Mr. Butch is dead, Memorial - Sun, July 22, Harvard & Comm Ave: 7:00pm Options

[jug fucler]

I understand your point here, and agree with it in theory, but my gripe is that these threads have been all about reminiscing, trading tales of Mr. Butchosity, and mourning a huge loss. Of course there is room for questioning the circumstances, and speculating what might have been done to prevent it. However, I think it may be a bit too soon for that, or perhaps it just needs its own thread. Not trying to be a dick, either-- I just know if I died (and anyone noticed), I'd like all the good stuff in one (or two) threads, and that folks would wait until I was buried before wondering whether I intentionally swallowed a lit string of firecrackers.

The stuff I posted last night wasn't meant to be denigrating in any way- and I had nothing but positive interactions with Mr. Butch over the years in Kenmore and Allston and I don't want this to turn into the thread from a year and a half or so ago when the Globe had that story about him in the City section that set off a # of pages about his situation
That having been said- I think borders on irresponsible to not pose a "what if ?" or question the circumstances that led to his death-
I could go on and try to further explain- but I don't feel like furthering the argument here- so, I'll stop and reiterate that I wasn't posting any of this to be an asshole

[tenebr8]

Jug-- I definitely understand where you're coming from, and I have questions myself that I want to have clarified-- perhaps it is simply the case that I am not ready to go there.

Terry-- Sorry if I made things sound more nefarious than they were.

To all-- the last thing I intended was to start any kind of argument on this thread. My apologies if anything I posted was construed that way.

[whiteloj]

terry's right -- if memory serves, butch played hubcaps in the earliest version of the del fuegos (before ork boy graduated high school). i remember that day he found all the cash, too ... it freaked him out & he just wasn't happy again until he'd given it all away. he used to call me 'hot legs' & always made me smile.

[The Lurker]

I got to know Mr. Butch the same way as many of you...ie as an allston panhandler. I'd throw him some change and not really think much more of it. When I self-destructed and ended up homeless in allston through my own mental and addiction problems, Mr. Butch made the experience a lot more bearable. Homeboy bought be a beer or smoked a joint with me on many many occasions. I will make a definite effort to get down there for the memorial if I haven't missed it yet. I salute you brother.

[The Lurker]

I got to know Mr. Butch the same way as many of you...ie as an allston panhandler. I'd throw him some change and not really think much more of it. When I self-destructed and ended up homeless in allston through my own mental and addiction problems, Mr. Butch made the experience a lot more bearable. Homeboy bought be a beer or smoked a joint with me on many many occasions. I will make a definite effort to get down there for the memorial if I haven't missed it yet. I salute you brother.

Oh yeah...I forgot my favorite Mr. Butch saying...(when offered a cigarette) "I smoke to get high, not to die!")

[RockZilla]

I seem to recall Butch also briefly had a band called "The Niggers From Mars". I think they played 1 or 2 shows at The Rat circa 1987/88.

[Texas Tea]

When I read this thread and saw that he was taken to my hospital, I looked him up (big HIPAA violation) and saw that he was 'deceased'. I wanted so badly to post as to confirm it for everyone, but thought of all of the ways I could get fired (ie. if IT is tracking my every move on the computer). Not more then a couple of minutes later, Lady E pronounced it definitively, otherwise I would have continued to feel so so guilty. I near the morgue and couldn't believe that he was right there. I would have surely liked to have visited him if he had survived, considering how many times he made me smile and called me 'pretty lady'.

While reading about all of these potential tributes, I thought of what I could offer and I'm not in a band, but am an amateur gardener and would like to plant somethings in memoriam in front of the Allston firehouse. If anyone is interested in helping, they should PM me.

[Groovybaby]

Wether anyone remembers the first time they met him or the last time they ran away from him,
he will not be forgotten.

His entire life was a form of art.

[Art Bishop]

Some Butch memories.
Didn't know him as well as some posters here, but he was always been popping up in my life for the last 25 years or so, starting at I think a Dark gig at the rat in the summer of 1981.

Mr Butch and the Holy Men opened for Flipper, Reagan Youth and Crucifux at the Channel in '83 or '84. That line up had Odin on guitar and Buddha on drums. The highlight as I remember it was a tune called "hard assed man" the break of which went something like this:
"And she said oh Mr Butch I want you so bad,
please give it to me,
and I said NUP
Cause Im a hard assed man"
Lots of confused hard core kids that day.....

Folks will remember Mr Butches occasional contention that he was God. He once showed me a report from some kind of stage agency shrink which detailed this. Butch appeared to have had an excellent time fucking with this guy and was showing it to everyone in Kenmore Sq.. Come to think of it, maybe Butch was right, this would clear up a number of theological questions, but I digress.

Good Bye and thanks Mr Butch, Boston will be that much more gentrified without you.

[Dakota]

Mr. Butch was an icon of the "human" face of Boston. A city isn't about architecture, it's about the moments we experience going here to there about our daily business, and the happenstance encounters that remind us that all of our stories cross and weave together. Mr. Butch was woven through the tapestry of lives of thousands, tens of thousands, with colorful kind words, a laugh, a joke, oddly cutting insights, warmly unpredictable actions.

If a life is measured by how much happiness is brought to others, what a success we see. Every encounter I had with him made me smile and feel glad to be alive. Multiply that by the uncountable number of people he interacted with. He chose a life of freedom and kindness and joy, and lived true to that.

Philosopher Street King, Mr. Butch, farewell. Love and a smile.

[plcmat]

I never really knew him but I remember years of seeing him in Kenmore Square without even knowing his name, just thinking of him as "that reggae guy". I used to think it was really cool that the Store 24 let him keep his guitar behind the counter for safekeeping. I wish I had taken the time to chat with him once in awhile but I was new to the big city and probably a little intimidated.

[RockZilla]

When I first moved to Boston (ca. 1985), I worked for a company called Discount Furniture. They hired a lot of local musicians & misfits. They even hired Mr. Butch as a delivery guy; he lasted about a week. The best part was that Butch wouldn't actually show up for work in the morning; whoever was paired up with him would load the truck and drive down to Kenmore and park near The Rat. Then they'd get out and wander around yelling "Mr. Butch! Mr. Butch" and he'd eventually appear and off they'd go.

[automaton2]

howdy

i was with butchs friends yesterday who are handling the funeral setup


when everything is firmed up

ill post

as far as was known yesterday

sunday 22nd
proccesion late day

funeral at icc church 8pm you could also call them
http://www.massconcerts.com/venues/interna...unitychurch.htm

[Martine]

Wow. I remember Mr. Butch from the 80's. He definitely was a character. Anyone ever have a Mr. Butch t-shirt? I'm kind of surprised he lasted so long. What was he doing with a Vespa scooter? Did he buy it himself or was it given to him?

[Castaway Carm]

Wow. I remember Mr. Butch from the 80's. He definitely was a character. Anyone ever have a Mr. Butch t-shirt? I'm kind of surprised he lasted so long. What was he doing with a Vespa scooter? Did he buy it himself or was it given to him?

I GAVE IT TO HIM BECAUSE... WELL... JUST BECAUSE!!!! IT WAS RED!!!