Manuel Bagier, R.I.P.
21 July, 2007
He survived San Pedro, he survived fire.
He survived taking me on my first date (I must have been 15 or 16, him 17 or 18), where I insisted on him sitting on my lap in the movie theatre, because I didn’t know that the girl was supposed to sit on the boy’s lap when the theatre was too crowded for each of us to have our own seat…
He was an artist in L.A. when it was “cool”, and his art was cool (1982):
He was a drummer, played in a band called Assemblage, who I thought sounded like they wanted to sound like Japan. They played with Guns and Roses when they (Guns and Roses) sucked.
His family (Italian), cussed at each other over the dinner table with the noise of (a bunch of) chihuahua dogs barking and parrots squawking to accompany their own noise of opinion. We politely and silently (as was our family custom) ate our food. I think we both (my brother and I) envied the honesty of the tolerated noise around us, we being accustomed to silence and little or no confrontation.
He played drums in my parents’ house, forgetting to lay down a rug to protect the hardwood floors, leaving a scar which will never go away, Irena and I screaming upstairs to gather attention from the 16-year-old boys in the band.
He drew a picture of whales for my mother in apology (or just because she likes whales), which she still has.
He fathered twins and lived in the desert.
He died of a brain tumour, which he thought he had beaten, but beat him.
We all loved him for and in spite of his flaky, gentile, artist nature. He made few apologies.
He died not seeing or hearing, which for him, I imagine, was not a world worth living in
He will be missed.
Jackie sent me some pictures of their daughters to share with you all:
Anastassia (above) and Ariella (below)
Thanks, Jackie. Your daughters are gorgeous!
And here is a photo Jackie sent me of Manuel and Blanca. It was taken about a year before he died:
Addition: 26 May, 2008
Thanks to Karen Kellock for sharing this piece Manuel did in 1997.
Thank you for that. It is a good eulogy. I would like to add that he went out peacefully surrounded by his family.
Rest In Peace old friend.
1963-2007
Thanks for your beautiful words on behalf of his family.
Rest In Peace, Memo. Addio fratello.
Manny’s last years were spent in Ojai, CA where I had the great pleasure of knowing this strange weed. He loved animals, children and all the odd creations he came to know. He was a true friend to me and my family. He would love to be around the excitement yet there was a wondering sadness in his glare.
The glare that guided him into the other dimension, into the unknown as he had been struggling with his passions and his beast for too long. A cancerous growth took him away from us – yet his loving heart became the seed planted deep inside my heart for him and all that he struggled with.
Like the innocence of a child, like the smell of spring, I walk with you manny… into eternity. Thanks for all your true realism.
I love you. Norma
I have the honor to be his girlfriend,and also the honor to walk with him throught his path of dead, he still in my hart and won a place in it .thanks my love to make me feel like this, I will miss you bye honey your wonder women blanca
Thank you for remembering my nephew Manuel who will be missed by many. Your tribute was heartfelt and showed his many sides. Manuel’s father died 2 1/2 years ago and now he is gone as well. He was surrounded by family at the time of his death and went peacefully. May he find the peace that often eluded him in life. A big hug Memo.
Manuel & I met in an alley behind a club off Hollywood Blvd. Who knew it would turn into a 14 year union creating twin girls that were born exactly 17 years ago today. One of the last songs he wrote with Assemblage was titled “I’m alive”. The chorus was “I’m alive and that’s enough for me today…it’s all I ever needed.” He was so alive and animated…it’s what I loved about him. Here’s some other memories: star trek TV nights, RC Crumb, magic desert hikes, chasing UFO’s, Batman, existence, droogs, Kahlil Gibran, your “un” common sense, Cleo Starr, Ernest Borgnine, Dean Martin, pouch, reasons, doompability, Dean Martin…..you were one of a kind. Love ya.
