Here's a quote from the liner notes in the "Lightbulb Sun" lp....
"This special edition double vinyl lp is dedicated to the memory of our friend Michael Piper, who passed away in April 2008. In fact, it was meant to be the latest in a line of beautifully packaged Pocupine Tree related vinyl releases he lovingly curated for his own Gates Of Dawn label. The test pressings had been approved, and the artwork completed, but Michael entered hospital before he could place the final manufacturing order, and never came out again.
If you ever bought a PT vinyl at a show or via mail order, there is a good chance it was from Michael. If you did you would have found it was less a business transaction, and more like a reminiscence with a dear friend about music, because music was what Michael's life was all about. A lifetime of passion for music culminated in his dedication to Porcupine Tree. He was instrumental in assisting the band on it's first US tour, selling merch, and getting the word out to anyone who would listen. He would undertake tasks amnd errands that no one else would do, from trying to find a local music store to get a set of guitar strings at the last minute, to picking up a spare amp, or even getting the band lunch when everyone else was too busy. Nothing made him happier than standing at the merch stand and talking to fans, whether they bought something from him or not. And he made every PT show that he could, driving ridiculously long hours in his Subaru, or taking the most excruciatingly inconvenient and multiple-connection flights, anything to see and hang out with the band. For us, there was something always reassuring about knowing Michael was at a particular show, no matter what else may have gone wrong, his consistency and unwavering dedication always mattered to us.
Michael spent the last hours of his life in the hospital listening to music. Even though he couldn't speak and was otherwise unresponsive, those that say that when they put PT music for him, he seemed at peace, and was more responsive than he had been in weeks. That is humbling to us, but we know that Michael would have wanted to be listening to music to the very end, because that is what his whole life was about"
END OF QUOTE.
