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RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:42 am
by Enzo
No, no one you would know. Well BM65 might know who he was.

John was the drummer in the band I was with in the 1970s. I encountered Universal Family in the late 1960s. As I approached, they were looking for a bass player, the old guy wanted to leave. And the lead singer (sax player and top hat wearer and school science teacher) had left Really talented guitarist to take over lead vocals. John on drums. Rob was the new bassist, and somewhere in there was Ken the organist. We called Ken "Nith" as in short for Kenneth. Me? With my major shortage of talent, I played the occasional polka on the organ or sometimes played guitar, and sometimes I did vocals. Mainly I ran the sound system.

Ken was the first to go, he had connected with a girl on tour and married her. They were in a hotel in Las Vegas having an argument and Ken stormed out the door and fell off the balcony to his death. The guitarist went to Chicago and finished is degree in Pharmacy... And committed suicide. I bumped into Rob one day at a local tech company, he was now a finish carpenter. A few months later, I heard he had passed on. And now a week ago or so John died suddenly, leaving me the only remaining member of that band.

At some point the band shortened the name to just Universe, and I left around 1973, and the band continued on with some other people in it, so there are still some surviving members of the band, but not from my era.

John was still active as a player, he had a trio he performed in. He also had a recording studio locally, and found time to run for Township Board. The guy is my age, and he leaves behind a fiancé.

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 1:44 pm
by Blue Monster 65
Heard you talk about him in the band and think I ran into him in Elderly Instruments. Sorry for your loss, Enzo. To be the last man standing is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 3:18 pm
by Heid the Ba
That sucks Enzo, sorry.

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:09 pm
by Lianachan
Sorry to hear that.

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:00 pm
by Lance
:(

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:05 pm
by Arneb
Dear Enzo, I am very sorry for that loss. I know memories aren't always a consolation

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:44 pm
by g-one
Sorry to hear this.
It is nice that he was able to continue playing so long, drumming being so physically demanding. Generally I think drummers are the most prone to early retirement among musicians.

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 4:37 pm
by Enzo
Actually John was unusual as a drummer. He was thin with a skeletal appearance. His mother had some disease or other during pregnancy, so he came out having no sweat glands. Or teeth for that matter. He tried very hard to be healthy. On hot gigs, especially outdoor gigs in the sun, we'd mist him and play fans on him to help cool him. He once told me it was like being sealed in wax.

John's health diet regimen had him eating a lot of tahini, so we often teased him about living on bird seed.

One time at a gig in Flint, Michigan, a fellow walked into the club who looked EXACTLY like John. John couldn't contain himself and went over and chatted with the guy. Sure enough, that guy's mother had the same affliction during pregnancy.

Re: RIP John Esser

PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:42 am
by Мастер
Bugger