RIP: Michael Houser
"May we live long and lucky..." - Widespread Panic, Old Joe
Mikey Houser, guitar player for Widespread Panic died yesterday after his fight with brain cancer. I got the sad news from WranglerSpace.org.
Here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to fans last month. Read it all at: Mikey's Message.
As some of you know, I have contracted a terminal form of cancer. I want to assure all of you that all that can be done has been done, and I want to thank all of you who have contributed information, medicine, and so on. As for me, I am at my home in Athens, GA, surrounded by my family, and being well taken care of. In the words of Lou Gehrig, "Though some of you may have thought I have caught a bad break, I feel like the luckiest man in the world."
Between my best friends, J.B., Todd, Sunny, Dave and JoJo, and you, our friends, and best support group in the world, I feel strong and well taken care of. I have hopes of playing again soon, although I can't say for sure when or where, and I hope to see you all there.
With much thanks and love,
Mikey
Editor's Note: 12 years ago this fall, John Wilkins took me to my first WIDESPREAD PANIC show at the Center Stage in Atlanta. Blues Traveler opened. Since then I have seen WSP over 50 times, in 10 plus states. Recently, WSP had jumped to the top of the list of my favorite bands to see LIVE. Indeed after the three kick ass shows at the BEACON THEATRE in NYC last Summer, I turned to Señor and said, "Yeah these guys are the best LIVE show around..."
Señor and I decided to drive to Asbury Park, NJ to go see them last November. And we got a taste of SOUTHERN FRIED PANIC, becuase alot more people from the SOUTH traveled to that show, and they were hootin & hollerin and get all kinds of shitty and drunk and rowdy, and we loved that! Especially when the girl sitting next to me heard the distinct drawls of the group in front of us and she yelled, "Are y'all from the South?" That made me giggle.
Man, it's sad to say that the SOUND of his guitar that Mikey brought each night will be missed.
One show that sticks out was a show from 2000, when Señor and I went to Atlantic City to see the boys. The show was in the TAJ MAHAL! That's Trump's Casino! I didn't know he dug WSP. It was one of the coolest things I ever did. I was playing BLACKJACK at one of the tables and then Señor said, "Yo, the show's starting!" We walked 20 yards into the hallway of the TAJ, and the entrance to the auditorium was right there in the hallway. The lights dimmed and the show started as soon as we walked in! It was trippy cool and perfect timing. The next 3 hours, Panic kicked my ass and the entire audience was reeling that night, especially after the rippin version of PUSHERMAN > Climb to Safety. That still gives me chills. At setbreak, we walked right back to the floor of the casino and I played Blackjack for 20 minutes before returning to hear another set of Panic.
Thanks to John Wilkins for turning WSP onto me, and thanks to Señor who kept my interest in them burning strong. And Mikey, you will be missed. See you on the other side.
For an interesting review of the last few WSP shows (without Mikey) check out: WSP: MAY WE LIVE LONG AND LUCKY, 07.26-28
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