Thank you for making this documentary. I played in a band with John for the last couple years of his life. through treatments, through remission, through relapse, and I can testify that John wasn't just a guy who found out he was going to die, then got motivated to make a record. He wasn't a make-a-wish kid who got to live his dream before withering away, as a sympathetic gesture from some famous record producer. He'd been battling cancer for a while when I met him, but from the day I met him, until the very end, long before any terminal prognosis, I knew him as a dude who clearly would let nothing stop him. 24/7, if he had an idea, he would be on the phone with the band like "Hey, I had this crazy idea" and you'd think it was going to be about a song or some sort of album concept, but then it was just some crazy shit that had nothing to do with the band at all. One time it was about grub farming, he had a whole plan to farm grubs, like for food. He told me it was like shrimp, but without an ocean. And swore that I wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. Kinda crazy, right? That's just the kind of guy he was. This documentary does a spectacular job of sharing the real John Grabski III. Cancer may have been the catalyst that prompted him to reach out to Steve Albini, but it wasn't his motivation. He was always ready to play hard. I have no doubt that John would have made an amazing album whether he was sick or not. Whenever we talked, John had this way personifying cancer. Cancer wasn't a disease, it was little more than a stowaway who'd snuck onto the wrong freight train. It might have been his way of coping, or he was preparing us, maybe both. But that's how I've always thought about it. Just a total dick of a stowaway on the wrong fucking freight train. And yeah, the tracks may have come to an end, but that train never slowed down.
When my best friend and front man was dying of cancer, Steve and the crew at electrical audio, gave him a copy of this record. they all signed it and left him a bunch of lovely messages on it. im just watching this for first time on his would be birthday, 6 years after his death. thank you for this story and fuck cancer.
Of course, so hard to watch today thinking of "Steve".... However, maybe in some strange way, this project had to happen for him 1st time, then attempt 2nd time for his way "Forward".... I say forward like on the Studer 24 track, On to the next "Edit" (With razor blade of course) no mouse .... Or next chorus or next song> for Mr. Albini . I Never met Steve, never had the "Honor" to work with Steve but so much utmost respect for his intellect, conviction and dedication to the "Artists" that walked through his doors. I learned early on, when you are "Behind the glass" and they are paying for the "Space" and your time, you can make "Suggestions" but they are the CEO of "Their project". The big "C" has taken many friends recently but not as young as John Grabski III. So many prayers for him and Steve's family at this time.. So he had a Grandfather and Father with the same namesake. and carried it with courage and proudly... He went way, way too early but grabbed all of it. My friends one younger than I, for "X Japan bassist " Heath, (Who Gene Simmons said" if X Japan sang in English they would be the greatest band on the planet).... and drummer for legendary Japanese band "Bow Wow" who took the UK by storm in the 80's "Toshihiro Niimi" and he was so good that "Neil Murray" of Whitesnake joined them. Toshiro was a bit older than I but not by much. Also, probably the most legendary drummer from Japan and early friend: Munitaka Higuchi "Loudness" whom I met in L.A. at Sound City studios before being staff there in 1986.... Signed to Atlantic Records NYC.... Only band ever from japan to actually get signed to a US label without being "Supported by, paid by the JAPAN label". All too soon, and Steve's poignant but inspirational words at the end of this... Again, shows his intellect and connection. RIP John Grabski III and now Mr. Steve Albini. So Glad you created for us here and I am sure, still creating! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Wow_(band) www.discogs.com/release/3870552-Munetaka-Higuchi-With-Dream-Castle-Free-World ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OLCDxivHmLs.html (Heath X Japan solo MSG NYC 2014) www.discogs.com/artist/643766-Allen-Isaacs
Very poignant, of course, that Steve relates John's example to his own future death towards the end of this video, now that Steve is gone too, and maybe, though it was different circumstances, fulfilled the hopes he expresses here. These two people, among others as wise too, guiding us towards always keeping in mind that life is within life and the moments of witness of and presence with each other that it offers, even just to your 'smallest' circle, which, of course, is the whole universe.
