Guest Post by Steven G: Bobby Durango
June 4th was the saddest day I have had in a long time. It started off like any other day. I got up, went to work and peeked at my FB. It was seeing what my friend Dizzy posted that set off alarms .
" RIP Bobby Durango. You were an influence and i was honored to call you friend. You are truly a Rock City Angel now. Fuck death."
I had doubt, shock, sadness and tears. I didn't want to believe it. I searched around and found enough reason to think it true. His passing was as much of a surprise to me as a shark attack in the Rocky Mountains.
We come across people in our lives that leave a mark on us. There are bands we cherish more than others because of the connection we have with them. Sometimes the world of friendship and fan cross. This is one of those times.
The story begins...
One day in 1988. I was at Budget Tapes & Records in Longmont, riffling through the tapes. There was one tape that the name hit me as kinda cool, so I pulled off the shelf to take a look.
I flipped it over and thought it had enough songs for a double album, not knowing that was part of the story of the Rock City Angels a.k.a. RCA. I purchased it and put it in my Walkman. It blew my mind. It was the perfect meld of RnR and Blues. This isn't a review, I have done several of those in the past, so I will move on. I liked it so much, any time I would find a used tape, album, (years later) CD; I would buy it. I don't think I wore out more copies of any album more so than I did this one. The last time I was in a music store, I happened across another copy, and that one went to a friend. I will continue to buy them all and make sure friends that are passionate about music, get one. I share the story of RCA which is a powerful one full of ups, downs, villains, heroes, Johnny Depp and of course Bobby Durango.
We jump forward to the several years ago, before Facebook or Twitter, when MySpace was the place to be. I was often on the RCA MySpace fan page. One day Bobby chimes in and talks about how blown away he is that anyone even remembered RCA. He had no clue there was anyone who still know of them. He stated then and several times since, that it was finding US, that brought the passion back to him. I was blown away that he was so down to earth and humble. Something I would learn more about in the days to follow.
Bobby shocked me with one of the best birthday gifts ever. He messaged me and asked if I had gotten RCA's recently released . I explained I had not due to finances. He rectified that immediately. He said in his own words that the album was for me and those like me that really get it. That he really wanted to know my thoughts on it. He didn't just write songs, He bled himself into them and he knew people like me would feel it, live it, love it. All of which I did. I averaged listening to it no less than 3 times a day for easily a month. I took it in and it fast became an old friend, just as YMB's was. I thought it would be hard to top YMB's and I told him as much. He made it clear they were different, which he was right. Where YMB's was a perfect marriage of RnR and Blues, UOaD was equally brilliant in the pairing of Punk and Blues. Something that will make more sense is you learn about his musical history.
Another time Bobby blew me away was a couple years ago. I was sitting on the couch watching tv with Tanya and my phone rings. I looked at it and by the look on my face Tanya could tell something great just happened. I told her it was Bobby and she smiled huge. I answered and a realization that the Bobby I called friend, actually was. We have online friends, but are they really friends, ya know?! I had ordered some shirts and asked him a few questions about girl sizes in an email. As a habit, I gave him all my contact info, phone number included. I didn't realize he would call and I was excited he did. We talked shirts for a couple minutes then went onto music. Mostly RCA and other projects he was part of. We talked like we had been friends for ages, a bond that music is good at creating.
I have met most of my musical idols, but none could I honestly call a real friend, until Bobby. I think of him as a friend, musical family, and inspiration. I have always been passionate about music and friends. That is why yesterday hit so hard. Our story was just beginning. The end was much too soon. I love him and can not imagine not having him in my life. The sorrow his family has right now I am sure exceeds what I am feeling. I have read a comment by one of his sisters, and it tore me up. Her losing her legs, dropping to her knees and sobbing. The fans of his work will say his music was never given the recognition it deserved, that it was underrated. I agree and will add that HE was underrated as was his talent and more so the good person he was. He had all the talent of the best without the ego. He was and always will be my definition of Rock 'n Roll.
I think this is a good place to call it a wrap. I can and will share more later, but I want to leave some for me, for now.
Bobby... you left much too soon. You will remain with me till my dying day. I love you my brother.
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