and wrought with profound meaning, consequences and upheaval.  It is not that many Canadians and Americans don't understand the significance of his death.  It's that they just don't care.  It is admittedly hard for white people to understand.  Because white people do not have to have a talk with their boys at a certain age about how they will deal with their first (presumably of many) police stops for walking or driving while being Black.  Killer Mike, who is a profound street prophet if nothing else, speaks to this horror in modern Amerika.  In a bizarre bit of happenstance Run The Jewels happened to have a tour stop in the nearest urban centre to Ferguson, St. Louis Missouri, the night the Jury's verdict was read.  As Mike explains they usually enter to Queen's We Are The Champions but that he doesn't feel like a champion tonight.  The very big man gets audibly choked as he explains best in his own words:

"No matter how much we do it, no matter how much we get together.  Shit comes along and kicks you on your ass and you don't feel like a champion.  So tonight I got kicked on my ass when I listened to that prosecutor.  You mutherfuckers got me today.  I knew it was coming, I knew it when funky Eric Holder decided to resign I knew it wasn't going to be good but I gotta tell you... (chokes) you mutherfuckers got me today.  You knocked me on my ass today because I have a twenty year old son and I have a twelve year old son and I am so afraid for them.  You mutherfuckers... trying to control our lives - you got me today."

Michael Brown - May 20, 1996 - August 9, 2014

Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995)

Thursday August 10 - there was open casket viewing of Jerry at the St. 
Stephan's Episcopal church in Belvedere CA.  Jerry was reportedly 
dressed in a black t-shirt and sweatpants.

Friday August 11 - funeral service at the St. Stephan church in Belvedere
starting at about 4pm.  The officiant Matthew Fox was the pastor who 
married Deborah and Jerry last year.  The church is small only holding 
200 to 250 people.   Many people gave eulogies including Bob Weir, Steve 
Parrish, Robert Hunter, John Barlow, Ken Kesey and Anabelle Garcia 
(one of Jerry's daughters).  Hunter recited a poem he just wrote (see 
below).   Musicians in attendance included band members, Bruce Hornsby 
and Bob Dylan.  A very small grave site service was held, it was 
primarily for family and the band.

Sunday August 13 9am - a memorial gathering is scheduled for Golden
Gate Park.  No musical acts (though they are rumors :-) have been 
announced at this time.

It is suggested that memorial donations be directed to:

Rex Foundation
PO Box 2204
San Anselimo CA 94979

An Elegy for Jerry (by Robert Hunter)

Jerry, my friend,
you've done it again,
even in your silence 
the familiar pressure
comes to bear, demanding
I pull words from the air
with only this morning
and part of the afternoon
to compose an ode worthy
of one so particular
about every turn of phrase,
demanding it hit home 
in a thousand ways
before making it his own,
and this I can't do alone.
Now that the singer is gone,
where shall I go for the song?

Without your melody and tase
to lend an attitude of grace
a lyric is an orphan thing,
a hive with neither honey's taste
nor power to truly sting.

What choice have I but to dare and
call your muse who thought to rest
out of the thin blue air
that out of the field of shared time,
a line or two might chance to shine --

As ever when we called,
in hope if not in words,
the muse descends.

How should she desert us now?
Scars of battle on her brow,
bedraggled feathers on her wings,
and yet she sings, she sings!

May she bear thee to thy rest,
the ancient bower of flowers
beyond the solitude of days,
the tyranny of hours--
the wreath of shining laurel lie
upon your shaggy head
bestowing power to play the lyre
to legions of the dead

If some part of that music
is heard in deepest dream,
or on some breeze of Summer
a snatch of golden theme,
we'll know you live inside us
with love that never parts
our good old Jack O'Diamonds
become the King of Hearts.

I feel your silent laughter
at sentiments so bold
that dare to step across the line
to tell what must be told,
so I'll just say I love you,
which I never said before
and let it go at that old friend
the rest you may ignore.

Ten Years Ago: Rick Danko (December 29, 1942 – December 10, 1999)

Rick Danko RIP (December 29, 1942 - December 10, 1999)

Thirteen years ago actually the world lost one of the purest voices in all of Rock and Roll history.  Born of humble beginnings in Turkey Point, Ontario and picked up by Ronnie Hawkins to be a member of his Hawks he would eventually get plucked to back Bob Dylan and his group would become known simply as The Band.  His mournful voice captured a life that was full of great humour and great sadness particularly when he suffered the loss of his own son.  All his past lives will be forgotten, all his past lives will be erased.

Intro: A  D  A  D  A  D  A  D

A          D           A       D
I want to lay down beside you
I want to hold your body close to mine
Like a grape that grows ripe in the sunshine
A                           D           A
There comes a time when we must sip the wine

I can tell by lookin ... that you're not mine girl
I believe everything I told you was true
There's a child here that wants to start livin
And you know that this child will get it's start
from me and you             

            D       E                       A
Close your eyes ... and don't you think of nothing
          D                  E             A
Let your thoughts remain here inside this room
F#m                           A
Lay your head beside me on my pillow
 D         E                     A
And I will share this night with you

A                D
We must sip the wine ... till it feels alright
A                D
We must sip the wine ... into the night
A                D
We must sip the wine ... together ...

Outro: A  D  A  D ...

---

*: Rick is credited for lyrics and music to "Sip the Wine" on Rick Danko from 1977. This may not be correct. The song first appeared under the title "I Want To Lay Down Beside You" on Tracy Nelson's 1972 album Tracy Nelson / Mother Earth (Reprise MS-2054,) where it was credited to Tim Drummond who also played bass on Rick Danko.

Richie Hayward (February 6, 1946 - August 12, 2010) RIP

News of, and the cause of, Richie Hayward`s (co-founder and long time member of California Rock legends Little Feat) passing has been confirmed by his wife Shauna Hayward in these remarks:

Hello everyone x

The long journey to finding out the why and the what, became clear to us all yesterday.

Richie had Adult respiratory fibrosis, for many many years.
Left untreated, this disease compromises the lung tissue.

He then got pneumonia last week. Which with his history of lung damage, made him unable to successfully overcome it.

His body, as a response to the pneumonia, developed ARDS, Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which means for most who get it, automatic life support systems. This would be one condition, he was looking at never being without.

He fought a long battle with liver, and all that comes with that.....and quite successfully managed to get it in pretty good shape, with his name going on the list as he was now ready and able as of Sept 1st.

His additional battle with lung disease however.....he did not manage to win.

He passed away in my arms, at 11:45 am this morning.
There could never be more love between two people x

As I was helping him to continue on his journey, I asked him to let me know every day of my life, that I am not alone...and he is still with me.
I told him to be the wind that blows my dress up at the corner,...or be the wave that splashes me when I don't want to get wet....just be with me, and let me know he is there, and I am not going to be without him.
I told him that our love is stronger than these bodies,...and this life xo
And we will be together forever x

I want to thank you all, for your love and rainbows x
It meant the world to us both, on this beautiful journey Richie and I were so blessed to have shared xoxo

Richie Hayward.....you are my champion xoxo
I miss you already xoxo

Hayward`s last performance was in fact on Canadian soil (where he made his home in later years), where Little Feat has a strong and devoted following, at the Vancouver Island Music Festival where he sat in with Little Feat.

Just less than a year ago today Little Feat performed this fitting tribute (at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ) to their ill comrade  who was `warped by the rain` and `driven by the snow`.