My first band was with Jack’s younger brother, Matt. To say Jack had a massive influence on us would be an understatement. He made us listen to the right things and was quick to let us know when what we were listening to, playing, etc. was bullshit. Outspoken and unwavering in his conviction about everything. Even the little things. Sometimes I disagreed with him completely, but always had the greatest respect for his thoughts and ideas. Once he had formed his opinion, that was it. No nonsense, no indecision and never afraid to let the world know. As a kid, I was a little intimidated by him, but as I got to know him better over the years, I came to know that the reason he was so intense and vocal about anything and everything was that he truly gave a damn.
I remember one incarnation of our many high school super groups (“The Clover Cleveland Fantasy Orchestra” maybe?) was playing at a night pool party in an affluent suburb of our hometown. The parents were away and kids had taken over a mini-mansion. Jack happened to have come there with us—he was older and had moved away, but was back visiting that night. At one point between songs, Jack commandeered my guitar, tweaked my amp and proceeded to annihilate. Whatever had been happening before, the band was now following Jack and the before-disinterested crowd could no longer ignore the band, whether they liked it or not. From my amp came wave after wave of sonic fury that Jack ruled over and did so effortlessly. Whatever the rest of the band was doing was completely irrelevant, though I’m sure they were trying to back him as best they could. I’d heard him play before and before I’d met him I had heard of him as his reputation of “local guitar prodigy/god” preceeded him, but this moment sticks out to me when I was particularly moved by him. For years I’d always try to get my guitar to sound like that again, but it never did.
The more I think about the direct and indirect influence on my formative music development as both a listener and a player, the more I realize how profound it was. He and his brother introduced me to so many bands I would’ve otherwise never have found. R.I.P Jack. You will always be missed.
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Jack Rose - Now That I’m a Man Full Grown II via Arthur
Jack Rose Peel Session - download here for posterity via Big Fat Satanist. (I moved it here, because their download was a Mediafire and may expire eventually.)
R.I.P. Jack Rose 1971–2009, Smartass, Inspiration, and Someone I’m Glad I Knew
My first band was with Jack’s younger brother, Matt. To say Jack had a massive influence on us would be an understatement. He made us listen to the right things and was quick to let us know when what we were listening to, playing, etc. was bullshit. Outspoken and unwavering in his conviction about everything. Even the little things. Sometimes I disagreed with him completely, but always had the greatest respect for his thoughts and ideas. Once he had formed his opinion, that was it. No nonsense, no indecision and never afraid to let the world know. As a kid, I was a little intimidated by him, but as I got to know him better over the years, I came to know that the reason he was so intense and vocal about anything and everything was that he truly gave a damn.
I remember one incarnation of our many high school super groups (“The Clover Cleveland Fantasy Orchestra” maybe?) was playing at a night pool party in an affluent suburb of our hometown. The parents were away and kids had taken over a mini-mansion. Jack happened to have come there with us—he was older and had moved away, but was back visiting that night. At one point between songs, Jack commandeered my guitar, tweaked my amp and proceeded to annihilate. Whatever had been happening before, the band was now following Jack and the before-disinterested crowd could no longer ignore the band, whether they liked it or not. From my amp came wave after wave of sonic fury that Jack ruled over and did so effortlessly. Whatever the rest of the band was doing was completely irrelevant, though I’m sure they were trying to back him as best they could. I’d heard him play before and before I’d met him I had heard of him as his reputation of “local guitar prodigy/god” preceeded him, but this moment sticks out to me when I was particularly moved by him. For years I’d always try to get my guitar to sound like that again, but it never did.
The more I think about the direct and indirect influence on my formative music development as both a listener and a player, the more I realize how profound it was. He and his brother introduced me to so many bands I would’ve otherwise never have found. R.I.P Jack. You will always be missed.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Jack Rose - Now That I’m a Man Full Grown II via Arthur
Jack Rose Peel Session - download here for posterity via Big Fat Satanist. (I moved it here, because their download was a Mediafire and may expire eventually.)