Leaderboard

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.

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

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. ❤️

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.

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.

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. 😢