Karl's Blog. Stardate Blah Blah Blah,
Today turned out to be one of the most surreal moments I had to go through. Do you remember the film
"The Big Chill"? The premise being that everyone you knew from highschool gathers upon the unpleasant circumstance of a beloved one's passing. Well today we all gathered in honour, in respect, in grief to our fallen comrade. One Anthony John (AJ) Bay.
It was nice to see everyone come out. Faces not seen in almost ten years. Faces changed by time and a life lived. However, it was in a sense the worst highschool reunion ever. But I digress.
This is about AJ. A man who should be gracing the cover of Rollingstone, but, be embarrassed to be. Because for him, it was all about the music. If you were to meet him, you would know that. Not just that, you would feel it.
I met him some time in grade eight over at the correctional institute known as Vancouver College. AJ was one of the lifers who had just returned from serving a stint over at St. Pat's. Back then we had our little clique that we dubbed the "Filthys". Our common interest being a love for Rock & Roll. What stuck out for me about him was that he was always "chill" and that he was serious about his music. His guitar was his weapon of choice. Whenever unleashed, it was never an act of war, it was always an act of love.
AJ was a true musical talent. Whether alone or with a group, it was all about the music. Being that the case, he would encourage those around him as well to play. In Langara he would always urge me to bring my trombone and jam. To hear him play was to be in awe. It was beautiful. It was akin to something you'd hear in heaven, or in a duel with the devil at the crossroads.
I wish you all had the priviledge to know him.
He was AJ Bay and he was my friend.
1979-2006
Go visit
Anthony John Bay Dot Com.
Later Days.
End Transmission.
