home

Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet Still Loved

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 11:50:01 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Edgewise voices what I was thinking when I read about Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden's death January 11....he shouldn't have died this way.

Reading through the fan tributes in the Guestbook at SpencerDryden.com, I found this comment from Dryden's fellow musician Norton Buffalo: "What a sad display of how this 'great' nation 'takes care' of it's people."

He's referring, of course, to the miserable material circumstances of Dryden's death at 66: impoverished, uninsured, living alone in a rented or borrowed cabin on a friend's property. No one should end up that way, but more of us will as our nation explicitly abandons any notion of shared responsibility in favor of "ownership."

From the official press release on Spencer's death:

Spencer had been besieged by bad luck in recent years. A hip replacement that didn't take well left him permanently disabled. In September 2003, fire destroyed his home and all of his possessions and memorabilia. Three weeks after the fire, he suffered a heart attack and was told that he needed cardiac surgery. Friends and family worked tirelessly throughout 2004, including hosting a benefit concert in Dryden's honor, to raise the funds needed for the procedure. A week before he was set to have it performed, he was diagnosed with cancer. His battle with the disease lasted only three months.

The San Francisco Chronicle has more. And here's even more on the last years of Spencer Dryden's life, from an AP report:

Mr. Dryden retired from performing 10 years ago, although he had not been working much before that. "I'm gone," he told The San Francisco Chronicle last May. "I'm out of it. I've left the building."

A benefit concert last year featuring Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule raised $36,000 for Mr. Dryden, who had two hip replacement operations and was facing heart surgery at the time. His Petaluma home and all his possessions had been destroyed in a fire in September 2003. He learned he had stomach cancer last year.

He died at his Petaluma home,little more than a shack really, that he rented on the back end of somebody else's property outside of Penngrove.

More on Spencer and his musical career here.

The Jefferson Airplane's website has this tribute page up for Spencer, including these words from Grace Slick.

Though Spencer was the oldest member of our band he was, in some ways, the youngest. He lived in his imagination. A master of "fills" on the drums, he could connect disparate phrases & unify a seemingly impossible leap of time changes. I know because I was often the main offender with my strangely written hybrid tempos. From Los Angeles, he was more "San Francisco" than a lot of people who were born there. His thought processes were almost always from a gentle storybook hopefulness rather than the pragmatic truss that often inhibits creativity. Many of his ideas could not be realized in the paradigm of the times but that didn't stop him from enjoying enthusiastic late night marathons involving lots of paper, pencils & endless ideas for music, movies, books & television. We laughed & talked about an impossibly carefree future. We argued & cried about imposing realities. We loved. And he is loved.

Grace wrote the song "Lather" for Spencer. It began,

"Lather was 30 years old today, they took away all of his toys."

More comments from the Airplane's tribute page, from fans:

To the rest of the Airplane...you never really knew how much your music affected those who listened...and understood.

He is free and out of pain now, but wish he hadn't gone so soon.

From his ex-wife, Sally Mann Dryden (Romano.)

I never stopped loving Spencer, despite his foibles and Lather-like tendencies, which all seem incredibly inconsequential now. We were truly the loves of each other's lives, and that will never, never change. Go Home, Spencer, pure peace and perfect love are waiting for you there. The circle remains unbroken, and your place in it is secure. "Through an open window where no curtains hung, I saw you coming back to me," looking just the way you did when we met at Jorma's in 1968, so impossibly handsome and young. Go on now and take my heart and never-ending love with you. Thank you for all things Airplane, for your humor, your love, your generosity, your art, your lasting friendship, for Jesse, Jackson, and Jeffrey, and for saving my life when it needed saving. I love you with all my heart--forever, forever, forever. I am so looking forward to seeing you on the other side.

So Spencer died poor, but loved by many. R.I.P. Spencer Dryden, and thank you for your music.

