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Author: Michael Toland
Date: 08-13-12 19:42
Brent Grulke, the longtime creative director of SXSW, died today.
I never met him, but I know a lot of his friends, and he was by all accounts a lovely man who deeply loved music (and baseball).
A piece of Austin's soul is now gone.
Details.
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Author: erikalbany
Date: 08-13-12 20:37
R.I.P. I didn't know him or much about him, but his impact on music is clearly unmistakable.
Interesting that as a huge baseball fan, he died the same day as 92-year-old Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky.
Peter Blackstock posted this piece by Grulke:
"I had an awful nightmare last night. I was sitting in a bar around the corner from my house listening to music, feeling about as well as I usually do when I'm there, and suddenly an over-sized guy with a three piece suit, necktie, and look of intense gravity approached the table where I sat. Someone laughed and pointed at him, and another whispered that he was an A&R guy for 'one of the biggies.' I didn't care who he was, but he obviously wanted to talk to me. I tried to duck into the graffiti-streaked haven that passed for a restroom there, but a goliath hand caught my shoulder and spun me around. He demanded that I follow him outside, and though I knew my rights, I figured that he'd have his way sooner or later anyway, so I followed. The band didn't miss a beat.
'Son,' he patronized as soon as we got outdoors, 'It's time you grew up.' He took out a suit identical to his own and handed it to me. I shook my head and shuddered. 'It's time someone taught you about the finer things in life.' I resented the implications and began to protest, but he just grinned and chortled, opening the door to a large blue Mercedes. 'Sit, boy, sit. There, that's good. Have a cigar.' 'It's rock-n-roll I like,' I told him, 'let me live how I want to.' 'Oh, there's nothing wrong with rock-n-roll, but you've got to develop a more discerning ear.' He flipped the switch to a TV set built into his car, and MTV images flooded the screen. 'No!' I yelled, but the empty cheer kept getting louder and the spandex kept getting tighter, and the colors kept getting brighter...
I jumped for the door, but it was locked. I reached for the controls to the TV but they weren't working. 'Please,' I implored, 'I'll do anything!' But the man was gone. Money started pouring out of the speakers. I felt very, very sick and I started looking for razor blades to slash my wrists with. Anything to escape. But I couldn't...
Fortunately the Jeffersons were practicing next door and I woke to the real squeal, music I could feel. Thank God for the bands on the block."
-- Brent Grulke, 1985.
Post Edited (08-13-12 20:38)
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Author: Nile
Date: 08-14-12 04:03
Sounds like Brent fell asleep listing to Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine."
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Author: rhettlawrence
Date: 08-14-12 22:14
I saw Alejandro Escovedo last night here in Portland (great damn show, by the way) and he gave a shout-out to this dude and dedicated a song to him. I'd never heard of him, but he does indeed sound like a good fella. AE noted too that he had been the roadie for the True Believers back in the day.
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Author: Michael Toland
Date: 08-15-12 08:36
I really wish I'd met him. I saw him at every Wannabes show I ever attended - he loved them - but never spoke to him. I have a lot of friends reminiscing about the times they spent with him.
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