Post by Hoonaholic on Sept 26, 2005 19:47:46 GMT -5
Family, friends, fans celebrate life of Blind Melon frontman
By Craig Davison
Features Editor
The back of the cemetery in Dayton, Ind., was glowing Saturday night with tiki torches and candles casting light onto a celebration in a typically somber venue.
More than 400 came to celebrate the life and music of Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon, who died 10 years ago from an accidental drug overdose. Blind Melon is most remembered for the song "No Rain" from their multi-platinum 1992 debut album.
A tent was centered around the grave where family members took their place near their lost loved one. Visitors could speak with them, talk about favorite memories or just sit contemplatively and quietly near their music idol.
The grave was covered with candles, flowers, photos and other mementos from Shannon's life as well as artifacts brought by visitors. Scattered amongst the nearby tombstones sat groups of visitors, some playing Blind Melon songs on acoustic guitars.
The event was an international affair; some visitors came from as far as New Zealand. Melonheads who had attended previous vigils ran into old friends and talked to Nel Hoon, Shannon's mother, and other family members they had befriended over the vigils.
For some of the family members, the peaceful and joyous atmosphere mutes the personal pain and loss of Shannon's death in the celebration of his life.
"This is my happy time," said Nel.
Shannon's sister, Anna Hirst, said the vigils had gotten easier for her as well, and that with time she could see it as a celebration.
"The first couple about killed me," said Hirst, recalling the first vigil, where about 15 to 20 people came in a downpour to stand in the mud next to Shannon's grave, which was covered with plywood. "Coming back is the hardest thing. If you stay away, it's like it's not real."
Also among the family was Shannon's grandmother, Vernie Lond, 88, who sat in a plush chair from Nel's home and wore the necklace Shannon wore on the cover of Rolling Stone. The necklace rotates between family members each year as to who gets to wear it.
Sitting to the right of Vernie were three people in matching black T-shirts, more somber than the rest of the crowd. They came because of someone who couldn't.
Ryan Williams had been a fan of Blind Melon from the age of 13, and this year, his parents decided that at age 17 he was old enough to attend the vigil himself. He had decorated his room with Blind Melon gear. One drawing is of a wolf howling at a full moon, with a poem � "God's Presents," which was Shannon's favorite � written in the moon. On his 18th birthday, Williams wanted to get tatoos just like the ones Shannon had.
Williams died in a car accident on July 5. In his wallet were his license, his insurance card and the poem. When Nel heard of Williams' death, she called Deaver and talked for more than an hour.
"I know in my heart Ryan's here," said Deaver, who woke up at 2 a.m. Saturday morning to drive to Dayton from Tennessee with Williams' best friend and cousin.
Deaver listened to Blind Melon on the way. She had never listened to the CDs before, but they're all she has listened to in the past month.
"I guess you could say he made me a Shannon Hoon fan too," she said.
Deaver said she would be back for other vigils.
Many other visitors felt the same way after experiencing their first vigil. Gus Small, a junior in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, had intended to go for years but finally did so this Saturday.
"There's no reason we should have missed (the vigil before)," said Small. Standing under the tent next to Katie Alsie, a junior at Indiana University, he said the event was surreal.
Alsie said, "I don't think I can ever miss one again."
The events continued into Sunday, with Vigilstock 3 at Riehle Brothers in Lafayette. Nine bands performed sets at the all-ages show, the proceeds of which went to the fund to cover expenses for the vigil.
"We wanted to give back to Shannon and the family," said Karen Soplanda, who organized the concert. "We're just trying to keep it going and keep Shannon's memory alive."
The band Jugtown Pirates of Lake Champlain drove from Vermont for the vigil and show. The band brought its self-described style of "a taste of twisted traditional toe-tapping tunes" complete with kazoo solos to the vigil and the concert. Pirates was able to play at the vigil because instruments like the washboard, washtub-bass and acoustic guitars don't need electricity. They also added to the celebration with more than music, as one member performed fire-twirling and made balloon figures, including an intricate "Hoon Balloon" of Shannon.
