Recent Comments
Re: “Brad Baker, Longtime Sound Guy at The End, Passes Away”
I remember when we came down for Itchycoo, we brought 4 cases of "Old Style", & when we finally found him in the "Batcave" backstage, the first thing he asked us ,, "Did you bring the Old Style" ??!!
And another thing about Porque, someone mentioned, the fond "Twinkle" in his eye !!
Yes,, it's true, if you where an old friend, and you'd happen to run into him anywhere, in the world,(he was an around the world kind of guy) you would look him in the eyes, he would look back at you, and there it was, the forever familiar "Twinkle" !! ♫☺♥☻♪♪
Re: “Brad Baker, Longtime Sound Guy at The End, Passes Away”
Porque & I go "wayback", to the late 1970's, all around the Chicago area clubs,(both of us, "Sound Guys") and ran into him many times, when he was touring with REO, Loverboy, Beach Boys, Chicago, and too many more to mention here !
My fondest memories, were the 8 days I spent with him at "Itchycoo Park '99", where my good friend, Rich Wright & I,(along with Porque, who is the original "ROCK RANGER" ,, Rich & I, are also members, of the ever exclusive,,, techs only, ROCK RANGERS) were Porque's VIP guests, and we camped backstage, among all the tour buses, for the duration of the whole event !
The best times there, were after all the music was over, and we all partied, wherever we wanted to,, on the "Big Stage", (Woodstock '99' Rig), and the whole surrounding area !
I visited him at "The End" in March 2002, where we shared some whiskey, heard stories of how he handled all the local bands, after closing,, we went downtown, drinking, where he & I closed down the bars along the strip ! I remember that night well !
Last time I saw him, He came to Chicago, 2004 and visited us, where he treated us to pizza, downtown, at Uno's, and then we went out west, stopped by my house, and then out to see a band , around his old stomping grounds, in St. Charles, Illinois !
I am saddened about the news I receved from Rich last night !
Just this past Friday I came across my Itchycoo VIP laminate, and thought about him, and was meaning to call Rich, for an update on Porque's health issues, and little did I know ,,,
As Porque would say,, ROCK RANGERS RULE,,,
and he is now, among the elite, of all "ROCK RANGERS"
Re: “Brad Baker, local legend and the best sound guy in Music City, dies at 58”
Well put Jesse !
I have many fond memories, of the "soft" side of "Porque" !
Having known him, since the late 1970's, when he was running sound for local Chicago club band, "RISK", (Porque would play harmonica, and sing background vocals, from the board, back then),, fast forward, 35 years, the man made thousands of lifelong friends, touring with many bands, around the world, where he picked up so many more, of his technical music talents .
He had a big heart, a soft side, & quick wit, that many knew him for, and most definitely, will be remembered for those great attributes ! ♫ ♥ ♪♪