R.I.P. Michael Gilley : ...(
The bad news just keeps coming for me. A friend tracked me down
at a club that I go to on Saturday nights
to tell me that someone that I used to love and know very well has died.
Mike, the most brilliant guitarist that I'd ever known. Jerry Lee Lewis was his
cousin, and Mickey Gilley, too. He taught me how to play guitar, including E.L.P's
" From the Beginning". Introduced me to Santana, we all hung out at a soundcheck together.
( there's actually a cute little story about that)I wonder who knows that Mike is dead? I can't believe it. Probably it's going to take a
little while for it to make it's way around the local Southern California music community.
" Ziggy played guitar...jammin' good with weird and Gilley! And the Spiders from Mars..."
Mike taught me a lot. I could tell sooo many great stories about him. He was the most brilliant
musician I have ever known, not just a guitarist. I have seen him pick up a cracked homemade bamboo flute
in someone's attic, and play Jethro Tull's Bourre, and play it beautifully! And the owner of the homemade flute swore that it was a broken, flawed piece of shit!
He taught me how a true professional musician was sposed to behave ( and look at music), and that it wasn't about who played faster, or better, it was about the true love of music. And to be humble, and gracious ( a true professional). You have to realize, I was a kid, in the studio for
the first time at 17, and it was the perfect time to learn these things.
Aw, Mike. :...(
I'm so sorry you lost your way. I love you, and I hope you have the peace that you apparently
weren't able to find when you were alive. You taught me and many others that came into your light, lessons
that I'm sure we all carry with us to this day. I'm not sure if I'm even ok, how does one get over
losing the equivalent of one's musical/spiritual teacher? I have only just heard this news tonight.
at a club that I go to on Saturday nights
to tell me that someone that I used to love and know very well has died.
Mike, the most brilliant guitarist that I'd ever known. Jerry Lee Lewis was his
cousin, and Mickey Gilley, too. He taught me how to play guitar, including E.L.P's
" From the Beginning". Introduced me to Santana, we all hung out at a soundcheck together.
( there's actually a cute little story about that)I wonder who knows that Mike is dead? I can't believe it. Probably it's going to take a
little while for it to make it's way around the local Southern California music community.
" Ziggy played guitar...jammin' good with weird and Gilley! And the Spiders from Mars..."
Mike taught me a lot. I could tell sooo many great stories about him. He was the most brilliant
musician I have ever known, not just a guitarist. I have seen him pick up a cracked homemade bamboo flute
in someone's attic, and play Jethro Tull's Bourre, and play it beautifully! And the owner of the homemade flute swore that it was a broken, flawed piece of shit!
He taught me how a true professional musician was sposed to behave ( and look at music), and that it wasn't about who played faster, or better, it was about the true love of music. And to be humble, and gracious ( a true professional). You have to realize, I was a kid, in the studio for
the first time at 17, and it was the perfect time to learn these things.
Aw, Mike. :...(
I'm so sorry you lost your way. I love you, and I hope you have the peace that you apparently
weren't able to find when you were alive. You taught me and many others that came into your light, lessons
that I'm sure we all carry with us to this day. I'm not sure if I'm even ok, how does one get over
losing the equivalent of one's musical/spiritual teacher? I have only just heard this news tonight.
posted by Nabonidus at 2:42 AM
19 Comments:
Wow. Once again you've said it best. A brilliant tribute to a Brilliant Man. To those of us who knew him, MG he was an amazing individual. He had an specter like quality. To a little stoned 18 year old kid, He was a wizard. Mike showed me things that have still stayed with me to this day. I wish I could have known the man on the same level as some others had known him. I am sure the powers that be have a much more important mission for Him on a much higher plane than ours. Funny thing is I knew the Guy for over 20 years never knew Jerry Lee Lewis was his cousin. Wow. He will be missed. A toast to Michael Gilley RIP.
Michael Gilley really was a real-life wizard, wise beyond his years, and very generous in every way. I would compare him to Lao-Tzu, actually. I hadn't seen him for many years when I found out, but he definately left an indelible impression on me, and I'll never forget him. Rest in peace, Mike...
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I'm so glad that you made your way here, Raul.
I know he loved you, wherever he is now, he still loves you. I wanted to tell you when I found out, but didn't know how to get in touch with you. Heard that you might be in S.F.
You were the person I wanted to talk to the most when I found out about Mike.
I told someone "He might already know, wherever he is, he may feel
that Mike is gone from this world."
I might've known you would find your way here.
I was in shock when I wrote that.
Wish I could've written something truly epic for him.
I still cry even now for Mike's
passing. Maybe I will never quite get over it.:(
Glad that you seem to be doing well, I hope it's true.
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Now this is more like it, as far as a eulogy, the right words! My words had felt so inadequate when I wrote them that night. Plus I'd been drinking,
something I don't normally do.
I emailed you about Mike, I hope you don't mind. I do understand if it's too much to talk about. I don't mean to dredge up painful memories.
