Theater May 31, 2012 at 5:30 pm

Comments

1
Nice piece Brendan. Makes me wish I'd known these guys better.
2
What a lovely story Brendan, brought tears to my eyes.
3
wonderful tribute
4
Nice words......very well put. Gone way too soon.

RIP Gentlemen..................
5
That was a "Shelagh was here" tapestry, Brendan, enriched by your personal acquaintance. Nicely done.
6
That was beautiful. I wish I had known them.
7
very nice
8
Perfect. Thank you.
9
Thanks, Brendan. Wonderful.
10
Awesome.
11
the world needs so many more sweetheart outlaws.
thank you Brendan Kiley, for this
12
What heart I have left is ripped to shreds by your piece. Ian Lee Stawicki was a sweetheart outlaw, believe it or not. He has given so many people a chance: fed them, clothed them, housed them, loved the unloveable ... and he forgot us, and died by his own hand, alone in the street. I'm so beyond saying "sorry for your loss", because that doesn't even begin to touch how I feel. I loved Ian; he loved me. We were "ex-es" to each other, but we were also friends for some 23 years. There's nothing more to say; our community suffers from the losses of these men and women.
13
Oh my gosh, Brendan-- no one could have said it any better. You described Drew and Joe to a tee. They were the most true-to-themselves gentlemen that I have ever met, and everyone loved them for it. One thing's for sure, Drew could charm the pants off any old lady he met-- it was a wonder to watch! Thanks so much for your memorial.
14
Thanks for this - you make me feel like I'd known them. Of course, now I'm even sadder.
15
Thank you, Brendan, that was beautiful. I thought perhaps I was imagining how magic these boys were, conjuring up a figment or being easily impressed by a mediocre talent. But this homage and other stories and essays I've been reading make me realize that I was not dreaming, they were special, they did have the magic and shared it with us all. I miss them already, desperately, passionately. I loved them all, I love Cafe Racer, and I love our beautiful community of outcasts, outlaws, artists, musicians, misfits, circus freaks and regular folk. At first I thought Cafe Racer could never reopen, it should remain closed forever. But after two days of being there in front, on the sidewalk, watching the shrine grow with flowers and candles, I think we need our home back, we need a place to be with each other again. We cannot let insanity win. We must not give up hope. Cafe Racer is still our home.
16
This just keeps on tearing me up inside over and over. I had met Drew several times and he was nothing but smiles and friendliness.
18
17- shut up, asshole. You're on the internet- go back to your scat chat rooms and your JC Penney children's underwear pages, scum.
19
Thank you for this post, Brendan. When I saw the pictures of Drew and Joe, I realized that I had once gone to a performance of Circus Contraption and seen them on stage. I had never been to a show like that before, and it will always be a cherished memory.

So even though I don't think of myself as deeply involved in the art and performance scene in Seattle, I am reminded that even I have been touched by their energy and light. It is very moving to see how connected we all are in Seattle, even when we don't think it at first. I wish to send thanks to their families for supporting them so that they could bring joy and smiles to so many people through their art.
20
This is a huge jarring loss to the community. One of the things that always moved me about Circus Contraption- even as an audience member- was the warm feeling of being a part of a group of outsiders- sort of the Isle of Misfit Toys. This was best typified from the song Drew used to sing "Off N Away" in which he talked about what Circus Contraption meant to him and one of the lines was "we're safe in our wagons and tents, my friends, we're safe in our wagons and tents". This whole experience has been another sad reminder that we're unfortunately not always safe.
21
Absolutely beautiful, Brendan. This had to be hard to write and is appreciated.
23
@22 judging from all your previous comments you don't actually read or are just plain awful at it. They've covered it a bunch because: some of the writers personally know the victims, many of the commenters did as well, cafe racer is the kind of place the Stranger covers, it happened in Seattle and it was a gnarly tragedy.
I know you think you're funny/clever/shocking but in all honesty you're just annoying. Go use your 8th grade insults on a Mudede post.
24
#22, the people who died were smart and funny and talented, and they were our friends. You can google for what the word "friend" means if you need to. Furthermore, if some idiot with a .22 shoots you for no reason, we will refrain from poking fun at the people mourning your death. It's what people do. You can google for what the word "people" means if you need to.
25
Thank you.
26
Thanks Brendan. Drew and Joe were incredibly sweet guys... the world is less for having lost them. <3
27
Thanks Brendan for writing about these beautiful men who were my fathers for the past 4 years. I am still too beside myself in shock and horror to write and explain how I want to honor them so I am glad someone can do it. My fried Ed Skoog also wrote a good piece. I felt like they were other-wordly soldiers of peace. And thanks for mentioning what a genius Joe was at puns! I wanted to say it if no one else did. I had the pleasure of always being next to him on the stage to hear him say them under his breath and they always cracked me up. Drew and Joe were so funny and good, always encouraging and supporting other artists and being genuinely available for anyone who approached them. I can still see Drew beaming as he watched anyone performing on stage, and leading the audience in a round of applause. Even people who were jerks to them would get lovingly teased like the rest of us. And thank you for hiring us for your wedding, it felt great that someone was recognizing them and giving them that honor. I will always remember your beautiful wedding. To Drew's credit, he did change the words to "Red Hot Pizza" but those of us who were unaware of that plan sang "pussy" over his singing. ;)
28
Brendan is a super fucking classy guy.
29
Too bad you (and The Stranger) couldn't have shown this kind of taste and sensitivity when you wrote about the death of Sakara Dunlap last year…
30
LEGACY
31
@ 29. I wouldn't normally jump into a thread like this, but I should say that that story was also extraordinarily tragic and difficult for many, many people.

