tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744444020349998004.post5850781194475931738..comments2024-03-20T18:37:49.933-04:00Comments on The Duff Guide to Ska: In Memory of Ranking Roger of The BeatUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744444020349998004.post-4975170301819127302019-03-30T09:27:58.350-04:002019-03-30T09:27:58.350-04:00I didn’t, but I distinctly remember considering it...I didn’t, but I distinctly remember considering it and deciding against it, thinking that there might be something very un-cool about pulling your pants down in front of one of your favorite bands!Markhttp://www.sourjazz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744444020349998004.post-86820771193078657002019-03-28T16:58:17.721-04:002019-03-28T16:58:17.721-04:00Mark,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story of ...Mark,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this wonderful story of your encounter with Roger! It's more evidence of his amazing humanity and generosity towards his fans. (Did you ask him to sign your cast?)<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />SteveSteve from Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074565580429334218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744444020349998004.post-30646557138316451232019-03-28T16:33:12.387-04:002019-03-28T16:33:12.387-04:00I only ever skipped school once [not counting art ...I only ever skipped school once [not counting art school, of course, when I had much more important things to focus on than mere attendance records]. It was in 1983, my final year of high school, and The Beat were gigging in my hometown of Cincinnati, at a venue called Bogart's. I had just come off an extensive bit of surgery to re-build my knee [a particularly nasty guitar accident - don’t ask!] and wasn’t exactly the picture of peak mobility. Shuffling along on crutches, with a cast from hip to ankle.<br /><br />The day of their gig, me and my best friend skipped school to loiter outside the venue, just hoping for a chance to pay quick respects to a band that we liked a lot, as they made their way into soundcheck. Not only did we meet them on their way into the soundcheck, but Roger took us into the soundcheck, hung around shopping and eating with us for a few hours afterwards, smuggled us into the gig that evening [we didn’t have tickets because, at that young age, we had no money], made us comfortable backstage and chatted with us in the dressing room while the support band was on and, because my leg was in a full cast and I was on crutches, they put a chair on stage for me to safely sit on for the entire gig, right behind the keyboards.<br /><br />I’ve never forgotten his huge kindness. <br /><br />A legend, a gentleman, and an unspeakably sad loss. Markhttp://www.sourjazz.comnoreply@blogger.com