< VW Suicide Bomber Ad a Hoax | Politicians, Prisons and Crime >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet Still Loved | 54 comments (54 topical)
    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 12:47:17 PM EST
    While no one should die this way, he seems to have had plenty of opportunies along the way to avoid his fate. Money, fame, connections, three grown sons, an ex-wife who seemed to care for him, an uncle who was incredibly wealthy (presumably cousins who are wealthy). I don't know why he was in the condition he was and while I find it tragic, I also don't blame society for his fate. There are other stories which are far more tragic and which make the point. This one, at least from the reporting, isn't even close...RIP

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 01:27:26 PM EST
    Okay, so where was Grace Slick on this? I guess old friends just die cold and lonely? Seriously. How is this an issue with "this nation" instead of with "this guy's friends and family"?

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#3)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 02:21:35 PM EST
    This guy has spent more then I would likely see in 10 lifetimes. That all I have to say.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#4)
    by soccerdad on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:21:16 PM EST
    Yeah, its always someone else's fault, always some else's responsibility, he made mistakes so f**k him. The nation includes everyone, even the family. So if you don't have a family or you're estranged from your family for what ever reason just go rot alone. Folks its every one for themselves.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:35:28 PM EST
    SD - Here you have a guy who made a lot of money and, evidently, threw it away on various and sundry things. Perhaps if he had been forced to invest some of it into a Social Security investment plan he might have retained a nickel, or two. I am for single payer medical insurance, some call it socialized medicene, not because some folks piss their money away, I have little feeling for them, but because of the many who try hard and still get zapped.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#6)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:45:08 PM EST
    There's thousands of Spencer Drydens in this country including many little ones and many former-soldiers,whom as every golden-ribbon-sticker displayer knows,we of course "support". Of course this has nothing "to do with the nation" - "the nation" being an abstraction best utilized for red-state crowd control and PNAC over seas land-grabs.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:55:03 PM EST
    Soccerdad, Are you suggesting that if Donald Trump loses his millions for the umpteenth time but finally can't rebuild his empire and ends up living on the street and dying in the gutter, it will be the country's fault and not his own? Dryden had family and friends. He had a lot more claim on them than he does on you or me. If you want to feel guilty about how he died, so be it, but that doesn't make anyone else responsible for his bad decisions.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:59:23 PM EST
    While this is sad it is not uncommon especially for rock musicians. I assume that his family did care about him but either he refused thier efforts or they lost thier patience with him and cast him adrift. As was said earlier he must of made a pretty good wage although he probably pissed it away like most musicians. As far as the gov't looking after him I can imagine what that would be like: "Come with us" "No!" "It's for your own good..." "I don't want to go with you" "You must come with us! Officer slap him in restraints for his own good!" This is a really sketchy story but I wouldn't be suprized if he was mentally ill and didn't want help, he just wanted to be left alone. I know because I've seen it. And that becomes a civil rights issue. Can people be forced to accept "help" from the gov't and where does it end. PPJ, I would be for a single payer health system if the participants were allowed to have supplimental insurance that they could buy at their own descretion and doctors were allowed to practice where and how they wanted. I have seen first hand the bad side of the Canadian single payer system and believe me you don't want to go there.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#9)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 04:09:18 PM EST
    Yeah Dryden should have been able to pull himself up out of the abyss the way Donald Trump did "umpteen times". I love these little folk- tales conservatives tell themselves.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 04:15:48 PM EST
    What makes you all think he "made lots of money?" He was a drummer and as such he made no residuals which are based on who wrote and produced the songs. And if you really think that Donald Trump's financial situation has anything to do with the financial situation of ANY musician, you need to pull your head out and take a look around for a few minutes. This guy did not make mega-bucks. He probably did have a few years where he did relatively well but that was it, and it was quite some time ago. Cheers, Alan Tomlinson

