Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
David Alan Enloe, 1956-2007
The phone rang at 3:57am. David's gone. He passed away shortly after 3am.
He was my friend and I will miss him.
I am grateful that Terry called me and told me I needed to come home now to see him. And that I could be there for his last night on this earth. And that I told him that I loved him, because people don't seem to say that to each other nearly enough.
Mostly, I will be forever grateful that David Enloe had room in his life for me to be his friend.
Rest in peace, my friend.
--------------------------------------------
The Fabulous Knobs - David's hair, second from left
David Enloe
The Woods (David center)
David
David and more David
He was my friend and I will miss him.
I am grateful that Terry called me and told me I needed to come home now to see him. And that I could be there for his last night on this earth. And that I told him that I loved him, because people don't seem to say that to each other nearly enough.
Mostly, I will be forever grateful that David Enloe had room in his life for me to be his friend.
Rest in peace, my friend.
--------------------------------------------
The Fabulous Knobs - David's hair, second from left
David Enloe
The Woods (David center)
David
David and more David
Monday, November 26, 2007
Going Home To See David
Got my rental car and headed for Raleigh. I didn't have any CD's with me, so I tried to listen to the radio. It was all crap, so I pretty much drove in silence the whole way home. I had rented a 2007 Toyota Highlander, which is one of the two vehicles on my "short" list to buy. Now, I just need to drive a Honda CR-V. Nothing wrong with the Highlander, but I’m leaning toward the Honda.
Dropped the car at the airport and Greg Howard picked me up and gave me a ride home. Dropped my stuff and had just enough time to check for emergency email when Terry called to say he was on the way to the hospital.
I jumped in the car and met him there.
Poor Terry's been doing double-duty here recently. Not only is his best-friend-for-life David here at Wake Med, but his dad Carl has been here for 2 weeks for a heart procedure. Carl's in the ICU, so I can't go visit. Only family is allowed, and even then they're only allowed in there for 15 minutes at a time, 5 times a day. Weird.
So, up to David's room we went. I've known David for 27 years, so I knew it was him as soon as I saw him, but anyone who didn't know him well would never had recognized him.
David has advanced liver disease, which has the unfortunate side effect of Encephalopathy (google it). He's very gaunt due to the weight loss, and his skin is a peculiar shade of yellow. His breathing is very labored at this point and I'm not really sure he even knows who's in the room with him.
Terry and I settled in for the evening, and then Jack Cornell showed up. Over the course of the evening, a few more visitors dropped by. Peter Holsaple, Robert Keely, and Kevin Nunnery all showed up.
Some history here - I first saw a band called The Fabulous Knobs back in 1980, when I lived in Charlotte, NC. They consisted of David Enloe and Keith Taylor on guitars, Jack Cornell on bass, Terry Anderson on drums and Debra DeMilo on vocals. They were one of the most amazing bands I've ever seen – a distillation of everything good about the Rolling Stones, the Faces, Chuck Berry and James Brown. Nuff said.
All of my close friends in Charlotte became friends with everyone in the band. Every time they came to town, we would all go to their shows and throw afterparties at our homes for them.
After they broke up, David, Terry and Jack, along with Dan Baird (from the Georgia Satellites) became The Woodpeckers. After Dan left, the other 3 guys became The Woods.
The Woods were the first band I ever worked for. I was hired to be David's guitar tech. Were it not for him, I'm certain I would not have the career I have now.
David was also a great friend. We've been drinking buddies for 27 years. We've shared the best and worst of each other's lives throughout those years. Hell, at one point in my life, I got so tired of driving home to my place after leaving his apartment nearly every night that I rented the apartment across the hall from him. Staggering 10 feet was a hell of a lot easier (and smarter) than driving.
He helped me through the big breakups of my life (you ladies know who you are), and I like to think I helped him through his 3 marriage cycles.
One of the things that impressed me most was when he went back to school in his mid/late thirties to get his degree. That was not easy to do.
There are so many stories I could tell, but I can't sit here typing all day. Maybe we can have a drink one night and toast to David over it. I promise I'll tell you some stories then.
So, back at the hospital, it was only Jack, Terry and I after about 9pm. Then those two finally split around 10. I bunkered down and wanted to stay until David's brother Mark got there. I'd already decided to go home and get some sleep, then come back in the morning to relieve Mark from his overnight duty. Poor guy's been sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room for a few nights now.
Before I left, I told David that I loved him. I had probably said that to him 5 times tonight – maybe he heard and understood, maybe he didn't – but I just felt like saying it again.
