Years ago...before I moved to Spokane, and before I moved to Denver, I lived in Los Angeles. Redondo Beach, to be specific. I had an album out, and it was going nowhere pretty fast. I played shows anywhere and any time I could. One of the venues that would have me was this curious strip mall coffee house called It's A Grind (they're still out there selling franchises and opening and closing stores like crazy). I got a regular weekday night gig there, playing 2 sets of original songs and trying to sell CD's.
The opening act at each one of these shows was a band of teenagers called Pistol Pistol. Their drummer would later become my stepson, and their frontman and guitarist was a kid named Ash Riser. They were each about 15 years old. The band was good, but it was clear that they lacked real focus...and that Ash's talent far outshined the other two guys. Shortly after they split up, I became the drummers stepfather, and Ash became a strange part of my life.
My stepson had a drug problem (thankfully, hopefully, past tense). And not a minor one. He was in and out of rehab for years to come, and he left a trail of pretty big damage in his wake. His drug partner of choice was Ash. But Ash was different...while my stepson had lost most interest in music, Ash poured himself into it completely. He moved away from rock, and instead began making electronic music, sometimes using the name Ashtrobot. He learned to produce, and he kept at it, even though he was barely functioning otherwise. He ended up with an ability to fuse more genres of music together than anyone else I've known about, and he started putting together a real career. He signed a record deal, and found himself collaborating with some top notch talent...including being featured on four albums by Kendrick Lamar (the last being To Pimp A Butterfly).
He self released his debut solo album, Ghosts (which is here on BEA) in 2017. He has a second album finished, but with no announced release date, called H.O.P.E.
Ash Riser passed away on June 12, 2021. The reason has not been announced. I don't know if I want to know. I have, unfortunately, had zero contact with my stepson since 2015...and I know that this must be absolutely killing him. Ash was his best friend, and I know how fragile his life has been over the years. I wish I could do something...but I'm afraid to even try to contact him. I'm going to try at some point...I just don't know how.
And I remember Ash Riser as this messed up screwed up super talented awesome kid who only wanted everything I ever wanted when I was young...to be a musician, and to be allowed to be creative. I knew Ash. Not deeply, and not well...but he has been a part of my life...I've been proud of him, and now...I'm just sad for him.
He was 31.
_________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
Incredibly touching words, Romanelli. Sorry to hear of this. I had no idea 1. who he was nor 2. that he contributed to one of the most singular pieces of music in modern times. _________________ -Ryan
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