My free spirited Manny will forever live in my memory with the understanding that I will catch up with you in the next spirit world. We will then click a glass of beer and remember. As the most creative musical lyrical mystical artist Manny and I had the unique opportunity meeting on a dirt road in Ranchita. We as neighbors had so much in common we became close freinds. I took his love of music to another chapter and broke him into the stagehand concert biz. He climbed steel and helped build Rolling Stone stages as well was my right hand assisting me with Rock N Roll Marathons in S.D. Street Scene was a highlight in Mannys eye because he loved getting paid to go see three days of solid music in the streets of downtown S.D. His care free loving attitude was always a joy even when I was trying to reach him on radio during an event only to find he could’nt hear me because he was standing in front of a Colum of speakers dancing to the sounds of ZZ TOP. I will miss you on this planet although your spirit and smile will always be in my mind. Lennie Howell August 6th 2007
“I can’t believe the news today.. I can’t close my eyes and make it go away”
I can’t believe the news today I can’t believe I waited so long to look for Manuel.I was his friend for 10 years he was like
the brother I never had.
I was going to drive out to Ranchita to look for him today but I had a strange feeling he might be gone, and so I did google
and found this.
Truth is I sort of thought he may be gone some years ago.
If any here have the exact date please post it.Please email me at Roytech (at) mail.com , Mania or Billman or Jackie or John
or anyone who has contact numbers for any of them.
I knew him from San Pedro originally where I lived at the SIP recording studio and worked for Tony Balboa the owner.
He and Billman Bill Antkewicz (not sure of the spelling) and so many other like John Cassic, Crazy Mike Ortega and Sean Kane
used to come in and play in various bands and more often just jam.
This was long after the Assemblage days which I never was there for but only heard about and the record mastered there at the
studio.
Tony got letters all the time from fans all over.Assmeblage was a underground legend for sure and probaly still is today.
About 10 years ago was the last time I saw him, at the Ranch.We played some music and it was the only time I ever played
guitar for real.It was a strange thing in spite of so many years hanging out listening to him and Billman I never did learn
guitar or any instruments much but that day I played my soul out on this song Memo (I gave him the nickname Mano years ago
which none else except maybe Billman know) had set up.He had this keyboard sycronising the track and here is what happened; I
was there at the ranch in Manuel’s place and he had this song going it was deep and bluesy and tragic but the scale simple so
I was just on the verge of figuring out how to play some simple riffs to it and absorbed in it.I wasn’t watching where Mano
was or what he was doing.Just about then I heard this radio playing in the background.It was a really hot soulful Blues Sax
like only someone with a Mojo from mississippi or N’Orleans or someplace might play.I started to here it but did not look up
but I did start to think in back of my mind it was odd because there was no where the radio could be coming from and manuel
didn’t even have a radio in the room, but I knew it had to be a radio because Mano did not have a Sax and did not play a Sax
especially like that.. or so I thought! Just then I turned my head and saw Mano with a kazoo playing into a mic, it was going
to the syth or effects or whatever.He was the one playing this matchless solo.My mind went completely blank it.I could not
comprehend it, all I knew was I was witnessing (like many times with Manuel) alone a rare performance in history.I shit you
not this was top notch Blues Sax, really hot so simple but cut through to the soul.Anyway I knew I just had to do something
anything not to waste this moment.I leaned over and turned on my tape player. I desperately fumbled on the guitar for a bar
or two and my mind again went blank.Then he hit a high note and magic occured.It was like my assemblage’ point moved (if You
ever read casteneda you might have jeard of this) The very next moment I took the lead with him and played what he was
playing.I could not believe it was happening I could not have asked anyone play some of the notes more perfect in some of
those leads.It went back and forth like this for awhile.It was truly magic.Then Manuel started to sing in Italian.It was a
tragic and totaly from the soul I don’t know Italian but I knew what he was saying.I can only say opera or classical music
has many the tales through time of love and life of hope and tragedy like this song.It was very personal.So then the song
went on again and then Manuel “played my soul” and the soul of the Ranch on the keyboard.. There rose a beautiful in my minds
eye the embodiment of the song and ranch spirit a huge and beautiful as big as the hill behind Mano’s.It rose so ever slowly
as he played with slow and long wing strokes and a heavy and quite a bit sorriful gravity, it was as it was reluctantly
rising from its very ancient resting place it was as a tale of ancient days and times long before even the dragons or
something.This no tale I tell what never have told, it is no lie, I tell you what the vison the music gave that day.. I can
only since he is gone.