My Nane is David Brackeen/Reed
And Michael was my friend
What can I say about Mike ?.
I just learned of his passing and, Wow I still refuse to believe that MIKE GILLEY of all people should die in Police custody, but upon further reflection let us consider the concept of Bodhisattva although at times he may have looked more like Aqualung
Bodhisattva, or Aqualung.
Dictionary: bo•dhi•satt•va (bō'dĭ-sŭt'və) (Contril+Click to follow link)
An enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others.
No better disguise than Aqualung to conceal the true nature of a Bo-dhi-satt-va?
Sounds like the man I called my brother Michael Gilley
What can I say about Mike ?.......
Truly he was my friend, but then anyone who knew him that didn’t have there heads up there own asses, and many who did, could say the same. Because he wouldn’t hold your head up your own ass against you and he would truly befriend anyone regardless of race creed or color(certain Socio-political entities Here-in-excluded) also he was afraid of nothing and no-one.(Certain Socio-Economic beings Here-in-excluded). But I Digress
What else can I say about Mike ?.......
My earliest memories of this extraordinary man, are when he was about four feet tall, severe parentally inflicted haircut and huge Stainless Steel front teeth (incisors) about circa 1966 and always carrying a briefcase What was in that goddamned case mike?. I know for a fact it wasn’t ergotamine way back then. A few years later certainly, but not then, I guess I will never know, But again, I digress…..
What else can I say about Mike ?.......
Music? Yeaaa all the preceding blogs are R.O.T.F.M. “Right On The Fucking Money”
that man was a selfless genius.
I was there! I am of the Dawn Patrol in the breezeway at Jones elementary school with D.Wynn, M.Lopez, PETE, Rudy, (You know who you actualy are) S.McLarde
I walked across the Mojave Desert with him while he played a fat blade of road weed & a Comb and he played it flawlessly
I was there at the Board-Walk in Ocean Beach, Ca. when he gave away a perfectly good Takimine F340 Guitar (Mine), to a homeless fellow who was a very gifted finger style fusion guitarist. Mike just said “ Dave,! That guy was in a bad way without it” and he was of course right But again, I digress…..
What else can I say about Mike ?.......
The western Worlds Leading Proponent on Transcendental Whateverisim.
He could quote wisely & knowingly from ancient Vedic scripture, The Koran, The Bible, but he wasn’t a snob about it
He was always, already an accomplished and indeed past master on any esoteric art or meditation technique that i ever managed to stumbled upon.
He would, and in fact DID give away the very clothes on his back to anyone who’s need was greater than his
and again, I digress
What can I say about Mike ?.......
I FUCKING LOVED HIM, and still do, and for decades, we were inseparable. many of life’s lessons he & I learned side by side. The only regret I have is that there are no musical recordings of the several thousand hours of Mike, Dennis, Mark, Rudy, & myself and any other Serra Mesa/Mission Village friends not mentioned here-in, in existence :( truly a tragedy
About the worst thing he was ever known to say about anyone else was
“Wow, What a Butthole”
Raul said, Erudite yet loving and very compassionate. Most apropos Raul! Most apropos!
I read from one contributor here that she was sorry for mike and felt that he had somehow lost his way. I feel that this person misspoke. Mike most certainly did not lose his way. rather he is blazing the trail we must all traverse and in typical Mike fashion he is doing it years before life forces the rest of his peers to comply
It was me that misspoke, Dave. Me, Lisa. And I'm glad. That is, I'm glad to be wrong on this.
I remember at that time feeling frustrated, inept. I was feeling the loss so profoundly that I couldn't talk. I was angry (at the police, even a little angry with Mike). I also felt guilty, wished I could have somehow stopped it from happening. I'd just seen Mike the year before.
I love and miss him so much.
If you are the Dave I remember, Mike and I visited you once, he had long spoke of you, wanted me to meet you and "C."
I remember us all sitting outside at night, you played an acoustic guitar and sang beautifully, "Dear Prudence" and many others. I know Mike loved you very much and it was his equivalent of bringing his girl home to meet his family. Dunno if you remember me.
Thank you for your memories of Mike. I loved reading of friends like P.O. and remembering good times. But also stories I didn't know - like the guitar in OB.
Was like I got to see Mike again for a little while. Thank you so much for that.:)
Do you have anymore info on whatever it is that happened to him?
No, I don't know exactly what happened. I heard something that may be rumor - that Mike had left a note for his mother ahead of time. But I overheard this from someone who didn't know Mike, was just talking about "someone" dying after a police incident. This was about a month after.I couldn't help but think they were talking about Mike because of the timing.
I wish I knew more. I think not knowing is worse for me, personally. Sorry I don't know more. If you find out more, please let me know.
Michael showed me the following in the summer of 1972 and i have never forgotten it! i know most of it by heart....by,Alister crowley
It is very Michael of Very Michael
The FINAL GESTURE.
This is identical with the First
Gesture.