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 04:15:57 PM EST
    jimcee - I have heard all the horror tales, and believe them. Maybe a supplemental plan might help. I pay over $400 a month to pick up what medicare dosen't, plus Rx benefits. Millions of people couldn't pay that, especially if they are unemployed But I suspect you are talking about one that gives additional services if you have insurance, not one that pays the difference between what the government pays and what is charged. Whatever, what we have now isn't working. Time to set down and fix it. Of course the Left is too busing screaming about the war and their loss of power to actually try and do something constructive.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 04:16:40 PM EST
    Exactly,jimcee. At least this guy got to die the way he wanted to instead of in some horrible institutionalized over-medicated government-sponsored nightmare.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#13)
    by glanton on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 04:26:15 PM EST
    Jim, That's not entirely fair, and you know it. Clinton tried very hard during his Presidency to do something about health care and the GOP made it clear they're against it down the line. If they couldn't do it with a Democratic president what makes you think they can do it now, with the GOP controlling everything. If you feel so strongly about this issue, why don't you lay the blame where it belongs?

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#14)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 04:29:41 PM EST
    PPJ - Billions a month in Iraq with an investment return of tens of thousands killed,maimed,and traumatized - theres just no pleasing these un-American militants.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#15)
    by Avedon on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 05:43:35 PM EST
    BTW, "residuals", by which I assume you mean royalties, are almost non-existent for most musicians - even some very successful ones. The record companies really are the real pirates - they steal royalties before the musician ever gets them. The real money is in performance, and remarkably hard to keep.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#16)
    by soccerdad on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 05:49:33 PM EST
    Of course the Left is too busing screaming about the war and their loss of power to actually try and do something constructive.
    As you said in another thread its all about winning. Your boys control the house senate and exec branches, so your whining about the left is of course completely ludicrous. As was pointed out Clinton tried, the GOP shot it down. Your guys own the government now its time to put up or shut up. BTW expect cuts in medicare this year. Got to pay for that war dont ya know.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 05:56:32 PM EST
    jondee - Instead of beating the same old go nowhere drum, why not let's join together and do some positive stuff? glanton - Two points. First, Bill gave it to Hillary as a toy, and she treated it like her own. It wasn't. Plus she gathered around her a mismash of old friends, lefties, etc., and started having meetings in secret. Not only stupid, but illegal. Secondly, he should have waited a year, brought it in very openly wih a lot of discussion and with a lot of input. I just put it down to him being inexperienced on the national stage. He thought he was still in Little Rock and could do anything he wanted. I will give him credit for good intentions. Finally, Bush's Rx plan is quite decent, but the Demos fought if tooth and nail. Again politics. And before you bring up the "cards," look at the plan. The cards were merely a stop gap, and a poor one. But the real plan starts 1/1/06. Premium is $17 per month. It pays the first (about) $2200, then has a "hole" of about 2200, and then starts to pay again. What the "hole" really is a way to avoid annual deductions that most plans take up front. But I won't take back what I said about the Left. It has been siezed by the anti-war, anti-Bush wing, and has run off the liberals. This happened years and years ago, and the result is plain to see.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#18)
    by glanton on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 06:07:30 PM EST
    I do not think the Democratic Partty is under the control of anti-war sensibilities, though people like myself who are against the Iraq war do indeed vote Democratic, largely because they have nowhere else to go on that point. BTW: I would have been just as opposed to the invasion of Iraq had it been led by President Gore. I agree one hundred percent that Bill flubbed the health care push by involving Hillary. But I don't think it made much diference in the long run: the GOP is against any kind of overarching safety nets in terms of health care--free market all the way, screw the uninsured. Re the Rx plan. Personally, I have no problem with it, as far as it goes. But correct me if I'm wrong: as far as I could tell from Frist's speeches on the Senate floor that plan applies only to Seniors. What about the millions of uninsured who are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and early 60s? Have you no concern for them? And if so, do you truly believe that a GOP controlled government will ever come to share your concern?