So the Giant Mothlike spirit rose and although the deep gravity and the ancient sadness it was soooo beautiful and so much
that spirit was blessing and loved us loved everyone I swear, it was enormous and sweeping and all knowing like some ancient
father I swear to tell you today this very,very sad day of news for me.It rose and he playing and in between the riffs my
fingeres moved and sound came from his guitar I played not knowing how to play them, but only inside my soul.This great and
beneficent spirit of the ancient ranch rose and I knew it was flying away, the magic of the ranch.And I would have cried
right then but there is no crying in that space when you witnessing something that is beyond this world and beyond all
comprehension.
Lastly the keyboard stopped and Manuel appeared again and was like normal, and he was telling me that I ought to get an amp
and setup like he had, and was really encouraging me and really I was still awed also by the whole thing and the fact I was
still playing like that..it was strange because I just knew there was something about that day.
Anyway I kept on playing a little and Manuel I could tell wnated to end the song, but I did not want to stop.So he goes into
the third room of the ‘cabin’ really it was more like a temp building you would see at a school or something, and comes bach
waering this full-on Klingon warrior headgear.I mean the real deal like you get a one of those conventions.And he takes up
the song but now the song oit changes and it is what only time in my life I heard and played “Klingon Opera” Manuel is doing
some solo like the tragic tale of only a great Klingon warrior of old in this Opera and I can understand a lot of what he was
saying stragely enough, a tale of woe and bravery and anger and everything you expect of a proud Klingon Warrior.
Then the song ends.
So I told you.This was one of the few times ever I did manange to capture anything on tape myself, there almost always was
something strange that would happen when I tried to record anything Manuel and or Billman did play.My playing was never worth
mcuh so normally that did not matter, but this time I was glad I have the tape.
Even then it only came out on one mono channel..
Now I tell you how guilty I feel man because that was the last time we were together and I saw him in life and the only time
we played at least where I played anything well on.
After that I did write him some months later.I did tell him we no doubt parting the ways and that I could not be around him
because of the drugs.I was off them and he was on them you see and I could be around him any more.
I sent him a copy of the tape session above and some pictures of me to remember me by.
F$%#k I wish I could change that.I was so weird and stupid, I can’t believe I told you to take a hike man, forgive me bro..!!
I really thought I would one day see him again and we would be different and older and the drugs and so much bad memories and
times gone, have then only the good friendship remain.
Brother I am so sorry I did wait so long and some years ago I did really want to find you again, but I just did not, I was
afraid of what I might find.
One time actually about 5 years after that day,I did go back there I went to your place up on the road but only Latisha the
dog was there.There was a bad vibe around the place and I was sort of glad you were not there, for fear.I went down to John’s
Ranch but he was not there only his mother.She told me John was in jail at the time, and Manuel working somewhere but not
doing well, and that Jackie had left, and no one except a caretaker at the ranch was due to be sold.
After that I never went back.
Robin his dad I am sad to hear is gone away also.Frankly all who knew Manuel well knew there was often a lot of tension
between Manuel and his dad.But I have to say Robin was someone God “broke the mold” when he made, sort of like a character
from movie and very charismatic, downright genuine and likeable.
I have various odd experiences around his place on the ranch I can tell you that he was definately a man of power, and the
ranch in general was a deeply mystical place.