By Craig Davison
Features Editor
The back of the cemetery in Dayton, Ind., was glowing Saturday night with tiki torches and candles casting light onto a celebration in a typically somber venue.
More than 400 came to celebrate the life and music of Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon, who died 10 years ago from an accidental drug overdose. Blind Melon is most remembered for the song "No Rain" from their multi-platinum 1992 debut album.
A tent was centered around the grave where family members took their place near their lost loved one. Visitors could speak with them, talk about favorite memories or just sit contemplatively and quietly near their music idol.
The grave was covered with candles, flowers, photos and other mementos from Shannon's life as well as artifacts brought by visitors. Scattered amongst the nearby tombstones sat groups of visitors, some playing Blind Melon songs on acoustic guitars.
The event was an international affair; some visitors came from as far as New Zealand. Melonheads who had attended previous vigils ran into old friends and talked to Nel Hoon, Shannon's mother, and other family members they had befriended over the vigils.
For some of the family members, the peaceful and joyous atmosphere mutes the personal pain and loss of Shannon's death in the celebration of his life.
"This is my happy time," said Nel.
Shannon's sister, Anna Hirst, said the vigils had gotten easier for her as well, and that with time she could see it as a celebration.
"The first couple about killed me," said Hirst, recalling the first vigil, where about 15 to 20 people came in a downpour to stand in the mud next to Shannon's grave, which was covered with plywood. "Coming back is the hardest thing. If you stay away, it's like it's not real."
Also among the family was Shannon's grandmother, Vernie Lond, 88, who sat in a plush chair from Nel's home and wore the necklace Shannon wore on the cover of Rolling Stone. The necklace rotates between family members each year as to who gets to wear it.
Sitting to the right of Vernie were three people in matching black T-shirts, more somber than the rest of the crowd. They came because of someone who couldn't.
Ryan Williams had been a fan of Blind Melon from the age of 13, and this year, his parents decided that at age 17 he was old enough to attend the vigil himself. He had decorated his room with Blind Melon gear. One drawing is of a wolf howling at a full moon, with a poem � "God's Presents," which was Shannon's favorite � written in the moon. On his 18th birthday, Williams wanted to get tatoos just like the ones Shannon had.
Williams died in a car accident on July 5. In his wallet were his license, his insurance card and the poem. When Nel heard of Williams' death, she called Deaver and talked for more than an hour.
"I know in my heart Ryan's here," said Deaver, who woke up at 2 a.m. Saturday morning to drive to Dayton from Tennessee with Williams' best friend and cousin.
Deaver listened to Blind Melon on the way. She had never listened to the CDs before, but they're all she has listened to in the past month.
"I guess you could say he made me a Shannon Hoon fan too," she said.
Deaver said she would be back for other vigils.
Many other visitors felt the same way after experiencing their first vigil. Gus Small, a junior in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, had intended to go for years but finally did so this Saturday.
"There's no reason we should have missed (the vigil before)," said Small. Standing under the tent next to Katie Alsie, a junior at Indiana University, he said the event was surreal.
Alsie said, "I don't think I can ever miss one again."
The events continued into Sunday, with Vigilstock 3 at Riehle Brothers in Lafayette. Nine bands performed sets at the all-ages show, the proceeds of which went to the fund to cover expenses for the vigil.
"We wanted to give back to Shannon and the family," said Karen Soplanda, who organized the concert. "We're just trying to keep it going and keep Shannon's memory alive."
The band Jugtown Pirates of Lake Champlain drove from Vermont for the vigil and show. The band brought its self-described style of "a taste of twisted traditional toe-tapping tunes" complete with kazoo solos to the vigil and the concert. Pirates was able to play at the vigil because instruments like the washboard, washtub-bass and acoustic guitars don't need electricity. They also added to the celebration with more than music, as one member performed fire-twirling and made balloon figures, including an intricate "Hoon Balloon" of Shannon.
