John Grabski III memorial page

[MrMattDiehl]

I agree that Steve's eulogy/tribute should be the main thing, with the links to PRF thread, bandcamp, facebook, pictures, etc. at the bottom. That said, maybe in that bottom area there should be a further "links" page taking people to Everett True's post, Daily Swarm obit, and anything else that gets put out, so that it's all in one place.

[drew]

I'm stood here at work, only having a passing familiarity of John/Teeth through this forum, and just finished reading Steve's words.

My co-workers are shooting odd looks over here, wondering why a grown man is fighting back tears at 6:51 AM on a Tuesday morning. See, I am in Western New York and write a blog based in Buffalo, which many of you may have heard of. Since reading John's story/thread here last fall I'd had a few thoughts to bring his story here, an hour from Rochester, to be celebrated. Now, that chance is gone while he still could have enjoyed it. Life is fucked but the story is beautiful.

[Justin Foley]

John's YouTube page is worth a link, especially this clip:

At 4:12 in this video, there's an amazing shot of them coming across the Indiana turnpike looking at the first sight of Chicago. Especially after the goofiness of the side of the road band bit prior, the shot is perfect. You can feel their excitement, nervousness, wonder and hope in that shot. I'm sure I'm reading too much into it, but it's go to be the feeling of "there it is, that's where we're going, that's where we are going to make this happen."

Fantastic.

= Justin

[mufkin taskellsz]

Wow. Amazing. And beautifully written, Steve and Mr. Grabski. Thanks for the inspiration.

[diego]

John's inspiration with Steve's words: very elegant and moving.

I do not see what else could be added to this page.
It should be simply spread out everywhere.

[SecondEdition]

This is pretty much as beautiful a tribute as anyone could ask for.

[Loretta]

This is pretty much as beautiful a tribute as anyone could ask for.

sorry i just put this at first but i hate just quoting.
this just seemed perfect.
x

[dayz]

I only ever lurk here from time to time anymore, but I remember reading about John here a few months ago. Back then I was terrified by the description of his ailments, wondering how I would spend my days under such dark prospects, questioning the way I actually do spend my days.

I'm glad to see that John was able to leave such a big impression on the people who were lucky enough to spend time with him before he was forced to go. And I think it's a wonderful demonstration of human kindness that so many people chimed in to help him leave an album of his music as an artefact and - more importantly - let him into their lives.

If I have learned one important thing by spending so much time on this forum, it is the confidence in the kindness of human nature.

I wish I could contribute to John's memorial page. But I can only say that I think The Strain is awesome, and that I'm glad he got to make it.

[Nico Adie]

A tribute fitting of the man. Beautiful.

[ugly_ukrainian]

i've read this article, have to say most of you didnt ever think about this up to the moment when albini wrote it. If i had no idea who is albini i'd believe he is forum's god or something. What a fuck you're talking about? Seems you have no idea what cancer is alike. You pay attention only when respected guy told that its important. 'Rock wins cancer' is the stupidiest illussion i've ever heard.

[lemur68]

i've read this article, have to say most of you didnt ever think about this up to the moment when albini wrote it. If i had no idea who is albini i'd believe he is forum's god or something. What a fuck you're talking about? Seems you have no idea what cancer is alike. You pay attention only when respected guy told that its important. 'Rock wins cancer' is the stupidiest illussion i've ever heard.

Cancer has to take Grabski but leaves this useless shithead alone.

[Jodi S.]

Seems you have no idea what cancer is alike. You pay attention only when respected guy told that its important.

Hey! Guy who's mostly lurked since 2011!

It is with great sadness that I report that members of this forum know all too well what that fucking bastard shiteating disease cancer is like. Many of them from the most personal of experiences: they've beaten it themselves.

So tell those people that they didn't pay attention to its gravity or importance.

Go ahead.

Do it.

I'm waiting.

[Frank Decent]

Weird. Now cancer itself is actually trolling the forum. This is the only cancer you can actually ignore, though.

[ugly_ukrainian]

it's just my point of view.
I didn't want to offend anybody.
Sorry if you get me wrong.

[Auntie Ovipositor]

i've read this article, have to say most of you didnt ever think about this up to the moment when albini wrote it.

You do know that there's a whole other thread about John, his diagnosis, and his music, right? He started it back in October. Most of got to know him to some degree then, not just when Steve posted something.

But more importantly, it's easy to be an asshole on the internet. Why not try something much harder, like not being an asshole.

[Mark Lansing]

I followed the thread on John as it was happening, but never commented because I honestly didn't know what to say. He was dealing with so much with such courage, clarity, fierce determination, and astonishing good humor that anything I could say seemed puny and inadequate. In essence, I was moved into an awed silence.

Reading Steve's memorial essay makes me feel roughly the same way, but I wanted to thank him for helping to share such a beautiful and powerful story with the world. Folks need to know and remember John Grabski III.

[steve]

I followed the thread on John as it was happening, but never commented because I honestly didn't know what to say.

I felt exactly the same way. John was better than anybody else at encapsulating his experience and I preferred reading his posts to trying to write my own.

[Pasta]

it's just my point of view.
I didn't want to offend anybody.
Sorry if you get me wrong.

Get Lost

[Rachi]

I don't have anything to add here. I would just like to acknowledge the fact that I sat here and shed a tear for John.

[total_douche]

I don't think there's anything I can say that won't sound banal or stupid, but if there's anything I can take away from reading all of this, it's that worrying about sounding banal or stupid is probably a waste of time.

I have been very guilty of never chiming in with a word of support or engaging in conversations about bad news, online and in real life. I've always felt that it's not my place and that there is nothing I can contribute to such things that wouldn't have a diminishing effect. Call it a lack of self-esteem. Call it a fear of sounding like an asshole no matter what I do. You could probably just call me an asshole. Those would all probably be true.

That's exactly why I didn't say much about this when I first read about it. All I could think was: "Man, this really sucks. This man is going to die. I have nothing to say of any real importance. It'd be best if I just shut my big stupid mouth and kept out of it."

Enter feelings of regret.

The more I read about him, the more I feel like I did when Dio died. "I wish I knew this guy."

If you're out there, John, you were a king among men, if for no other reason than facing death in ways that should make any average person feel (and look) like a total wuss. I can only hope that, when my time comes, I can face the reaper with the same courage.