By Steve Newton
Last August I lost a longtime friend, Scott Vye, who I’d spent decades going to concerts with. I was the rock journalist with free tickets and backstage passes, he was the music-crazed musician who wanted them.
Recently Scotty’s family offered me some mementos of our times together, which included three concert t-shirts from the ’80s, ’90s, and ’10s. Scotty almost always bought a t-shirt when I took him to a concert. He never bought me a t-shirt, though. And hardly ever a beer. But I loved him all the same.
I was pleased as punch to see that a Beat Farmers t-shirt was among the three, ’cause me and Scotty were crazy about that rowdy San Diego quartet. I reviewed their Vancouver concerts in 1988 and 1990, but on the back of this one it reads “Poor & Famous ’89 As Is Tour”, so maybe I just went to that show for fun instead of a much-needed freelance cheque.
Four years later I took Scotty to the opulent Orpheum Theatre to see one of his biggest musical heroes, Keith Richards, performing with his other band, the X-Pensive Winos. I reviewed that show, and then afterwards we were hustled backstage for a quick photograph with Keef.
Scotty made the most of that once-in-a-lifetime photo op, draping his arm around the Stone’s shoulders like they were old drinkin’ buddies from way back. I just had to settle for touching skull-rings with the Human Riff.
Unlike the Beat Farmers, who were apparently too busy partying to get their tour itinerary printed on the back of their simplistic shirts, you can clearly see the “1/19 VANCOUVER, CANADA” tour stop mentioned on the Winos merch. A day that will live in infamy for a coupla rock-lovin’ hooligans from the wilds of Chilliwack.
Which brings us to the 21st Century and the Ringo Starr t-shirt from his North American Peace & Love Tour. That gig took place on July 15, 2014, at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, and featured Ringo’s All-Starr Band. In my review I raved about how his guitarist Steve Lukather, best known for his work with L.A. hitmakers Toto, nearly stole the show from the former mop-top.
I’m sure the Beat Farmers and Keith Richards shirts were prized possessions of Scotty, but the Ringo shirt might have held even more value because he was a huge, huge Beatles fan. Although professionally a bassist and vocalist, he could play any of their songs on guitar, if he wanted to, ’cause he had a great ear.
He would even use Beatles lyrics to convey messages that were like secret code. For example, if somebody said or did something really stupid, he would simply sing: “Day after day…”, and you’d know he was calling that person the fool on the hill.
He had Beatles books and Beatles videos and all kinds of Beatles bric-à-brac. He loved his John Lennon granny glasses.
But I guess the real measure of how much he loved the Beatles was made evident to me on December 8, 1980, when Lennon was assassinated. We had gathered to mourn at the divey Chilliwack party house I rented for $200 a month near the train tracks on a dead-end road.
I was shocked and sad as hell, but Scotty was really broken up. I remember seeing a huge tear escape from his left eye and run down his cheek before he could wipe it away. I hadn’t seen that many guys my age cry.
Rest in peace Scotty, you big-hearted lug. We’ll rock out together again one day, you betcha.