My brother died Sunday from suicide; he took comfort in PJ's music in his last days. Thank you.

Sunday night, while in a hotel room in Chicago, between the two Wrigley shows (Monday was set to be my 100th show), my phone rings. My brother was found dead Sunday afternoon. I immediately got online and booked an early Monday flight to Dallas (where I live) and then once I landed I grabbed my things and drove to Memphis (where my family is). After I arrived, I was talking to my mom and she said, "your brother told me, "this isn't gonna happen, but if I die, there's a Pearl Jam song Long Road and I want it played at my funeral."" I was floored.

The next day she asked me if I would find an additional song to play at the funeral. I chose Given to Fly. Once I settled on that, I played it for her and when it hit the chorus she started crying and told me that after my brothers last overdose (sadly, just a week prior to his death - he was on a wait list for a rehab facility), he played GTF for her and told her that while he was in the hospital he played in bed and listened to that song for three or four hours straight through. Once she read the words, she said it made total sense, "a bad time nothing could save him...."

This Saturday, we are not having a sad funeral, but a celebration of a life cut short at 28, of a kid that absent the heroin, was a goddamn good kid. A kid that loved me and that I loved. A kid that shared my love for music. Long Road and Given To Fly will be the soundtrack for that celebration.

Thank you, Pearl Jam, for creating art that he took comfort in during his last days.
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Comments

  • camsjamcamsjam Posts: 375
    Those are two beautiful songs to honor your brother. Given To Fly is a song I love and it has helped me though some sad times. It sounds like your Mom is an aware and understanding lady. I wish you both health and healing. Take care of each other.
  • 23scidoo23scidoo Thessaloniki,Greece Posts: 18,415
    Thanks for sharing this..be strong you and your mother..
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  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,368
    Thinking of you & your family...
    Words aren't enough, but feel free to reach out to me if you need an ear. Stay strong.

    Matt
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
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  • Sorry for your loss.


    Michael
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
  • pljampljam Posts: 387
    I am a parent mate and my son who is 26 has come through a drug issue he has battled for fourteen months
    As a dad PJ's music was honestly an artery to me through the heartache ,stress ,pain and love
    It is devastating having a loved one fall victim to a dependacy
    I hope you get some peace of heart through PJ's music and through song supply a connection with your brother
    Good luck moving forward to you and your family
    Both LONG ROAD and GIVEN are beautiful powerful songs
    Thanks for sharing a very personal story,I think that's brave
    Take care
  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 14,664
    this is so sad to read. sorry man, there are no words really other than that.:(
  • cp3iversoncp3iverson Posts: 8,632
    Awful. Very sorry
  • deadendpdeadendp Northeast Ohio Posts: 10,434
    I am so very sorry for your loss.
    2014: Cincinnati
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  • Wma31394Wma31394 Posts: 3,045
    Oh man..so sorry for your loss.
    "Going where the water tastes like wine!"
  • wwsuicidewwsuicide Posts: 1,299
    Prayers to you and your family. Heart breaking.
  • Thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Suicide is a tough thing for any of us to understand. One of my young staff (32 y/o) killed himself about a month ago. I knew him for about 4 years and am still struggling about what I must have missed. Wishing you peace throughout these next few days.
    I'm through with screaming
  • pjpitt89pjpitt89 Posts: 1,817
    Very sorry for your loss
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  • chiwhitesoxchiwhitesox Chicago Posts: 696
    sorry for your loss
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  • shetellsherselfshetellsherself New Jersey Posts: 8,765
    So sorry. Peace to your brother and to you and your family.
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  • mpedonempedone 540xxx - Manchester, NH Posts: 1,777
    Sorry to hear this. Thoughts go out to you and your family.
    "I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands the [shows I've done]. Some folks just have one, others they got none..."

    Hartford 10.02.96 | Mansfield 2 09.16.98 | Mansfield 1 08.29.00 | Mansfield 1 07.02.03 | Mansfield 3 07.11.03 | Boston 2 05.25.06 | Tampa 04.11.16 | Fenway 1 08.05.16 | Fenway 2 08.07.16 | Fenway 1 09.02.18 | Fenway 2 09.04.18 | Baltimore 03.28.20 | Hamilton 09.06.22 | Toronto 09.08.22 | Nashville 09.16.22 | St Louis 09.18.22

    "He made the deal with the devil, we get to play with him.
    He goes to hell, of course. We're going to heaven."
  • SaravaSarava Naperville, IL Posts: 1,993
    I'm sorry for your family's loss :(
  • SD48277SD48277 Woodstock, NY Posts: 12,242
    Heartbreaking. I am so sorry for your loss.
    ELITIST FUK
  • vant0037vant0037 Posts: 6,061
    God bless you and your family. Im very sorry for your loss.
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  • nicknyr15nicknyr15 Posts: 7,640
    Awful stuff.... So sorry for your loss.
  • hsohihsohi Posts: 1,033
    Amen
    London Ontario 2013, Buffalo New York 2013, Lincoln Nebraska 2014, Quebec City 2016
  • PP193448PP193448 Here Posts: 4,281
    Sorry to read this. Celebrate the good times you had growing up with him. Rest in peace!!
    2006 Clev,Pitt; 2008 NY MSGx2; 2010 Columbus; 2012 Missoula; 2013 Phoenix,Vancouver,Seattle; 2014 Cincy; 2016 Lex, Wrigley 1&2; 2018 Wrigley 1&2; 2022 Louisville
  • dottlesdottles Posts: 9,136
    I'm sorry for your loss
    2009 - Manchester. 2010 - Dublin, Belfast, London, Berlin, Arras, Werchter. 2011 - PJ20 i & ii, Montreal, Toronto i & ii, Ottawa, Hamilton. 
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  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,937
    So sorry to read this...best thoughts to you and your family
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

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  • ikiTikiT USA Posts: 11,007
    23scidoo said:

    Thanks for sharing this..be strong you and your mother..

    Bristow 05132010 to Amsterdam 2 06132018
  • SEACIDESEACIDE Posts: 410
    Speechless and sorrowed ... my 20 y.o. son battles his own demons as do we all ... my prayers and thought for you and yours ... Godspeed my brother and may you find peace :(
    Love is all you need.....
  • DavidDDavidD Posts: 2,436
    edited August 2016
    So sorry for your loss man.
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,090
    My heart goes out to you and your family OP.

    http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

    www.cluthelee.com
  • kateikatei DC Metro Posts: 76
    I wish I could say something that would be helpful, but this is just so hard. I am so terribly sorry for your loss, the loss to your family and the pain. Thinking of you all.
  • I am so sorry for your loss. Know that my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Also, know that the love you have for your brother will always be with you. God bless you.
    "A beacon on dry land"
  • hedonisthedonist standing on the edge of forever Posts: 24,524
    I'm so sorry. May you find bits of comfort in music and the love that surrounds you.
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