Lost a pal 20 years ago. He was an opinionated bastard, yet a patient guiding force when I was new to all this. An opera singer and smoker. No cares about the big house falling down around him as long as he had the music. Big room, tall ceilings. Casement windows flung open. Gear everywhere. Full of superlatives, and always trying new kit. Listened to all types of music but opera and small ensemble classical was where he was most at home. Taken too early. Should’ve quit the smokes. Forever pottering around tweaking with astonishing results, he taught me that a healthy skepticism was necessary in order to stay solvent.
