Rest in Peace, Shawn -- The Fast Lane

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 18:08:29 09/27/03 Sat
Author: Chris
Author Host/IP: dialup-67.73.11.240.Dial1.LosAngeles1.Level3.net / 67.73.11.240
Subject: Rest in Peace, Shawn

First off, my heartfelt condolences to Shawn's family and friends - how incredibly sad to lose a loved one at such a young age.

The world of music has most certainly lost one of its greatest figures of the last 100 hundred years and I truly believe that Shawn's music will be remembered forever and ever. It is that good - he was that good.

I first heard Shawn in 1984 when 'Stratosphere II' came out on the 'US Metal IV' compilation. Hearing Yngwie only a year or so earlier was scary - discovering that there was someone out there far and beyond even that level of skill was truly mindblowing. I remember writing to Mike Varney @ Shrapnel wanting to find out more about Shawn and his music, asking for an address to write to Shawn personally, but I never got an answer. Shawn seemed to be this mythical figure even back then - someone out of reach for mere mortals, physically and musically.

Next I got my hands on a radio show of Shawn with the Willies, with the most amazing version of Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower'. Simply beyond words what the man played - so technically perfect yet so soulful and so beautiful phrased. Out of this world.

Then, in 1992 Shawn released 'Powers of Ten' (and on Warner Bros. too - 'Ah Via Musicom', move over! ;-)) and finally seemed to get the long deserved attention beyond just underground circles. Bought the first version, the second version, and quite a few other copies for friends. Even better, I got to see Shawn live for the first - and sadly only - time on the POT tour. It was a night I'll never forget - we were in the presence of a god, and he blews us all away.

Needless to say, I was totally bummed out to hear that Shawn got dropped by Warner and there would not likely be a new solo album anytime soon. Thank God I was able to get my hands on a few Shawn videos - Shawn at home shredding scales, sitting at the piano playing like a man possessed, Shawn with the Willies (I think...) doing various covers (always topped off by the most amazing solos!), Shawn expanding into fusion and giving Holdsworth a run for his money. Prized possessions.....

Read a review of 'Abstract Logic' somewhere and picked that one up, too. I was happy to see that Shawn had seemingly found a musical partner, an equal he could communicate with rather than playing down to other people's level. Jonas and Shawn were truly meant to be. I only wish I could have seen them live just once but I never got the chance. I do hope that some of what they've done - beyond what is already available - will be out on DVD for all the fans, all the world, and future generations to not only hear but see how incredibly gifted and special Shawn truly was.

There will never be another one like you, Shawn - thank you for everything you gave us. Rest in peace.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]