(Here followeth an impression of the ideas implied in this Paean.) {334}
I also am a Star in Space, unique and self-existent, an individual essence incorruptible;
I also am one Soul; I am identical with All and None.
I am in All and all in Me;
I am, apart from all and lord of all, and one with all.
I am a God, I very God of very God; I go upon my way to work
my will; I have made matter and motion for my mirror;
I have decreed for my delight that Nothingness should figure itself as twain, that I might dream a dance of names and natures, and enjoy the substance of simplicity by watching the wanderings of my
shadows.
I am not that which is not;
I know not that which knows not; I love not that which loves not.
For I am Love, whereby division dies in delight; I am Knowledge, whereby all parts, plunged in the whole, perish and pass into
perfection; and I am that I am,
the being wherein Being is lost in Nothing, nor deigns to be but by its Will to unfold its nature, its need to express its perfection in all possibilities, each phase a partial phantasm, and yet inevitable and absolute.
I am Omniscient, for naught exists for me unless I know it. I am Omnipotent
, for naught occurs save by Necessity my soul's expression through my will to be, to do, to suffer the symbols of itself. I am Omnipresent, for naught exists where I am not, who fashioned space as a condition of my consciousness of myself, who am the centre of all, and my circumference the frame of mine own fancy.
I am the All, for all that exists for me is a necessary expression in though
t of some tendency of my nature, and all my thoughts are only the letters of my
Name.
I am the One, for all that I am is not the absolute all, and all my all is mine and not another's; mine, who conceive of others like myself in essence and truth, yet unlike in expression and illusion.
I am the None, for all that I am is the imperfect image of the perfect; each partial phantom must perish in the clasp of its counterpart; each form fulfil
itself by finding its equated opposite, and satisfying its need to be the Absolute by the attainment of annihilation.
The word, LAShTAL includes all this.
Ascension’s Decent
Pete and Rudy and Michael and Dave
Bigwall climbing on Stonewall they’d brave
MDA in the nose and LSD in the eye
The trail not the face the assent to “On High”
Profound the colors once up on top
Rudy spoke of drop after drop after drop
Inverted pushups by the lizards with ease
Then they’d stare in your eye
And then gone with the breeze
I thought Michael’s heart would forever expand
Perhaps it did, for he can not remand
And so now for an description
Of effete as an isim
The western worlds leading proponent
On transcendental Peteisim
For some interminable moments all were lost in that sky
For they were young & they knew that they could never truly die
I know that the akashic record holds them forever At least as dear as I
A A Attanasio's Arc of the dream:...
A short note as to Michael s current whereabouts......db
The bodies lived for a while—and then dissolved and disappeared.
But these individuals were not really gone. The light cone of each and every
Unique existence persists in the vacuum field that permeates the continuum. The waveforms of each atom, each body, each mind, continue to exist and change In the 4-space expanse of the cosmos that surrounds the three-dimensional world. Some of the waveforms in the vacuum field interact with the three-dimensional Creatures again, and for all those bodies that dissolved, blinked out, And became ghost lights, new flashes of the song appear, and the fire-flicker Rhythms among the millions of comings and goings of individuals Sing of the savage rapture of life, the travails of awe, and the harrowing abundance of time, and of the sun’s incandescent passion for the night.
I believe this.
And I remember Mike talking of these things - memories of you and P and R - as well as esoteric matters.
I feel very close to Mike right now. Admittedly I feel not eloquent but wanted to say thank you. :)
I had a pencil jammed way in the fuck deep in my ear and was scratching my chaffing brain & this juicy little gribblett fell out!...so
Impostore….or
Retrospective introspection
I know now that I didn’t know then but then I was so sure
I didn’t give a rat’s ass then but learning was the cure
Retro collage is the infinite
Retro collage of the incorporeal
Retro collage will set you free
Of what you’ve taught yourself to feel
You can never know it now though I know he knew it then
In the time it took to die I think my dad was born again
Comprehending now what you knew long ago
It might not be an aha moment,
It might be that you’re kind of slow
It might be that you really need to retrofit. You Know?
I don’t think he ever thought a thing about being retro born
They locked Mike up and took his life, an empty body shorn
Retro collage is the infinite
Retro collage of the incorporeal
Retro collage will set you free
Of what you’ve taught yourself to feel
R.Z. was talking to me on facebook & said that he had spotted a gilley body double in england & it made me think of you :)
I trust that Missure "G" has seen fit to bestow his prescience presences persistently upon your person as well.
R. was talking to me on facebook & said that he had spotted a gilley body double in england & it made me think of you :)
I trust that Missure "G" has seen fit to bestow his prescience presences persistently upon your person as well.
...........db
Hey Nabonidus ! What Happened to you !
L.
Sre you still around? My Girlfriend, My Guutar and I might be in SD soon for a short spell and I would be Most Honored to see you, Dave Beard, and whoever else might still be amongst the living in Serra Mesa...
....Please Advise
......db
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