Manuel my brother, was a very mystical character and I’m not just trying to build him up.Anyone who knew him who he was
really a rare fellow and just loaded with talents.Also he was very Italian, so there was time he was downright volatile, and
frankly not someone to be off your guard around at those times.
I’m half Italian myself so I understand this.
I’m a bit sorry to post this at a public forum.
But there may never have anyplace better so that is why I am doing it.
Manuel was a very real person and was not afraid of what you (or I .. or anyone.. lol!) might think of him.
There are so many times I can remember I wish I could tell you.
I remember we made this funky tape of funkadelic songs one time and we created this whole genre of characters.I remember the
times we would take mushrooms and walk and see things.
I remember the night He, Billman, Me and I think Sean Kane or mike ? also was there and we walked right by a Mountain Lion (I
think it was one) perched on a on rock.We couldn’t figure out if it was one or not, we couldn’t really turn back safetly
anyway in the narrow canyon.. so finally Manuel being always the leader and frankly the bravest, just decided we just walk by
and if it jumped and tore us up it did and if our power was string or it was Brujo or something anyway whatever was supposed
to happen would.
Also of more relevence to most per the musci I remember the band, or really duo/trio he and Billman made with this one really
enthusisiatic drummer kid from Ranchita of which sorry I forget his name): Medicine Machine
Billman recorded it in like an 8track dat player from what I remember.
They had about 30 songs at least as I remember.Billman only knows where they are.I don’t even have of copy of these,Like I
say my recorder always had some strange voodoo happen ..
I would like to get a copy of some of those songs please if anyone whows whereabouts of.
These songs were recorded in manuels place in ranchita – the first place they had with Jackie and the kids.
Bill used to keep them in a big plastic bin.I don’t mean the dats tapes, they probalky are really beter to be remastered into
songs for a release.. I’m just talking about a personal copy / CD or whatever so I can listen to them myslef.
Some of which were sure hits IMHO, and Manuel and Bill in top form.
Notables I can remember where “Psycho Vato” , “Please.. Mr. Kessler” and not sure of the other names.
On thses tapes Manuel singing is in top form, like you never heard unless you were around then.Thius would be around lets
see.. hmm.. it was the @ year of the dog I remeber so that would be @ 1994.
Bill and Manuel played a lot of extra unusual guitar on these tracks.Some have Manuel playing some lead lead/rythtym and
duets like you would not believe with Billman, as Manuel normally was not a lead player but a strong rythum player and
composer, singer etc.
The drummer is also good on this.This kid was really cool and I remember at first Bill and Manuel were really hard core on
him and ragging on him, but later I have to tell you they amired the hell out of him, and he really shaped up well.He was
also really a lot of enthusiasm and good to be around.He went off to play with some band later?
Anyway those songs mark a whole era that is incomplete to any of you who liked Manuels music or art at all, and really need
to be found.
For any who don’t know who Billman is/was is really a musical powehouse and still my favorite guitarist next to Billy Gibbons
.In fact I could not tell you which “Billman” was playing sometimes, him or the radio.That’s not all Billman could play all
kinds of different styles, also keyboard awesome bass lines and drum tracks.
This is really hard to end this.Sorry for the long post.
I will be around the interent though, this not the last post regarding “Mano”.
This life is not the only life we live..
Roy
april 27,2008
Sorry now I see you all posted here, Franco even!Hello all, and sorry but I hardly read first I was in such a shock I had to write soemthing.
Please do email me anyone.
THank You.
I just now after a few hours have to tell you I feel a lot strengh coming to me remember Manuel and the great passion he had for life.And I really needed this at right now is a very difficult time for me due to life’s many twists and turns.
I have to tell you the story about Manuel’s dream he told me which has to do with his daughters’ birth.Manuel was a very mystical person and this is another evidence of that.
One day at the ranch he told me of a dream he had some time before his daughters were born, or even he knew jackie was pregnant.He asked my interpretation of it since he knew I also have a major mystical side all my life and also studying a lot of cultures beliefs about such matters.
