August 30th, 2006
This entry was posted on August 29, 2006 7:16 PM and is filed under Music.
August 30th, 2006 - Funeral For A Friend.
Last night the "Who's Who" of the 1970's and '80's Chicago rock scene paid tribute to the great Mike Neff.
Mike was found dead, (age 54) alone in his Chicago apartment a few day's earlier. Mike's body was sent in for an autopsy and the fact is that Mike Neff died of high blood pressure. No drugs were found in his body. He was not drinking. Mike sufferend from high blood pressure most of his adult life.
I want make that point very clear because so many times when a musician dies his great legacy is forgotten and his scandalous life is shredded through the press and by false rumors.
Now, about the great Mike Neff, ... he was just an incredible drummer. He launch into the Chicago music scene as the drummer for BEOWULF. My buddy Jon Brant started his career at the same time, in the same band. Jon said, "Mike Neff was one of the greatest and most well respected drummers/musicians in the Chicago music business."
Mike then joined OFF BROADWAY and became a nationally know driving force. Most of the members of the OFF BROADWAY were there last night to pay tribute to their departed comrade. Mike hit it big again with THE HOUNDS in the 1980's. It was great to see some of THE HOUNDS telling stories of Mike and those "glory days." Mike was the awesome drummer behind JINX, and RUBY STARR & GREY GHOST among other great bands. Having Mike in your band made it that much better.
I was happy to see guys like Cliff Johnson, Gary Levin, Mike Shlifka, Dirty Dan from THE BOYZZ, Frank Capek, Brian Ray, Big George from THE PEARL HANDLE BAND and Jonathan Brant, to name a few of the hundreds of musicians in attendance. We were all a bit heavier, a bit older and less hairy but we were all there to pay our respect.
Last night wasn't sad for me for some reason. I did see Mike's mom having a hard time, but the Des Plaines, Illinois funeral home had life. Showing class, as they always have, CHEAP TRICK presented the Neff Family with a check in remembrance of their lost friend.
About two weeks ago, Mike was at one of his annual family get-togethers. The camera was rolling as one of Mike's family members asked him to play the drums. Mike walked up, sat down behind his kit and played an incredible drum solo, as usual. The entire solo and Mike's funny comments were put on a "loop" and played over and over again on a TV in the back room of the funeral home. It was so great to see him again.
Jon Brant talked to me a few weeks ago and said that Mike wanted to come with our band back to Iraq to entertain the troops. Jon knew that Timmy Scruggs was drumming with me now and that Timmy wanted to keep the gig, but, in case anything changed Jon wanted me to consider Mike for the 101st ROCK DIVISION. (Timmy is "aces" in Jon's book as well) Mike and I never played together. I got to sit in the crowd through the years and enjoy him with all his other fans.
If there is a "Rock and Roll" heaven, they are rocking tonight!
Good bye Mike Neff, we all loved you, we all respected you, ... you will be missed.
Last night the "Who's Who" of the 1970's and '80's Chicago rock scene paid tribute to the great Mike Neff.
Mike was found dead, (age 54) alone in his Chicago apartment a few day's earlier. Mike's body was sent in for an autopsy and the fact is that Mike Neff died of high blood pressure. No drugs were found in his body. He was not drinking. Mike sufferend from high blood pressure most of his adult life.
I want make that point very clear because so many times when a musician dies his great legacy is forgotten and his scandalous life is shredded through the press and by false rumors.
Now, about the great Mike Neff, ... he was just an incredible drummer. He launch into the Chicago music scene as the drummer for BEOWULF. My buddy Jon Brant started his career at the same time, in the same band. Jon said, "Mike Neff was one of the greatest and most well respected drummers/musicians in the Chicago music business."
Mike then joined OFF BROADWAY and became a nationally know driving force. Most of the members of the OFF BROADWAY were there last night to pay tribute to their departed comrade. Mike hit it big again with THE HOUNDS in the 1980's. It was great to see some of THE HOUNDS telling stories of Mike and those "glory days." Mike was the awesome drummer behind JINX, and RUBY STARR & GREY GHOST among other great bands. Having Mike in your band made it that much better.
I was happy to see guys like Cliff Johnson, Gary Levin, Mike Shlifka, Dirty Dan from THE BOYZZ, Frank Capek, Brian Ray, Big George from THE PEARL HANDLE BAND and Jonathan Brant, to name a few of the hundreds of musicians in attendance. We were all a bit heavier, a bit older and less hairy but we were all there to pay our respect.
Last night wasn't sad for me for some reason. I did see Mike's mom having a hard time, but the Des Plaines, Illinois funeral home had life. Showing class, as they always have, CHEAP TRICK presented the Neff Family with a check in remembrance of their lost friend.
About two weeks ago, Mike was at one of his annual family get-togethers. The camera was rolling as one of Mike's family members asked him to play the drums. Mike walked up, sat down behind his kit and played an incredible drum solo, as usual. The entire solo and Mike's funny comments were put on a "loop" and played over and over again on a TV in the back room of the funeral home. It was so great to see him again.
Jon Brant talked to me a few weeks ago and said that Mike wanted to come with our band back to Iraq to entertain the troops. Jon knew that Timmy Scruggs was drumming with me now and that Timmy wanted to keep the gig, but, in case anything changed Jon wanted me to consider Mike for the 101st ROCK DIVISION. (Timmy is "aces" in Jon's book as well) Mike and I never played together. I got to sit in the crowd through the years and enjoy him with all his other fans.
If there is a "Rock and Roll" heaven, they are rocking tonight!
Good bye Mike Neff, we all loved you, we all respected you, ... you will be missed.