Some readers and friends of hers objected to it, and I undertand why: It was an up-close examination of an ugly, ugly event. But Sakara's parents (let me repeat: her parents) and several of her closest friends in Seattle and Alaska participated in putting that story together and said afterwards it was the right way to deal with the facts, even though they were graphic, violent, and extremely sad.

I'll jump back out now.
32
While I never met Joe, I did meet Drew and had some great conversations with him whenever we happened to meet (always at some event having to do with music/performance art). I was so very impressed that a guy as talented as he was even wanted to know what a fat old woman in a wheelchair liked, disliked, or even thought about. What a tragic loss to our community.
33
Thanks Brendan........real community is a beautiful thing and it feels so right to paint the picture of how it happens lest we forget. I hope that inclusiveness and compassion and togetherness won't ever be forgotten or discarded. It's our soul.

thanks for reminding me

still sad but smiled as I read your words.................
34
Beautiful words, Brenden. Thank you. I knew Drew & Joe for many years as they would frequent the house of close friends on 45th St near UW in a house we all called The Mansion. I also lived across from the Cafe Racer for several yrs and would literally go there simply to bask in their presence for a boost of morale. Drew cracked me up and once even made me pee my pants a little. (dont quote me on that) But youre words couldn't be truer. They were truly two of the sweetest guys I've ever known who deserved far more attention and respect than they were given, by media. I can arrest that friends and fans ADORED them. Much love & condolences for those suffering..
35
Still can't quite believe this really happened. I keep reading reading and reading these internet pieces, hoping someone will finally crack and say it's all some kind of sick joke. And the more it sinks in, the more it seems like our community will never truly recover. Thanks Brendan and Stranger for being so kind and human through all of this awfulness.
36
Someday I'm gonna be a star
I'll hire someone to drive my fancy car
I'll buy my wife a new dress every day
I'll buy a house where all my friends can sleep
But for now you'll find me singing in the street
And its ok
Its ok

Someday I'm gonna be the king
And all the world will be my loyal subjects
And everyone will be the same as everybody else
The rich will be on leashes
And the poor ones will be free
But for now you'll find me singing in the street
And its ok
Its ok

Someday I'm gonna be a star
37
Thank you Brendan. Your eulogy helps all of us who knew Drew and Joe to explain to our families and friends who didn't know them what tremendous-est people they were. I've shared your eulogy with my loving family as a way for them to know what loss so many of us feel. Long live Drew and Joe....we will find them when we go.....
38
I didn't know them, and yet after reading this piece I wish I had! Such a sencless tragedy, and waste of LIVES... My thoughts, and prayers go out to the family, loved ones, and friends who loved, and knew them. R.I.P.

Terri Lucrisia
TAL...
39
I didn't know them, and yet after reading this piece I wish I had! Such a sencless tragedy, and waste of LIVES... My thoughts, and prayers go out to the family, loved ones, and friends who loved, and knew them. R.I.P.

Terri Lucrisia
TAL...
40
Your story brought a smile to my face and laughter to my soul. That was the beauty of Drew and his family of friends - a smile and heartfelt laughter were always waiting in their presence. Thank you for creating a story that we can look back to and remember why and how we all loved Drew and Joe.
41
I knew and worked with Drew in Hood River, Oregon. I knew him in the Rubber Chicken Lollipop days, when he played at The North Shore in White Salmon, Washington. Drew was my best friend for a time there before he moved on to stardom. Every time that I saw him afterward, we talked of the old days, and I was amazed at how far my friend had come. I found myself - oddly - thinking about him on May 31st. The next day, I got a text message from my brother with a link too a news story in Seattle. I couldn't believe what I read in absolute horror. My friend, Drew, was gone. It tears me up inside knowing that he is gone. I have all of these memories, memories of the kindness that he gave so freely to anyone in need. He was a good-hearted soul, and his fame never changed that. He was always someone that I looked up to, that I admired. Someone who had a dream and reached out to take it and make it a reality. I have so many stories about Drew, including the time we took our C.N.A. test in Gresham. We had to take it then or lose our job, as we had been working too long without being certifiied. So we took our test and then he decided that he wasn't ready to go back to the 'big city,' so he decided to take me to my first (and only) experience at a strip club where we ate, laughed, and drank. But that was Drew. He was always unfailingly kind to the geriatric generation that we took care of, and he was the one who taught me those ways, he made me into the caregiver that I still am today. To this day, his bedside manor remains an inspiration to me. Requiescat in pace my friend. I'll see you on the other side. And if you find a way . . . I could still benefit from your words of advice.
42
I saw Circus Contraption perform back in maybe 2006 -- they were literally the best stage show I've ever seen, by turns uproariously funny, deeply weird, and even, at times, poignant. ("Over the Rails" is a heartbreaker of a song.) I've listened to the CD from the performance zillions of times since then, and just randomly Googled them tonight to see what they were up to. It makes me so sad to learn that these men are gone. Even though I didn't know them personally, their work inspired me, and I can imagine how deeply they'll be missed by friends, collaborators, & audiences :,-(

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