He told me he had this dream where he was on the ranch and kept meeting up with this really curious event; by a water hole there would be two lambs , but not just that, one of the lambs was on the back of the other.And it was like they were talking to him and they knew him.
I did not know for sure at the time but I did remember that in some native cultures the waterhole is believed to be connected with the place of birth as the soul is drawn to from there to emerge into the world.
But it was a very strange dream so I could not understand it either.
After it was so clear the meaning, when Jackie had the twin daughters!
Take care and Love, all.
I can’t forget you Mano now and part of your spirit is definately with me, and all of us who had the fortune to cross your path in this life’s journey.
Manuel…you are thought of often. You would be filled with joy and pride to know how many lives you touched in your very short time on earth. Sad to say, but I think in death, you finally broke the wall with the girls. In your honor, Anastassia, Ariella and Ryan went and got heartfelt tattoos. It was so touching. I will never forget how you socialized with anyone, making everyone feel like they had known you forever. You and I…God how we would get into it! I know you wanted to choke me sometimes and I wanted to slam you into a wall…Ha! We went through so many good and bad times when you were with my sister and I was with David. Remember “six pack is my limit”? That used to crack you up! We had a love/hate relationship. You were always my family Manuel. We kept in touch and knew that no matter what happened between you and Jackie, we were all still family. I saw you take your last breath Manuel. I preferred watching you take that last sip of wine, or that last drag off your cigar or cigarette. You are my family and I love you and miss you. Your sister-in-law, Kathy
I am working on a book on the history of San Pedro punk (1978-1985). I have read the name Manuel Bagier on a few (awesome) flyers that I have collected for said book. I often wondered who this guy Manuel was. I really like his work. Upon doing research for my book on a band HARI-KARI I won a fanzine on ebay called DESTROY L.A. (1982-83) which had an interview with Hari-Kari. I then realized that Manuel played drums in this band. I have looked up other members of this band with no luck. I googled Manuel’s name and I was sorry to read that he has passed. If anyone has any info. on the band Hari-Kari or artifacts such as flyers, photos, records… please contact me. I have quite a few things already but there is always something that I don’t have. Also, any flyers that Manuel has done would be great too. please contact me at: craigibarra@yahoo.com
if you want to see MANUAL BAGIERS real art, before he had a brain tumor, go to
http://www.karenkellock.org
click on ARTS
the click on DESERT ARTISTS
the top drawing is manuel’s, done in 1997. He and his father were both amazing artists and craftsmen. I will miss them both very much and cannot believe they are gone!
MORE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES OF MANO
He came down here in 1995 and met me in Old Borego, to give me the pen and ink drawing. He had a brown cowboy hat in felt—he looked so great, like a movie star! We spent the day together, and I’ll never forget what he said: “artists should be given credit for their work–people steal their work all the time and it isn’t fair”. I remembered his words so clearly so I found the image and sent it to all his friends and family I could find.
About ten years ago, Mano found a dog in Ranchita–a homeless shepherd which I took in–”GINA” was her name, Italian of course and she was the alpha in my pack.
There are so many things like that I remember. One time in 1990 Mano helped me feed horses in ranchita and he said “if you feed horses and dogs, you will always be taken care of by God”. I always remembered that, and have always fed animals since (I have five big guard dogs who live on chicken or fish and rice that I cook every day) and God has always taken care of me.
Manuel Bagier was not a pornographer, like he is being portrayed with that sleezy drawing he did 26 years ago! I wish that would be deleted from the internet and memory altogether. Mano was a great artist like his father Robin, just check out the above links and you will see.
P.S. He sure did love animals. One time I went to their ranch and there must have been 50 dogs there he was feeding. Robin and Mano loved the back country life of solitude they had so much–I couldn’t believe when they left but their urge to get their aunt’s paintings out [the famous ELY DE VESCOVI known for a Rivera tradition] was apparently a much higher purpose–and I agree!