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 06:31:32 PM EST
    glanton writes - "BTW: I would have been just as opposed to the invasion of Iraq had it been led by President Gore." Okay, but that merely means you are anti-war irrespective of who is President. But, to be honest, based on your complaints, I have a bit of problem with that. But whatever. And of course the Rx plan is part of medicare, but at least it is a start. And the Demos didn't help. Pure politics. What we need is for the Demos to quit doing things like putting Rice's confirmation vote off. She'll still be confirmed. All that did was make the Repubs angry. And angry people don't listen. And, whether the Kennedy and Pelosi wing believes it or not, they are going to have to persuade, not demand.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 06:40:01 PM EST
    Avedon is correct. Most musicians don't make anything off of royalties. They usually wind up oweing the record company for putting the record out. All recording costs, printing costs, and marketing costs are recoupable. As Janis Ian remarked recently, Enron style accounting was invented by record company accounting depts. In the sixties, most deals were horribly bad for musicians. If they were successful and received royalties from their catalogue in the later years, it would have been pegged at an unadjusted rate from the sixties and been very small. Notoriously, due to stuff like this, the Beatles were nearly broke by the time they split up. Likewise The Grateful Dead, The Kinks, and many others skated close to bankruptcy for much of their careers. Their publishing had been sold off for a song and that was it. The notion of rich rock stars does serve to sell records, so commonly record companies are easygoing about advances. But it is all recoupable. Drummers have to survive off of what is pulled in nightly off the road. Once the touring ends, it starts to cool off quick. Single payer system.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#21)
    by Repack Rider on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 06:42:25 PM EST
    What we need is for the Demos to quit doing things like putting Rice's confirmation vote off. She'll still be confirmed. All that did was make the Repubs angry. And angry people don't listen. Barbara Boxer is the first person in government to call a Bush liar a liar. We need more like her. 99 more. You are suggesting that the opportunity to ask questions of a nominee should be nothing more than a rubber-stamp. Why shouldn't someone confront Rice with the contradictions and the incompetence that have defined her tenure? As Boxer pointed out, she was not "impugning" anything. She was reading Condi's words back to her, and if Condi had a problem with her own words, then perhaps she shouldn't be confirmed. Remember when it was announced with great fanfare that Rice would take over the coordination of the Iraq effort? I must have missed it when it she did that. Condoleeza Rice's unbroken record of incompetence should deny her the post. Give me an example of one of her "triumphs" as National Security Advisor. See what I mean?

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 06:46:05 PM EST
    Hey, the topic here is Spencer. Jim and Repack, please don't change the subject. There are plenty of other threads vailable to discuss politics.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 07:10:25 PM EST
    I would assume he made little money as well, but that's the way it is when you have the guts to chase your dreams. The majority of artists die broke and alone, it's not an easy life, but one a true artist has no choice but to live. He may have suffered deep lows in the end, but I'm sure his highs were above and beyond the norm. The chills I have felt playing music for 30 people in a dive bar will be with me forever, I couldn't fathom the feeling someone like Spencer must have gotten playing for hundreds of thousands. He lived for the moment, and I can only hope I have the courage to do the same. Besides...what is life but a mixture of suffering and euphoria, with vast amounts of boredom in between. Regarding society's role in his demise, I pay taxes and what nothing more from my gov't than to use that money to help the sick, the old, and suffering children. It seems the gov't no longer wants to use our taxes to that end, they rather build horrible weapons and further enrich the obscenely wealthy, as well as themselves and their connected friends. If this is going to be the case in the future, may as well disband the freakin govt., and have it be everyman for himself. It's everyman for himself anyways, at least we will get to keep all of our hard earned money, instead of willingly giving it to thieves and liars to spend on killing and their own gluttony. End of rant.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 07:16:49 PM EST
    I have no opinion- I am an ant and gave up worrying too much about life's grasshoppers some time ago. -C

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 07:54:38 PM EST
    10-1 I'm the only one here with a Moby Grape album. Great stuff!