I left about 11:30. Straight home, aspirin for my splitting headache (never ate today), then to bed by 12:15…
Dropped the car at the airport and Greg Howard picked me up and gave me a ride home. Dropped my stuff and had just enough time to check for emergency email when Terry called to say he was on the way to the hospital.
I jumped in the car and met him there.
Poor Terry's been doing double-duty here recently. Not only is his best-friend-for-life David here at Wake Med, but his dad Carl has been here for 2 weeks for a heart procedure. Carl's in the ICU, so I can't go visit. Only family is allowed, and even then they're only allowed in there for 15 minutes at a time, 5 times a day. Weird.
So, up to David's room we went. I've known David for 27 years, so I knew it was him as soon as I saw him, but anyone who didn't know him well would never had recognized him.
David has advanced liver disease, which has the unfortunate side effect of Encephalopathy (google it). He's very gaunt due to the weight loss, and his skin is a peculiar shade of yellow. His breathing is very labored at this point and I'm not really sure he even knows who's in the room with him.
Terry and I settled in for the evening, and then Jack Cornell showed up. Over the course of the evening, a few more visitors dropped by. Peter Holsaple, Robert Keely, and Kevin Nunnery all showed up.
Some history here - I first saw a band called The Fabulous Knobs back in 1980, when I lived in Charlotte, NC. They consisted of David Enloe and Keith Taylor on guitars, Jack Cornell on bass, Terry Anderson on drums and Debra DeMilo on vocals. They were one of the most amazing bands I've ever seen – a distillation of everything good about the Rolling Stones, the Faces, Chuck Berry and James Brown. Nuff said.
All of my close friends in Charlotte became friends with everyone in the band. Every time they came to town, we would all go to their shows and throw afterparties at our homes for them.
After they broke up, David, Terry and Jack, along with Dan Baird (from the Georgia Satellites) became The Woodpeckers. After Dan left, the other 3 guys became The Woods.
The Woods were the first band I ever worked for. I was hired to be David's guitar tech. Were it not for him, I'm certain I would not have the career I have now.
David was also a great friend. We've been drinking buddies for 27 years. We've shared the best and worst of each other's lives throughout those years. Hell, at one point in my life, I got so tired of driving home to my place after leaving his apartment nearly every night that I rented the apartment across the hall from him. Staggering 10 feet was a hell of a lot easier (and smarter) than driving.
He helped me through the big breakups of my life (you ladies know who you are), and I like to think I helped him through his 3 marriage cycles.
One of the things that impressed me most was when he went back to school in his mid/late thirties to get his degree. That was not easy to do.
There are so many stories I could tell, but I can't sit here typing all day. Maybe we can have a drink one night and toast to David over it. I promise I'll tell you some stories then.
So, back at the hospital, it was only Jack, Terry and I after about 9pm. Then those two finally split around 10. I bunkered down and wanted to stay until David's brother Mark got there. I'd already decided to go home and get some sleep, then come back in the morning to relieve Mark from his overnight duty. Poor guy's been sleeping in a chair in the corner of the room for a few nights now.
Before I left, I told David that I loved him. I had probably said that to him 5 times tonight – maybe he heard and understood, maybe he didn't – but I just felt like saying it again.
I left about 11:30. Straight home, aspirin for my splitting headache (never ate today), then to bed by 12:15…
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Show Day in DC
Fifth show of a five-in-a-row run. Today's show is at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.
Terry Anderson called me at 5:00 today and as soon as I heard his voice I knew it wasn't good. He said that David Enloe wasn't doing well. I told him that I was already planning to fly home on December 3rd to visit him for a couple of days. He said that I should come sooner because David likely wouldn't last that long. David has been functionally ill for several years now. Technically speaking, he's got liver disease. He has been hospitalized for a few weeks now, and was in recent days moved to a "rehab/nursing" facility. But he had an episode yesterday that led to him being admitted to Wake Medical Center.
So, I went into a mad scramble to get home tomorrow. Cancelled my flight to Little Rock and rented a car, thinking I'll drive home instead. On the one hand it's probably just as quick as screwing around with the airport, and on the other hand, I'll enjoy the quiet time to think. The drive is about 280 miles.
The hotel sucked when I got here. The AC ain't worth a damn. And I saw a cockroach in the bathroom. I can't tell you the last time I saw a bug in a hotel. And this is an Embassy Suites, which are usually immaculate. Oh, well, I'll get my 5 hours of sleep.
