Friday, December 5, 2008
Cream Scorched: Perry Baggs Pink-Slipped by the Tennessean
Posted by Steve Haruch on Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 9:37 AM
It makes me sad to even type this, so I'm just going to paste in an email I received from a loyal reader/blog contributor who sometimes goes by the handle fluffernutter:
You probly already knew this, but among the casualties of the Tennessean's bloodbath was Perry Baggs, a librarian and sometime member of Jason and the Scorchers. He's got horrendous, barely controlled brittle diabetes and is not always well. I can't even imagine what it will cost for him to get insurance on the private market -- he already has to hold occasional fundraisers to pay his bills. The Scorchers don't take him on the road much. As he says, "They think I'm already dead."
Ouch. If you see Perry, tell him you're glad he's not dead. Or something nice, at least. Offer him a job if you can. These are tough times and it seems they'll be getting tougher before they get less tough. So let's take care of each other, or at least people with the same taste in bands and clothes.
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A Pay Pal account has been set up for Perry's medical expenses. It is linked to an e-mail address: perrybaggs@yahoo.com
Nashville Scene Blogsite,
This is Jason Ringenberg, frontman for Jason and the Scorchers, replying to a blog about the Scorchers drummer Perry Baggs getting laid off at the Tennessean. The blog was by Steve Haruch, who in turn was quoting another comment by someone named "Flutternutter."
It is terrible news that Perry got laid off, and we all feel for him. Perry is one tough and brave soul, but the complications of dialysis and diabetes will make the always difficult process of job hunting even harder. Plus there are the insurance questions. It’s not a good thing, but if I know Perry, he will bounce back from it.
My reason for this blog reply is that I take very serious offense to Mr. Haruch and Flutternutter's insinuations that somehow Jason and the Scorchers (which at this point consists of myself and Warner Hodges) have treated Perry poorly. It is stated that we don't take him on tour with us, and that we think he is "already dead". For starters, Perry left the band in 2002 to "pursue my dreams of a solo career." That, and also because Perry's dialysis treatments and diabetes problems would make it impossible for him to tour anyway, is why he doesn't tour with us. In fact, when Perry quit the band in 2002, I considered it the end of band for all practical purposes, that he is in fact irreplaceable. I still feel that might be the case, although we do occasional shows using other drummers, and may record again someday. If we do, chances are Perry would be involved in some way, if his health permits and if he has the desire.
As for the other insinuations and quotes regarding our treatment of Perry, the record speaks for itself. The only recording we did the last 6 years was a benefit cd for a child with an incurable illness, and we invited Perry to sing harmony on it, which he did. We did a major benefit concert event for Perry in 2007 which was an enormous effort of work and commitment by Warner, myself, and our manager Deb Hodges. (Deb was fighting cancer herself at the time, and still worked her tail off on that show, to the point that she ended up in the hospital herself). We have helped promote the new donation fund for Perry on our websites and mailing lists. Anyone who saw my last tour of Europe will tell you that at single every show I told the audience about Perry's health problems, and how to donate to the fund. I talked about his enormous talent and heart, and then sang one of Perry's songs.
Closing this, I can say in perfect conscience that we deeply care about Perry, and have done what we can for him. If anyone thinks differently, I respectfully disagree.
Jason Ringenberg
Frontman for Jason and the Scorchers
I wanting to know how to contact Perry. I met his sister Grace during high school (Pearl High School). I have lost touch. I was around when Perry ( a teenager) was practicing with fellow band members upstairs in a house on Murphy Ave.
RSVP
Lynn
lynn4education@bellsouth.net
If anyone can help me get in touch with perry it will be greatly apprieciated. It was around eighteen years ago when we dated in nashville.We hung out at the exit-in with my cousin sheri wood.I went back to cookeville to stay.Sorry hes so sick i would really like to get back in touch with him
thank you,
Teresa Manhart Smith
i dont know why my comments never post and no one helps me find perry.i Dont have his flippin kid.i just want to get in touch with perry we dated around 18 years ago in nashville sheri wood,my cousin,went out with us to exit inn and out sometimes.jason do us all three a favor an let perry know or whoever screens this let it post perry would love to her from me.
Perry's email address is in one of the comments above. He checks it occasionally, when he has access to a computer. That's all the contact info I have.
Can I get an update on Perry please? JATS IS a great r & r band. Their music got me thru some tough times. Thanx!
Perry seem to be doing well sometimes. I get to see him about 2 times a week. He is still struggling with 3 days a week on dialisis and his diabetes. Just keep him in your prayes. God bless!
I am so sorry to hear about Perry's ill health. I have many wonderful memories of spending time with him and seeing JATS during the mid 80's in Philadelphia and other northeast venues. I wish him the best
I think Perry Baggs is one of the GREATEST drummers of all time; I have been singing Somewhere Within to myself for days, which prompted me to try to find out something about him. I still have some drumsticks that he totally mangled back in the day. Love Perry. He made the Scorchers HOT
Perry Baggs is one of the greatest drummers of all time. I have been singing Somewhere Within to myself for days, and it prompted me to try to find out more about him. I still have a pair of sticks the he absolutely mangled to shreds back in the day! LOVE PERRY! He made the Scorchers HOT
I just want to tell Perry me(Carla Tubbs & my sister Tammy Tubbs miss him very much we grew up with him in West Nashville when we would vist our granmother on WestLawn Dr he would come down & hang with us or sometime or would go to his house to the basement and watch him practice on the drums with his friends he was very good I always hoped he would make it big someday an he has Perry you will be always in our hearts I'm always looking in the paper about you or Jason & The Scorchers to see whats going on with you & the band its great to hear that you are feeling better & getting ready to have surgy soon .
WE LOVE YOU PERRY !
Please keep in touch email me at carla.young@ingramentertainment.com
xoxo
Carla & Tammy Tubbs
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