Manny, we miss you.
Manny we miss you.
I still have a great sadness on hearing of Manuel’s death, he was my nephew by common law marriage. I loved his exuberance for life, his gypsy ways and love of animals. My daughter and I loved going down to the ranch, being warmly accepted and interfacing with all the animals, (hearing all day the crow screaming “DONT GO”… “DONT GO”!! One time I fed their pig HAMMS beer and sat on his back , we all had a good laugh. Funny the things you remember when you were mad and laugh about years later. Manuel said he wanted to show us some cool Indian sites back in the hills but it was too far to walk. So this one summer we took my 2yr old Toyota Tercel filled full with Jackie’s Mom & family down a decent dirt road which got narrower and narrower. Soon we were bouncing around on rocks and vegetation was whacking each side of the car, smacking me in the face as we went along. We were all laughing and could barely see ahead thru the vegetation. I started freaking about my paint job on the car. We thought we would never get home again! When we finally hit a clearing Manuel says “I always wanted to try that way but there were too many obstacles!” We all gave up trying to find his Indian site.
You had such a free childlike spirit and now your spirit is free to roam the ranch that you loved. I am hoping you and Robin are sharing a better time together now, and tho time can not make up for the years, that the good memories your daughters and others possess will overcome the negative ones. You were blessed in so many ways but missed the press on the importance of responsibility to self and family. You were one of a kind and I have missed you since the breakup. ROCK ON MANUEL may your artistry & music become immortal, and may you always hear the beat of a distant drummer.
Love ya, Aunt Noreen
i can’t believe i just found out right now that manuel is no longer with us. why did no-one inform me? eric, john, franco…how are you guys? i miss manuel so much. i think about him all the time. where do his twin girls and jackie live? i’m going to kara’s wedding tomorrow, he should have been there.
Raenie – I’m so glad you started this! I’m amazed people are still adding to it! The twins and I monitor it from time to time. It’s interesting to see everyone’s interpretation of Manuel’s character! We have tried to notify his friends after he died, but either we didn’t have phone numbers…or couldn’t remember last names. There was no obituary posted other than what Raenie has done here. There was no funeral other than a few family members and friends spreading his ashes in Ojai. Manuel’s mother Minnia is living in Ojai, CA. The twins and I live in Arizona. In fact, they are now l8 years old and living on their own in Flagstaff, AZ. I would post a picture of them here if I knew how…maybe Raenie can help me with that?! I see a lot of Manuel’s Italian features in them. Thank you all for adding comments to this! Love, Jackie
I am so glad that people have found this thread to be helpful. We all loved Manuel, clearly, If anyone wants to send me some picture (jpegs via email-raeniekane@gmail.com), I will be happy to add them to this continuing eulogy. If you don’t know how to scan a jpeg, get some help from a nearby pal or US postal mail the images to me at 554 W. 20th Ave. Eugene, Or. 97405. I will scan them and mail them back in a timely fashion! Be sure to include a return address.
Christ, Jackie, our kids are 18. That happened fast, eh?
I was trying to fix up my room the other day when this old VHS tape cough my eye. It was dated 11/171988. The tape was shot by Mike Ortega. The one I have is a copy of copy, It makes it granie. The tape consist of the band Population 3, which defunct after John Cassic’s passing. Other members Bill Ankwits(Please for give my spelling). Tony Balboa, Janus Williams and me were band members. We got play 3 more gigs before John had relapsed of leukemia and passed a within a couple months.
Well as you know Manuel And Jackie were there to support us. It was a debut show.
Well VHS tape has a few seconds of Manuel and Jackie. stopping by back stage of The Roxy.
I took from the VHS, some digital shot of them. The Pics are not as bad as I thought.