Zzzzzzzzz…
Terry Anderson called me at 5:00 today and as soon as I heard his voice I knew it wasn't good. He said that David Enloe wasn't doing well. I told him that I was already planning to fly home on December 3rd to visit him for a couple of days. He said that I should come sooner because David likely wouldn't last that long. David has been functionally ill for several years now. Technically speaking, he's got liver disease. He has been hospitalized for a few weeks now, and was in recent days moved to a "rehab/nursing" facility. But he had an episode yesterday that led to him being admitted to Wake Medical Center.
So, I went into a mad scramble to get home tomorrow. Cancelled my flight to Little Rock and rented a car, thinking I'll drive home instead. On the one hand it's probably just as quick as screwing around with the airport, and on the other hand, I'll enjoy the quiet time to think. The drive is about 280 miles.
The hotel sucked when I got here. The AC ain't worth a damn. And I saw a cockroach in the bathroom. I can't tell you the last time I saw a bug in a hotel. And this is an Embassy Suites, which are usually immaculate. Oh, well, I'll get my 5 hours of sleep.
Zzzzzzzzz…
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Rehearsal Day in Columbus
Pyro guy Reid gave me a few tips on how to fuck with someone on any tour that pisses you off. Take some small gauge multi-strand copper wire and cut it into tiny lengths. Then sprinkle it in the offensive person's bunk. Let 'em try and sleep on that crap.
Ouch!
Ouch!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Load-in Day in Columbus, GA
3:50am – woke up sweaty, hot.
3:54am – got out of bed, walked toward thermostat, kicked coffee table, broke fucking toe!
Great way to start my day! By 1pm it's almost completely black and it hurts like a bitch.
3:54am – got out of bed, walked toward thermostat, kicked coffee table, broke fucking toe!
Great way to start my day! By 1pm it's almost completely black and it hurts like a bitch.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Day Off in Chicago
My friend Jillian came and picked me up at the hotel around lunchtime. I hadn't seen her in probably 7 years. She's a lovely as the day I first met her back in 1993 when I was on an American Airlines flight with the Cry Of Love guys and she was a Flight Attendant on the plane. I'm sure I said something completely stupid to her, but we became friends, anyway, and still are…
Day Off in Chicago
Or more specifically, a day off in Hoffman Estates, IL, 30 miles outside of Chicago.
We had to load out of the venue last night because of some previously contracted events. We'll be loading back in on Monday morning. In the meantime, I've got a few days off here.
Hoffman Estates is where the Sears Centre is located. It's a very nice, if smallish, new venue. Great place to do production rehearsals. Not a great place to be staying in the Marriott located a half-mile from the venue. There's a new shopping center a block from the hotel, but not much else.
Restaurant choices include the hotel's lobby restaurant, a Subway, a Jimmy John's, a Panda Express, and a place called Claim Jumper. I skipped lunch today, and opted for Claim Jumper for dinner. Had a pretty decent appetizer, the Avocado Rolls. Had the Cedar Plank Salmon for my entrée. Stupid-sized portions of both. I think I left more of each than I ate.
When I first walked in and sat at the bar, I was a bit perturbed that they were OUT of Budweiser. Let's see, it's only the BEST-SELLING BEER IN THE ENTIRE USA, but you can't seem to keep your inventory straight.
OK, whatever. I drank Pacifico Beer instead.
The atmosphere of the place was sorta like a Stonewood Grill crossed with a J. Gilbert's, with just a touch of "generic sports bar" thrown in. Pleasant enough way to kill a couple of hours.
I was back in my room by 9pm.
Bored.
We had to load out of the venue last night because of some previously contracted events. We'll be loading back in on Monday morning. In the meantime, I've got a few days off here.
Hoffman Estates is where the Sears Centre is located. It's a very nice, if smallish, new venue. Great place to do production rehearsals. Not a great place to be staying in the Marriott located a half-mile from the venue. There's a new shopping center a block from the hotel, but not much else.
Restaurant choices include the hotel's lobby restaurant, a Subway, a Jimmy John's, a Panda Express, and a place called Claim Jumper. I skipped lunch today, and opted for Claim Jumper for dinner. Had a pretty decent appetizer, the Avocado Rolls. Had the Cedar Plank Salmon for my entrée. Stupid-sized portions of both. I think I left more of each than I ate.
When I first walked in and sat at the bar, I was a bit perturbed that they were OUT of Budweiser. Let's see, it's only the BEST-SELLING BEER IN THE ENTIRE USA, but you can't seem to keep your inventory straight.
OK, whatever. I drank Pacifico Beer instead.
The atmosphere of the place was sorta like a Stonewood Grill crossed with a J. Gilbert's, with just a touch of "generic sports bar" thrown in. Pleasant enough way to kill a couple of hours.
I was back in my room by 9pm.
Bored.
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