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 09:12:07 PM EST
    Eli: Of all the concerts I ever attended, there's only one I walked out of because it was so awful - Moby Grape - NYC Central Park, summer 1968 I believe, although it might have been '69. What is Grace Slick doing these days anyway? Or Jorma K for that matter?

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#27)
    by bad Jim on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 10:07:27 PM EST
    Damn, damn, damn. Perhaps I should consider my complete lack of musical skills a blessing. A saner social infrastructure might have made life easier for him, but it might not have altered the final outcome much.
    Lather was thirty years old today, And Lather came foam from his tongue. He looked at me eyes wide and plainly said, Is it true that I'm no longer young? And the children call him famous, And the old men call him insane, And sometimes he's so nameless, That he hardly knows which game to play... Which words to say... And I should have told him, "No, you're not old." And I should have let him go on...smiling...babywide.
    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#28)
    by chupetin on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 10:39:55 PM EST
    I saw Grace Slick on HGTV a couple of nights ago. She was showing of her beautiful garden for some show. She looked great, her house was very nice and she really seemed to have her stuff together. Too bad her bandmate did not end up in a similar situation. BTW John Oates from Hall and Oates was on the show also. He seems to be living a nice farming life also. He always seemed like such a a-hole when he was in the band but after that interview I changed my mind about him. Whatever.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#29)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 11:16:44 PM EST
    Anon, I think Hot Tuna is still around. 67 was incredible 68 sucked just as much

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 08:13:00 AM EST
    So what's the upshot here? Dryden should have called Grace Slick? Soc should have opened his wallet along with his mouth? Trummp references offend Jondee? Don't take up the drums? Everyone else is to blame? Behavior doesn't matter? Fact: he was a bog boy; he should have planned for tomorrow like all the rest of us do.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#31)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 08:50:26 AM EST
    Dr Ace - the face of Compassionate conservatism.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#33)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 09:09:22 AM EST
    And i hope that everyone has planned for the proposed cuts in SS and Medicare.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 09:21:59 AM EST
    I hope that if anyone connected to Spencer Dryden happens across this post, they will accept my apologies for the rude, boorish and non-compassionate remarks of the some of the commenters. Their views are not the views of TalkLeft or the vast majority of TalkLeft readers. Typically, they are just the loudest.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 09:22:28 AM EST
    Soc: all talk, all blame, no action, no results.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#36)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 09:41:48 AM EST
    Dr Ace - First I don't do self loathing. there are too many people like you that keep my loathing quota filled. I feel very good about my life. I work very hard, make good money, share some of my good fortune with the community, and have brought my kids to care about the world about them and practice true Christian values not that crap being peddled by falwell and Robertson. So i have no reason for self-loathing. You don't know what my family has been through either. Interesting that you hint you have been through trying circumstances yet have no compassion for another human being who also went through a lot, some of which was out of his control. I do plenty, get good results and feel good about it. I find it to be a win-win. But thanks for your baseless attack. You have made your tactics, character and beliefs well known here.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#37)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 09:41:55 AM EST
    Kdog: Like your rant. My view of gov't: Protect us from foreign enemies, foreign policy, interstate highways, illegal immigration etc. Let me keep a vast majority of my money to let me decide where to save for my familes future. Out of education and all its unfunded mandates. follow the consitution.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#38)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 11:01:30 AM EST
    TL - You make a good point. I should have noted that his death was a personal tragedy to his firends and a human tragedy, before I launched into my plea for some thoughts and actions on improved medical srvices and a better retirement plan. My apologies and regrets to all concerned for my comments to SD about Spencer Dryden's apparent foibles in my 7:35PM post. His work will survive him.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 11:46:01 AM EST
    Spencer Dryden was a key player in American rock history and America should treat all of her artists better. There is an argument to be made that folks with an artistic bent are inherently less able to take care of themselves in the worker ant world (hat tip to -C for the analogy). This has been true throughout history, which is why the greatest civilizations have subsidised their artisits. Most true artists are so compelled to express their art that the other parts of life seem to escape them. The song or book or painting or sculpture wakes them in the middle of the night and won't let them back to sleep 'till the concept is down. When the beast is on you you can't sleep, eat, f*#! or work on anything else. People don't spend 10 years sleeping on friends' couches on tour, eating Ramen and harvesting couch quarters for new strings because they are lazy, they don't feel they have a choice. It's a lot easier to just get a straight job, but that's not the way it works. Someone who can be totally commanding on stage can be almost disfunctional in the rest of their life. It's sad and also glorious. I feel sad for workaday people who don't have this certain knowledge of what they were meant to do even while I envy then their retirement accounts and stable families. We could lose a 1000 'productive members of society' and chances are all society would lose is a few material things; If we hadn't had Dryden we would have lost a part of our collective soul. Apologies all, I didn't mean to be so prolix, but the subject is close to my heart. Eli, I didn't count the posters so 10:1 might be correct but I had a rare 'finger' cover (lost in a flooded basement) and 'Hey Grandma' playing on my iTunes right now. (The rest of the album will come up eventually thru shuffle ;-) I was also lucky enough to see Skip Spence in a show in Willets, CA in about '78. To the OT's and trolls; try to think of something nice to say that's on topic. Chances are this man had more influence on your life than you realize anda few moments of silence and appreciation shouldn't be too much to ask.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#40)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 12:06:36 PM EST
    Dr Ace full of it as usual. A trult despicable excuse for a human being

