I've known Justin since the mid-1990s, when my dear friend Jerry Fuchs moved to NYC to play in Vineland, and ended up forming Turing Machine with Justin and Scott. Just got this tragic news this morning.OrthodoxEaster wrote: Thu Aug 22, 2024 2:48 pm This year is turning out to be brutal for me in this thread. Really I am shocked and especially saddened today.
A. Justin Chearno, my friend and, very, very briefly, musical collaborator in the 1990s. Way better known for his work in Pitchblende, Turing Machine, and Panthers. Hell of a guitarist. And more esteemed still as a beverage director, restauranteur, and natural-wine enthusiast. The Four Horsemen, the neobistro he founded w/James Murphy, is infinitely better than it has any right to be. I wanted to write it off as some trendy stuff, but the food and, of course, the list are both top-notch. Vibes are pretty good, as well. About a year ago, a mutual friend cracked Justin up by texting him a photo of me downing an entire bottle of Carcavelos there. He and I had barely been in touch over the last decade, but it was always wonderful to correspond w/him or unexpectedly run into one another, as we still shared many of the same interests and some of the same social circle. Hope his family has a solid support system. My thoughts are w/them. I'll miss the guy, and it was comforting knowing he was around and steering that excellent restaurant's ship. Way, way too young.
I recall being in NYC way back when and spending an evening drinking and playing the jukebox at Dick's (Manitoba's?) with Justin. We went in around 10, and when I came out, the sun was just starting to come up. We stumbled back to his apartment and I crashed in his roommate's bed with the window open. I woke up to snow flying in and landing on my face. Justin was always so much fun, and was such a creative, original guitarist.
Thoughts are with his family, and with his big ole NYC crew (FMOE included, of course), who've lost too many friends way too young.