There is a total of 83mb and I use hotmail.com. Its to big to send through Hotmail. I can send a disk to close friend via snail mail. 36 pics in all. No charge just a self addrest envelope that a CD can fit into.
I added some photos of the twins. Look up toward the top of the page.
Blasing told me the bad news bout Manny a couple of months ago. It’s still hard to believe that he’s gone. He was a fellow friend, musician and droog. Last night I hung out with Bink and Shawn and told our stories bout Manny. RIP brother
m_mx
here is the song we last played.Mano all vocals, keys, and kazoo sax. Me on guitar.I named the song.
it should remain 90 days from this link;
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a048f1f/n/EndoftheLand-RiseoftheGreatAncientMothSutra_wma
choose 2nd option “Try FileFactory’s Basic service” Download with FileFactory Basic.
the volume very low due to conversion issues from tape.
Sean Kane send me your email, Please!
I have some pics I will post next time.
ps.- yes that is real-time electricity on the recording, not a sound effect- when manuel starts the ‘klingon opera’ he almost was electrocuted by the mic.. it was so classic and typical that when he got on stage above and beyond the call things like that would happen!
Manuel and I are cosmic twins. We were born on the same month, day and year (9/3/1963). I met Manuel through mutual friends of ours, Mike Ortega and the late great John Cassic , in the early 1980’s. They had a unique way of communicating and interpreting life around them. I’m sure you “existences” know what I talking about. After Johns untimely passing I got to know Manuel a little better. We both played the drums and occasionally he borrowed my equipment. He invited me and some other friends of ours to Rachita where I met his parents and Jackie. We went on one of his infamous midnight, full moon “magic desert hikes”. It was incredible. I can truly say it was one of those defining moments that change my life. It had a huge “impact” on me. I fell in love with nature and wanted to move out, away from the crowds of people. By the next time I had talked to him, he told me that Jackie was pregnant. I was happy for them. Unfortunately we fell out of contact with each other. Not to long afterwards I met a nature loving girl and moved to Sanoma county(Monte Rio), in northern California, were I lived for 10+ years. I didn’t find out he was ill, until the day before his passing. To say the least I was shocked. I regret not keeping in contact with him. He was truly a charismatic person. I loved the way he used terms to described something like, impact, the hate, existence, etc… I will miss him dearly.
I had tried Googling many of my old friends that I lost contact with. Manuel being one of them. I never found much. Then several months ago I got in contact with John Blazing. I asked about Manuel. John told me the sad news. I feel like I lost a brother. Manuel was a very dear friend during our teens. I remember him as an artist, a musician, and a friend. I also remember him as the only person I have ever known that had a pet monkey — Minnie the Monkey.
Thank you for creating this site. It’s great to be able to remember an old friend and share memories with others that knew him.
PS – Your daughters are gorgeous!
Hey Matt, good to hear from you! I’m playing some drums myself these days.
Wow I had no idea you two had the cosmic twin birthdate that is really amazing!
The .mp3 I prevoius posted is now permanantly available or download here:
http://www.users.on.net/pam_biddell/ROYStore/EndoftheLand-RiseoftheGreatAncientMothSutra.wma
right click, save as to download
p.s. Still need Sean contact or Bill and find the whereabouts of the songs manuel and bill made, especially the ‘Psycho Vato / Please Mr. Kessler” era Those can’t be left on the shelf forever!
Also recently I thought about how to sum up Mano’s singing and groove and wide range and how it was he heard and produced genres years before they ever were done by top bands, still it is impossible, I heard myself essence later found in lead singers of bands such as:
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), and even sometimes Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), to name a short list
To me he often sounded the most like the first two depending on his mood, my favorite singer of the genre is Billy Corgan now since his singing the most reminds me of Manuel often, although Eddie Vedder songs are also hauntingly familiar reminders.
Peace.
Hi all,
Just reminded of Manuel agfain today as I play drums and was playing to ZZTOP on Youtube.