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 03:57:56 PM EST
    "I hope that if anyone connected to Spencer Dryden happens across this post, they will accept my apologies for the rude, boorish and non-compassionate remarks of the some of the commenters. Their views are not the views of TalkLeft or the vast majority of TalkLeft readers. Typically, they are just the loudest." TalkLeft, could I please ask for a clarification of just what it is you are saying here? Is it your opinion that it is simply WRONG to ask where the people who were closest to Spencer Dryden were throughout this, and why it is that this is somehow indicative of a problem with this nation instead of with his family and friends? After all, it was you yourself who pointed this item out, and it was Edgewise who raised the issue of "shared responsibility". Personally, I believe that shared responsibility starts at home, but that's just my opinion and you are free to disagree with it if you wish. I do find it interesting, however, that you posted this and opened the topic up for comment with your own observation of how you felt what Edgewise says upon hearing of Spencer's death. This implies that you thought it was just fine to use this tragedy as yet another opportunity to bash America. It seems odd that you think that is the proper way of honoring this man, and that you feel it necessary to apologize on behalf of those who don't. Maybe you should have just reported this sad news in the same vein you did that of Johnny Carson's having passed away; with decency and respect, instead of trying to make it a rally cry for what is wrong in this country.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#42)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 04:08:59 PM EST
    Speaking for myself, I was pissed at the three first posts, because all made negative comments about him and/or his family without one word of compassion. So you three took it as an opportunity to promote your view at the expense of at least coupling it with some compassionate words about Spencer Dryden.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#43)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 04:44:58 PM EST
    Soccerdad, If you weren't so clearly pissed each and every day, that comment might have made an impact. As it is, I doubt anyone cares at all about how pissed you are, since it is nothing new. It is indeed a tragedy that Spencer Dryden died in the conditions he did, but it is a much greater tragedy that you, TL, and so many other here feel the need to use his death and the circumstances thereof as another excuse to bash a country. If you want to be "pissed" about something, be pissed about that.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#44)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 04:56:11 PM EST
    Its just like an arrogant conceited Rethug to go to someone "house" behave badly, then blame it on the host. \ grow up

