[OT] Sad: the man in black is dead... (merged)

[Teflon Billy]

I can't say that Johnny Cash's death wasn't expected but all the same I'm incredibly sad.

My Grandma and I used to listen to Johnny's music (My grandmother, God rest her soul, could sing along with the entire listing of cities in Cash's I've Been everywhere. Amazing). I'd have to say that if I have a favorite Cash track it would that I've Been Everywhere.

Cash also recorded a collection of covers of the Alternative Music hits of the day a few years back and I've got to tell you, he absolutely killed every single one of them. The standout track IMO is Outshined, by Soundgarden.

Kim Thayil and Chris Cornel of Soundgarden where interviewed and brought the song up and said they felt ridiculous performing the song now, as they felt Cash's track was the definitive performance of it. I (and I'm a huge Soundgarden fan) had to agree.

I actually met Johnny Cash once at about age 17 (it was the late 1980's). I was at a local dive seeing a band that had a good buzz going ariund my peer group (maybe you've heard of them now: Metallica), and lo and behold, sitting at a table with a tough-as-nails looking entourage is The Man in Black himself. So I drink up some nerve and finally go over to his table after a band called Armored Saint leave the stage, and say something clunky and idiotic about how much I've always love his music and suchlike and he turns to me and says..."You watch these next fellas ,son. They are one helluva group. Fantastic Musicians. Just great stuff. Metallica"

And I'm standing there about to talk Metallica with Johnny frickin Cash and one of his handlers asks if I can maybe just give Johnny a little room, so I go back to my group.

I'm pretty much done reminiscing. This is terrible, terrible news. The world just got worse

 

[Maerdwyn]

My son Charlie(Age 4)'s favorite song in the world is "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash.

...Then one day, he was gone,
and no one ever saw him 'round.
He'd vanished like a dream,
and they forgot him in that little town.
But all the girls, still dreamed about him,
and hung around that cabaret
until the doors were locked.
And then one day, on the Hit Parade,
was the little dark haired boy
who played the Tennessee flat top box
And he would play....

 

[BOZ]

When I read Cash had been released from the hospital over the weekend, with no details of his condition, I had a bad feeling. Suspected he had gone home to die. His wife passed not too long ago, and I think he lost the will to keep going.

that happens with a lot of long-time relationships. you're with that other person for so long, you don't really want to live without them.

Ritter is a shock. I was finally starting to respect the guy, after Slingblade and some of his more recent stuff.

you can say that again. i don't know if i've been that shocked since gilda radner!

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

We have a lot more celebrities now than ever. The old rule of threes is going to have to increase to fives, at least, or be split into categories like "film stars" or "musicians". Maybe "really good entertainers" vs "people we've heard of". Someday the reality tv gang is going to start dropping, and unfortunately it'll be reported as news.

I know I didn't buy it when someone was saying "these things happen in threes...Katherine Hepburn, Buddy Epsen, and now Barry White" (no offense to Epsen or White). I could buy Hepburn, Hope, and Cash, though.

-SJ

Within the last year and a 1/2 , Peggy Lee (my idol) and Esquivel (a cookie and a kiss on teh nose to anyone who knows him) both died and I cried.

I won't cry when the guy from the Bachelor or rapper 50 Cent dies. I mean, it's sad when anyone dies, but to be brutally honest, I don't care.
Am I mean?

 

[The Cardinal]

there are a few, very few, younger celebs that I'll miss very much when they're gone:

Joss Whedon
Meatloaf
Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Christina Ricci
Jonny Depp
Jean Reno
Bruce Willis
Tom Waits
Kevin Spacey
etc.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Jonny Cash doesn't surprise me, though it is no less sad. For the last couple years, you could tell that he wasn't doing well. Hurt further backed up that assumption, and then when his wife died, I knew it was just a matter of time. He was an icon to me in my youth, and I feel like I've lost one more connection with it with his passing.

John Ritter caught me completely by surprise. I've always considered him a great commedic actor. Three's Company remains one of my favorite shows of all time and I watch it every time I manage to catch it in reruns. John Ritter belongs with a short list of greats who died well before their time like Jim Henson and Phil Hartman.

R.I.P.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Within the last year and a 1/2 , Peggy Lee (my idol) and Esquivel (a cookie and a kiss on teh nose to anyone who knows him) both died and I cried.

Esquivel died? Aw man this day just gets worse and worse.

Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music was pretty much the party soundtrack at, well, my Space-Age Bachelor Pad, for ages.

A lot of people don't know this, but Esquivel is (was) responsible for a lot of the sitcom themes you know and love (his group worked under the name DuLuxe for this). The theme from I dream of Jeannie stands as still one of the few songs that really cheer me up

 

[BOZ]

2003 just hasn't been a good year to be a celebrity eh? shortened life expectancy if you're famous.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

Johnny Cash was indeed getting up though and had some health problems... but John Ritter... jeeze... I can't believe he's gone. He was a fine physical comedian. Three's Company was always a show that I'd watch as a kid whenever they ran the re-runs. And I thought he did a fantastic job doing Noises Off--a slightly americanized version of my favorite play... it's a damned shame.

 

[hunter1828]

Growing up in Tennessee you can't help but like (love) Johnny Cash. He's a state hero and for a Tennessean to not like him seems almost unpatriotic...

Anyway, my grandmother, mother and father all loved the man's music. My father and mother met Johnny and June three or four times in the late '60s/early '70s, but I was far too young to remember that. I do remember listening to his music in my dad's car and on my grandmother's 8-track player (someone else mentioned that as well, I think).

When I started gaming one of my good friends I gamed with was HUGE Cash fan. My friend even dressed in black like Johnny. Well, one of his earliest characters was a tough, grizzled, mean dwarf...named Sue. Quite a memorable character. My friend passed away several years ago himself, and now that Johnny Cash has gone I'm left with just memories of both of them...

hunter1828