Mano was the one who turned me on to ZZTOP.. nights in the desert moonlight on the backroads.. blazing blues and rock on the tape deck and Billy’s soulful guitar. So many awesome times.
I may get out there for a visit this time in a week or two.Anyone wish to join me?
Here’s recording I made today,tribute to Manuel, ZZ, and the desert land!
http://webspace.webring.com/people/kr/raf_roy/roy-zztop-bluejeansblues-live-2-2009-7-15.mp3
It was two years ago today that my dad passed away. I’ve wanted to write about him for two years but never could find the strength to do so. I wrote him a letter and decided to share….
Manuel,
We think about you every day. We miss you every day. I know we didn’t have the greatest relationship while you were here, somewhere along the road things went wrong with us, and we never could forgive you. I regret that now. Sadly enough, if you were still here, I wonder if we’d have forgiven you yet…it took you passing for us to realize we should have let go of our grudge. If I could talk to you one more time, I would tell you that I’m so deeply sorry.
I wonder all the time what things would be like if you were still here. I think about the things you’ve missed out on in all of our lives, and the many things to come. Your daughter’s high school graduation, careers, grandchildren, who will walk us down the isle?? Would I have let you if you were still here? It isn’t fair you had to leave us.
But I know, wherever you are, you’re watching over us, and always there for us. You brightened up others days and showed us all how fun life can be. Chach and I find a little bit more of you in us every day. You’re missed by many. Not a day goes by you aren’t in our thoughts. Especially Minnia’s. She misses you more than the rest of us can comprehend.
We miss and love you.
Always,
Ariella
I heard about Manuel only last night. I spent the evening thinking endlessly about an old friend, a lost brother, and the fact we’d never get a chance to reunite. Been almost twenty years and I wish now I hadn’t waited. For a period of maybe five years, when we were in our early twenties, we were the best of bro’s. A time of my life that is filled with golden memories. Of course, I don’t know the struggles or changes that time surely brought upon Manuel (as it does with us all), but I know how special and unique a person he was when we were young. I’ve never met a person with such magnetism, such a zeal and zest for life, always absurdly drowned in offbeat humor. I think he was more perplexed (and eventually annoyed) at all the hero worship none of us could help lavishing on him. He was our leader. I think if he would have told us smoking was cool (none of us smoked), we all would have. He was the coolest man I’ve ever met. Suave, mischievous, funny, smart. We never had a real falling out, we just kind of went our own ways and never recrossed paths, a shame. I loved Manuel before anyone coined the horrid term “bromance”. Not in a gay way, we just dug each other deeply. I’ll miss him deeply. Following is a list of my memories of Memo.
He taught me to dance, said I’d be missing out on such a good part of life if I didn’t. He was right. I remember that flyer he drew, “please come,” he laughed when he showed it to me. I remember the cosi fan tutti frutti poster in his room at his folks house. I remember the horrible job I did piercing his ear with a safety pin, sorry! He had a GI Joe wolfpack tattoo that wasn’t much more than an outline of a woof head, when you turned it sideways it became a sheep. I remember his stop action film he made with barbies and Joes (and I will pay to have this transferred to digital if anyone has access to his old super 8 film, we need this). I remember leaving clubs at dawn. I remember the “land” in the desert. I remember spiked hair and punk rock, bowler hats and droogs, makeup and glamrock, pot and booze and speed and shrooms. Like Julie Bird, I remember his monkey, Minnie. And hey, I remember Julie Bird (she introduced Manuel and I), and Franco, and Thinmun, and Doc, and Blazing, and Mad Max, and Stevo, and mulatto Matt, and I can’t believe that an old life long stoner like me remembers this much. I know I won’t ever forget Manuel. And I can’t stop thinking about a pin he used to wear on his hat (that I incidentally coveted), it was an image of telephone towers with sparking lines, beneath, it said “maintain contact”. I wish I had. I love you all.
Cliff