by Matman
As I write this, delete and rewrite I am flooded with emotion and a serious loss of words and lack of focus as I try to remember a musician that I admired, a voice that I consider perfect... and at the same time a friend who just passed away.
By the time I discovered John Wetton in 1982 as part of ASIA he had already carved out his place in history in some amazing bands like King Crimson and UK. With ASIA he struck lighting in a bottle, but within a few years the dream situation turned toxic and John was on his own, recording some amazing solo albums to a world that wasn't listening. When I met John in 2002 he was just about to hit rock bottom. He was drinking way too much (after having logged many years of sobriety) and was unable to see his young son which started the free fall.
Meeting my hero was exciting but seeing him in this condition was tragic. Following a trading of letters and emails John took it upon himself to call me one day and started a routine of talking almost every day on the phone for almost 2 years. In those times I forgot about 'the rock star' and just focused on 'the man', talking to him when he was in bad shape which a few times ended up with me frustrated and yelling at him. "You mean so much to so many people and you have talents that God blessed you with and you are just wasting them." I didn't think he was listening most of the time.
Then one day... John stopped drinking and decided to get his life and career back on track. John worked hard, faced his critics and won. I was so friggin' proud of him for having the strength to fight his dragon's head on, face his problems and win.
I remember getting a call where John said "Don't tell anyone but the original band is getting back together!" Imagine sitting on that news? I still can see and hear him on stage with ASIA in 2005 looking healthy, playing brilliantly and sounding fantastic. Every time John came to town with ASIA, UK or with the School Of Rock he would always do everything to make my family and I feel welcome. If I was by myself he would always ask and want to know "How are the girls?"
The last few years John was fighting a very private battle with cancer. I gave him his space to fight and as I write this I feel real guilty about that. And now he is gone.
This took me almost two hours to write this and it is not even close to what I want to say. What I want people to know about John Wetton is how much he overcame in his life; the hurts he endured and the battle he fought and won. John was so much stronger than he gave himself credit for.
I miss you already!!!!
As I write this, delete and rewrite I am flooded with emotion and a serious loss of words and lack of focus as I try to remember a musician that I admired, a voice that I consider perfect... and at the same time a friend who just passed away.
By the time I discovered John Wetton in 1982 as part of ASIA he had already carved out his place in history in some amazing bands like King Crimson and UK. With ASIA he struck lighting in a bottle, but within a few years the dream situation turned toxic and John was on his own, recording some amazing solo albums to a world that wasn't listening. When I met John in 2002 he was just about to hit rock bottom. He was drinking way too much (after having logged many years of sobriety) and was unable to see his young son which started the free fall.
Meeting my hero was exciting but seeing him in this condition was tragic. Following a trading of letters and emails John took it upon himself to call me one day and started a routine of talking almost every day on the phone for almost 2 years. In those times I forgot about 'the rock star' and just focused on 'the man', talking to him when he was in bad shape which a few times ended up with me frustrated and yelling at him. "You mean so much to so many people and you have talents that God blessed you with and you are just wasting them." I didn't think he was listening most of the time.
Then one day... John stopped drinking and decided to get his life and career back on track. John worked hard, faced his critics and won. I was so friggin' proud of him for having the strength to fight his dragon's head on, face his problems and win.
I remember getting a call where John said "Don't tell anyone but the original band is getting back together!" Imagine sitting on that news? I still can see and hear him on stage with ASIA in 2005 looking healthy, playing brilliantly and sounding fantastic. Every time John came to town with ASIA, UK or with the School Of Rock he would always do everything to make my family and I feel welcome. If I was by myself he would always ask and want to know "How are the girls?"
The last few years John was fighting a very private battle with cancer. I gave him his space to fight and as I write this I feel real guilty about that. And now he is gone.
This took me almost two hours to write this and it is not even close to what I want to say. What I want people to know about John Wetton is how much he overcame in his life; the hurts he endured and the battle he fought and won. John was so much stronger than he gave himself credit for.
I miss you already!!!!
RSS Feed
