I just couldn't get myself to post in this thread. On the day I was playing 'Billard Player song" riff less than two minutes before reading the news. It felt surreal now and it still does, like there is just no way this can be real.
I've met Steve once, when they played in Poland in 2008, much like FM Sparky I did an interview with him and Bob - mostly to have a chance to come and say hi, so I did before the soundcheck - hearing something like "oh it's you, nice to see you" and "your nickname always makes me laugh" meant and still means a huge deal. The experience was like everybody's else's here, both Steve and Bob very very cordial and funny, first thing that comes to my mind when I think about that meeting is how much laughter was involved.
Even though I'm far away from Chicago, over the years PRF just became a part of my life, a place which greatly improved my English skills, ability to argue, hold and express my position. I still constantly call thugs crap/not crap in conversation or throw in lines about "this would be a good name for synth psychodelic rock bands from the 70's but with lyrics about poo" into conversation.
A few days before Steve's passing I played the Bottomless Pit vinyl for the first time in my life as I very recently bought a turntable, after keeping it for a shelf since 2007. The moment I've put the cover against the wall I saw that the reflection of light on the floor matched the cover of the album like I was planning it for years, that instantly made me think about Micheal, early days of PRF, all the posters who are gone, how it's been almost 20 years, my own tough times in previous year and how the light is always there somewhere . It could sound silly but it was an eerie moment for me, I was slightly dizzy. I can't believe I now will be thinking both about Micheal and Steve.
Steve carved his own way in stone, staying true to his principles of (among others) no tolerance for bs (including his own), loyalty, decency, hard work, bringing out absolutely the best in people and humanism. There were so many areas one could look up to him and be inspired by him it (again) doesn't seem real. And how it is done. Steve's life is done. He will forever remain an absolute here, inspiration and a true giant among men. Reading and writing on the same board as him for years and decades means being closer to a human being of historical importance closer then the pretty much the entire rest of the world. That is something to be cherished, especially as it allowed to learn even more from him and about how incredibly special he was.
Spoczywaj w pokoju, Steve.
