Listening to Nick Drake

We've lost some amazing musicians, song-writers.  He's one of my favorites.  I can get lost in his lyrics and melodies.  A brilliant mind.  One of the many who wrote from the depths of despair and was unable to tolerate this world...But his music lives on.

(Nicholas Rodney Drake), 6/9/48 - 11/25/74. Nick was born in Arden, England. He landed a record deal at age 20 and went on to make several albums. Nick was known for playing the guitar but also played piano, clarinet and sax. His music continues to gain audiences to this day and he is considered one of the most influential English songwriters of the last 50 years. Nick suffered from severe depression which led to his overdose andsuicide at the age of 26.

In Memory of Steve

Steve "Red" Thompson

12/21/56 - 12/21/77

Red, every time I hear this song, for the last 32 years and forever, I think of you.

Still miss you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pete Ham, a Sad Ending

I spent a few minutes updating my blog, Gone But Not Forgotten. Its very sad to read about some of the deaths - especially suicide. I added Pete Ham of Badfinger today. I never really knew the details of his death until I read this.  Kinda makes me sick to read about this Stan Polley guy:

During the Warner Bros. Records era from 1973-75, Badfinger became embroiled in many internal, financial and managerial problems and their music languished. By 1975, with no income coming in and his business manager non-communicative, Ham's spirit became broken and he hanged himself in the garage of his Surrey home. He was discovered by his girlfriend in his garage the very next morning. His blood alcohol was .27%. He was 27 years old. He left behind a pregnant girlfriend Anne (his daughter Petera Ham was born one month after his death); Anne had a son, Blair, from a previous relationship. Ham's suicide note was accusatory toward Badfinger's business manager, Stan Polley. It read: "Anne, I love you. Blair, I love you. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better. Pete. P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me." Many of Polley's artist-clients also accused him of corruption over the years. More than a decade after Ham's death, Polley pleaded Nolo contendere to unrelated embezzlement and money laundering charges, but no collection of restitution was ever made. Ham's death was brushed under the rug, as no Beatles made public comment, nor did Apple Corps Ltd nor Warner Bros. Records come out with any official notice of his death. (taken from Wikidpedia)

Was it suicide?

More on Kevin duBrow and my personal thoughts on Suicide
Damn it. It sad to lose someone, anyone. But there is a deeper kind of sadness felt when we discover someone has taken their own life. The lastest reports on the death of Keven DuBrow sound familiar to me, he was found alone in his home, dead, under suspicious circumstances.

I identify with depression. I have had suicidal thoughts. I have had three people in my life (two cousins and a close friend) and numerous acquaintances that have chose to end their existence here on earth.

Its tragic. Its disturbing. It causes feelings of anger in some because its seen as a selfish act. I'm sure some suicide's are done out of selfishness or maybe desperation but I believe most happen out of sheer despondency and hopelessness. I will never judge someone for making the choice to end their life, but I will do anything and everything I can as a person to reach out to those I know suffer from depression.

My 26 year old nephew has often spoken of suicide - I hope he never goes throught with it and I have asked him to please tell me if he ever gets to that point - but the thing is, when you get to that point (I have been close) you can't tell anyone because you are in so much pain you just want it to end.

Statistics have shown that THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR that there is an increase in depression and therefore suicide. It happens to people of all ages and backgrounds, there is no "stereotype" for hopelessness. It can come as a result of an incident or be part of one's own unique make-up.

PLEASE - if you know of anyone, or if you yourself suffer from this very common condition, please talk to someone. If you feel you have no one to talk to - please talk to me. You can email me and I promise to write you back or call you if you prefer. We're all in this thing called life together.