dero gives a mention on his sun times blog

awesome

rip. only knew him through his posts, and mostly through the archives. easily the best writer here and truly the most alive, even as he was dying.

OUTSTANDING! (Thanks, Jim!)

I just emailed Greg:

Greg:

This is "By-Tor" here, to say thanks for being who you are, because if it wasn't for you and Jim, (and Jason) I would never have ventured onto the Sound Opinions message board, where I met my wife, (Little Jess), of now 1 1/2 years, and I wouldn't have met al the other crazy characters in the Sombie universe.

The most indelible of these characters was Johnnie "Coolrock" Brazas, who lost his fight against pancreatic cancer in the last week. I only met the man once; it was the same time I met you and Jim, at the Abbey Pub, that 1st "Sound Opinons night out" gathering. You and Jim were very gracious and congenial to us internet geeks, and I doubt I will ever forget the great conversation we had about music, and your show, and the directions it was headed, and so on.

Anyway, Johnnie was a professional musician, a gentleman, a scholar, and a true sage for the youth of today, and tomorrow. He is survived by his wife, a newborn, some family, and a silly message board. So, if you haven't already mentioned it, I implore you to please give this immortal spirit 30 seconds of airtime on one of your shows. He was a true brick in the temple of rock and roll, and all that evolves from it.

Thank you,

By-Tor and Little Jess

Why didn't I attend that first SOMB Night Out? I can't remember what was going on in my life at that time to make me miss it, but it must have been something big because I can't believe I didn't go.

/hijack

Funny, cuz remember Marilyn? She was there.

Marilyn was a cranky old broad. Probably still is. Unless she's reading this, in which case she's totally awesome.

And Eric was there, stealing the best essay award from me. Bruce over Rush? Come on!

Rush? Did you submit a lyrical analysis of YYZ? Aw.... SNAP!

I wonder if there's something we could do for his family. On another board I'm on, a few years back when a beloved guy died suddenly, a bunch of us donated money to the National Association Of Music Education's 'Walk To Fame' in Virginia. For those who don't know, bricks are installed at this place that can be inscribed however you want and the money goes to promoting music education at the local, state, and federal level. We made a card up and sent it to his family. http://www.menc.org/resources/view/walk-of-fame for more info.

I'm sure there's plenty of worthy places near or in the Chicago area that would work equally as well. Just throwing that out there.

That's ^ a cool idea--I like the music tie-in and the fact that the brick would be a lasting commemorative.

Um, it might not be quite what you have in mind, but my brother will be running in his 3rd Chicago marathon this year, on 10/10/10, (my wedding anniversary, BTW) and I'm sure I will be plugging the heck out of it on our "Plug One" section, and so on, especially since thanks to the SOMB, and a lot of other really great folks, we raised over $3,000 for the American Cancer Society last year.

My Ma only lasted 7 months after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, whereas CR managed to squeeze out an extra 3. But that's the thing. Why do we accept the fact that cancer (especially certain types) are a death sentence?

If you ever get a chance, google for an open letter to Congress that Swayze penned before he died. Really great stuff about asking the government to do a lot more for cancer research. I mean if the govt is sort of run by Medical Industrial Complex, why hasn't more been done? Wouldn't it be in the insurance industry's interest for people to live longer, and not file big claims?

Anyway, when my brother's running, my family and friends will be giving in the name of my mother, and you would be more than welcome to give in the name of Johnnie Brazas, because come to think of it, I think I will too! (You can sign messages on the ACS site that we'll be using)

If I know my brother, I'm sure this year's goal will be even higher. (And he's still gotta make Boston!)

So yes, there's one thing you can do to help cancer victims and their families.

Where do people go if they want to pledge, By-Tor?

Thanks for asking. I will be posting a link to the page when it's up. The race isn't until October, so I guess the earliest would be August or September, I dunno, but my brother will be on it, and let me know, and I will put it in "Plug One" again.

Of course, the American Cancer Society is always taking pledges, so feel free to give to them anytime.

And here's that Swayze article. It was in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...50.html?sub=new

RIP Coolrock. The guy with the coolest & funniest stories out there.

If you've got an RYM account, help me fasttrack this to approval with a yes vote.

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/profile_details?id=302501

yeah she was. The three of us were chatting at the bar at one point.

Kind of a sobering post to bring on so late to the game given how often people come and go from this place.
I kinda let it slide for some time and just happened to mention the other day that I couldn't imagine that Johnnie would be doing so hot. I should've realized it was likely well past the point.

fuck all hell, that guy made one of the best mixes I've ever heard and I'm still kicking myself for not shooting out to that last gig he did a while back but life's always a little nuts so it didn't happen.

he'd given me some good advice on more than one occasion and I already miss that sumofabitch.

cr's first avatar was 'lenny'

Is there any artist in music today that's more of a student of the disco sounds of yesteryear than James Murphy?

Is it really a stretch to imagine him out record shopping, finding a copy of the Roller Boogie soundtrack, and buying it either out of genuine curiosity or just for the lolz? I don't know how the album holds up today or how much actual disco music is actually on it, but hey, there's only one way to find out, right?

Did he listen "Good Girls" a few dozen times before an idea began to take root in his mind, one that would eventually become "Drunk Girls"?

You laugh and say "LCD Soundsystem and Roller Boogie? Yeah right, that'll be the day. You're thinking about this way too hard undo." Well check this out: http://vimeo.com/13021865

Very late coming to this thread, but need to add my two very small cents. Nothing grand to say other than CR's writing during his illness was a real inspiration to me. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but if he was anything in real life like he was on here, he'd be an exceptional man indeed. Greatest sympathies to his wife and children; this is heartbreaking.

Does anyone know what happened with his books?? Did he publish anything in the end?

I thought it sounded like David Bowie covering VU's "White Light/White Heat".

Well...Bleach...we're waiting...

And his "I'm Dying for you to Hear This" music collection.

TCM will air Roller Boogie on the 10th of September at 2:30 A.M. .

cha-ching
mrs Coolrock will eagerly await her roalty check

I bet it comes out to like $0.24

Now someone has bumped this thread, just after I posted in ByTor's thread. Jeesus, i feel so shitty that I didnt even know coolrock had indeed passed on.

Bytor, it was totally awesome how you made that shoutout. I am going to have to read all of this thread now and i hope take something positive out of it in relation to my stepfather and his recent diagnosis.

Edit: finished reading, nearly an hour later. Laughed, cried, touched, educated.
Where are his books?

ADMINS PLEASE MOVE TO ARCHIVES.

Bump! I've set the DVR already.

Yep. Just set it to record via my U-verse app. Thanks.

Non-SOMBie tells me Roller Boogie is streaming on Netflix Instant.