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 05:45:27 PM EST
    Soccerdad, I suppose I should take it as a compliment that you consider me a "rethug", but I find it sad that you think my unwillingness to blame America for the conditions of Spencer Dryden's death is indicative of a party affiliation, as it shows just how knee-jerk and one-dimensional your politics are. You couldn't be more wrong, but if that's how you define yourself, go for it. As for "misbehaving" in someone's house, you should go back and read just about every comment you have ever posted here. You come across as a petulant child who whines about not getting what he wants, libels people with zero evidence to back you up, and apparently thinks that as long as you are slamming your country it's all good. So be it, you're free to be as ignorant as you want to be, and if TalkLeft feels that such behavior is appropriate for the house they built, then that's just dandy too. But remember, it was you and yours that felt that bashing America was a good way to honor Spencer Dryden. You probably approved of the Democratic hate-fest held at Paul Wellstone's funeral too. But if that is the height of your contribution, it rings very shallow indeed. Have a nice day Soccerdad. Be as pissed as you wanna be.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#46)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 05:55:18 PM EST
    justpaul, thanks for the lecture. Unfortunately you have me confused with someone who care's about your opinion. Don't like my comments don't read them.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#47)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 06:03:53 PM EST
    Dr A, - I never thought that I would say this, but sincere thanks for your understanding. To the other current posters; do you have no shame?

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#48)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 06:56:59 PM EST
    "Is it your opinion that it is simply WRONG to ask where the people who were closest to Spencer Dryden were throughout this, and why it is that this is somehow indicative of a problem with this nation instead of with his family and friends?" The thing is, people shouldn't have to go around asking (or begging) for help, not even from family and friends. There are minimum basic requirements (like healthcare) that everyone should have whether they can pay for it or not (without begging or having onerous conditions attached).

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#49)
    by glanton on Sun Jan 23, 2005 at 07:20:20 PM EST
    Have been listening to Airplane CDs all week. I've always been a fan, but never really payed specific attention to Dryden's drumwork. Simply amazing stuff. "White Rabbit," BTW, has to be one of the top ten rock songs of all time, even though it almost never shows up on polls.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#50)
    by pigwiggle on Mon Jan 24, 2005 at 06:31:46 AM EST
    SD- “Speaking for myself, I was pissed at the three first posts, because all made negative comments about him and/or his family without one word of compassion.” I was the third poster, so I will respond. I had intended to have that be my only post, a small balance to the clear wish that his unfortunate last years should be an exemplar of a callous grubbing nation. See the very first quote in the post. Look, I made no value judgment; you brought your own bias to the table. Some would use this man’s unfortunate last years to further their view. But is it only disgusting when it isn’t your view? Don't respond, I'm not going to argue on this thread.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#51)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 24, 2005 at 07:14:52 AM EST
    Fact: he was a bog boy; he should have planned for tomorrow like all the rest of us do. Really? How shortsighted of him to get cancer, have a heart attack and have his house burn down.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#52)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 24, 2005 at 08:11:13 AM EST
    Memento mori, RW.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#53)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 24, 2005 at 09:25:52 AM EST
    glanton, White Rabbit was a great example, his drumming on that is riffed off of Ravel's Bolero and completely sets the desired mood for the song.

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#54)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 24, 2005 at 10:30:53 AM EST
    Posted by justpaul at January 23, 2005 05:44 PM "...TL, and so many other here feel the need to use his death and the circumstances thereof as another excuse to bash a country. all one need do is, take a reflective moment on where this country currently is, how it got there, and what’s being done to improve the condition, and pretty much anything that crosses your mind, is a reason to bash this county. Contrary to Rep's belief, this country is in "Dire Straits" and it didn’t get there because of "a lack of moral values". This/my country currently needs a little bashing. "06" will tell if the bashings(lessons) have been fruitful(learned).

    Re: Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet S (none / 0) (#55)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 27, 2005 at 01:16:31 AM EST
    To all of you who've slammed Spence: He wasn't the one complaining about the 'government' letting him down. Show some respect, you dumb-asses. The man is dead... leave him alone.

    Drummer Spencer Dryden Dies in Poverty, Yet Still Loved | 54 comments (54 topical)