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My heart is heavy and I am still in disbelief and shock that he’s gone. Aaron was a close friend, instigator of the best kind and always ready to bugaloo which to know me was instantly endearing. I say Aaron because he admonished me after years of friendship that he had real name, lol. There was never a question to what was on his mind; when I first met him at Black Mountain shows in 2014, he told me he thought I’d be ugly and frumpy with a handle like Poetry Girl. This is hard to write because it makes it more real. We have had heart to hearts, pulled all nighters together, gambling or traipsing around NOLA, riding scooters around Indianapolis, laughing easily at his absurd assertions or funny ideas. He had such a big heart. I was so happy he made it to St Louis and texted him so, hoping the night filled him up, getting his head above water for a little while. The past year or so he had a heavy heart, lost zeal. I think of him every show really, always missing his dancing, competing with me for steps, which I won, haha, and missed him in Asheville during Music Never Stopped, watching the crowd really bust loose and get down, knowing he would be in heaven. When he hurt his foot and wore a brace, we maximized it in ADA in ATL; you know he would have had it no other way. Aaron lived life hard, harder than I ever could. Alas, desolation row. Starheads make the best community. I love you all very much. We lost a good one and damn, I wish I could have talked to him Sunday. I hate it for so many reasons, not the least being, for his son. Remember, it is a wonderful life. Bittersweet, but wondrous all the same. ❤️

Shit - logged onto the forums only to be floored. We bonded over Kentucky's finest (bourbon of course) and obviously The Grateful Dead. Loved to give him shit that he managed to see Jerry, but only in '95. Only saw him in the flesh a couple times, both on trips he took for DSO west coast shows. Once he brought me a mixed case of bourbon, boasting about how much cheaper I could get it if he bought at the source and hauled it out. Another time he came to the house the afternoon of a show for some fine wine, cheese, and loud GD on my big system. It was pissing down rain the whole time. Great afternoon. I'll miss your quips, rants, and insights. RIP, my friend.

From the beginnings of noticing the tall dude at several DSO shows in 2012 became friends instantly and had several epic adventures at Black Mountain, Jubilees, and eventually at Hydyder gigs. Smart, witty, and yes RUDE. Just hung out with him at DSO in St L last month. Could not imagine what has transpired. This hurts a lot. Will miss u more than words can tell brother.

Awful news. peace be with Rude and all of his loved ones

Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone Aaron, the plans they made put an end to you James walked out this morning and wrote down this song I just can't remember who to send it to I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see you again Won't you look down upon Rude, Jesus? You've got to help him make a stand You've just got to see me through another day My body's aching and my time is at hand And I won't make it any other way Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see Aaron again Been walking my mind to an easy time My back turned towards the sun Lord knows, when the cold wind blows It'll turn your head around Well, there's hours of time on the text line To talk about things to come Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground Oh, we’ve seen fire and we've seen rain We've seen sunny days that we thought would never end We've seen lonely times when we could not find a friend But we always thought that we'd see you, Buddy One more time again, now Thought I'd see you one more time again There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you, fire and rain, now

My boys have basically grown up with him as a show buddy. They are 26 and 22 and were 13 and 9 when we started seeing Rude at DSO shows. Being a fellow tall head, I could always look around the room and spot him and him I and we’d share a laugh or smile from across the room while dancing. He texted me before phish played Nashville in 23 to ask if we were going. He told us to not get a hotel and we bunked with a hometown friend of his. We had such a good weekend while dragging this guy to his first phish shows. BBQ, gambling, football, DSO, there are many of my favorite things that won’t the same without ol’ Rudedogg. Rest easy my brother.

I only met him in person a few times, and we had a great visit at one Jubilee. But we texted a lot over the past almost 10 years. I respected everything about him. He was always so funny, so smart, and even when we disagreed he was always so on point with his observations. We shared quite a bit over time. I don’t have anything to add. You guys’ words say it best. He was and always will be a Starhead.

Sad... Rest easy Rude ❤✌❤

Many knew him better than I. His presence always brightened my show experience. Rest easy friend.

Both Gr8fulpair and Tea at the start of this line said it all too well for me to add anything. Over the yast ten years or so it has been a joy hanging out with Rude and all those friends. I'll certainly miss that good friend. Peace and Love, Doc

He got me to go to my first Hyryder show at Riverfront Live October 20, 2020 and my first jubilee having me drive in with him at gates and two other veterans to form a big living room area with our four cars on the corners. He wished he lived closer to me because he wanted to jump in my car and ride up late Friday just in time for DSO's 8:30 start.

He was always the tallest person at every show, easy to spot

So sorry to hear this, Rude was one of a kind. We didn’t cross paths except a few times at Jubilee, and last time I saw him there we spent a good chunk of time hanging out, listening and shooting the shit. When I wanted a break from dancing I would wander over to the sweet spot and find him there awash in the sound. His easygoing nature and lack of pretense made it easy to be friends with him. Was looking forward to the next time, but was glad to get to know him a little better the last time.

I’m really sorry to hear this. Sincerely sorry. What happened?

I miss you. The music has stopped in my head and it’s so quiet in my world. Rest easy love. I’ll love you forever. -M

It’s weird I haven’t been able to comment or post on here or even react to comments and now everything works. I’m heartbroken as we all are. I can’t help but cry for the little one. I had just texted with him a few days ago. 😢

A good friend that I came to love, talked me out of it last year, his friend here in Cincinnati, Danny, grew up with him in Paducah, texted me and is going to keep me updated

Rarely am I at a loss for words - takes everything I have to share much of anything right now. Words of remembrance simply don’t justice to who he was as a friend, a companion, and a vibrant spirit. From the night he stumbled into our campsite, and all the years that followed, he lived life with the throttle down. Piercing eyes with a piercing intellect to match. The joy that DSO brought him was undeniable, unchained, and unbound. He stoked those fires in us and it commanded our full attention. DSO would announce a tour and he planned the full itinerary in about 3 minutes. Where we would be staying, where we could eat, who we could meet up with, what sporting events would coincide with our travels, venue dancing pros/cons, and what recreations might be in the offing. Literally 3 minutes flat. Oh buddy - you were way too loved for it to end here. There were so many worldly tribulations still left unspoken and still unsolved and we tackled so many of them together. Quick with an insult immediately chased with a quick smile. Too smart for your own good methinks. A part of all of us left shattered with little desire to sweep up the pieces because it’s all we have left. Rest easy, Rude - and Rude you were. You thought it, and then you said it - consequences be damned. It’s who you were - beautifully unapologetic. You leave us gutted, searching for meaning in something that will never make sense. Salt of the earth gang - signing off until we meet again some day

Sad and mad sums it up for now.

I lost a brother last night. This community lost a brother. WE lost a brother. RIP Rude. You had waaaaay more to offer here than there. I am thankful for about 13yrs of travel adventures (all perfectly planned to the letter by you!) seeing shows, going to Vegas, talking sports, making fun of people, eating killer food, spending hours talking about nothing, expanding our minds, dancing, and dancing, scheming to get upgrades, haha you were the best. I’m sad you’re gone, I’m glad I got the time with you I did. Peace always brother. Y’all tell some Rude stories and let’s talk this thing out. Not sure what else to say or do.

Sorry to hear that. He will be missed.

Rude’s gone

What am I missing here? Clarification please.

Heartbreaking

Ya heartbroken but also pissed off confused some disbelief. I’m not sure if I’d hug him or sock him in the jaw right now but I do know I won’t get to do either.