Richie Lee
10/10/66 - 7/23/01

On Monday, July 23, 2001--much to the shock of all that knew and loved him--Richie Lee took his life. His artistic contributions to the world were great, though few recognized his talent. In the manner of many artists that preceded him, Richie traveled his own path through life--not always the easiest or the best--but the experiences he collected along the way provided the fuel for his work. He had the ability to embrace all the facets of our existence without filtering any of the emotions and distill them into a spare poetry. It was his gift and ultimately his burden.

I got to know Richie as a result of the website I created for Acetone. At first I only thought to put together a fan site with information from other published sources and perhaps their record label. I didn't meet him until after the site was up when they came through Chicago on their 1997 tour with Spiritualized. From that point on I'd talk to Richie (the only person I had a phone number for) now and then, but I had a hard time determining what exactly the relationship was. I often felt like an overzealous fan that was bugging him with trivial questions. When I became more comfortable, we would have conversations on just about anything that would come up. I found that many of the reference points in our lives were similar enough so that we didn't really have to delve into facts about ourselves in order to achieve that deeper understanding that you get with old friends.

Then there would be a long period where I wouldn't hear from him. I assumed with the length of time between albums that he was busy with his life and I would fall back into my other interests. Then news about the band would crop up and I would think about calling him for details and the fears of intruding on his life would creep back. All that changed when Richie called while on the way to Chicago earlier this year. This time when he apologized for not staying in touch it somehow clicked that I wasn't just some guy he had to deal with because I did the website. I had a great time talking to him while they were in town and this time I vowed that I would keep in contact. After a rough couple of months dealing with buying and moving into my first house, I decided to call Richie. On the way into work I listened to a webcast of the New York shows while mulling over the things I needed to ask him. When I got to work there was an email waiting for me stating something that just didn't register-Richie had ended his life.

To tell you the truth, I don't think I've really let myself accept that he's gone. As I write this, I hear his voice in my ears and his words and his face surround me as I page though the bits and pieces of his life I've collected. I'm left to regret the things I never got a chance to say or the promises made but never kept. Most of all I mourn the loss of all that will never be known. For those who discover it, the timeless music he created provides a cherished narcotic. We can only hope that Richie understood the impact and value he had on so many lives. We must find consolation in the fact that his soul lives on in the music he leaves us with and the hearts of those he has touched.

- Ben Maki

"If I should leave you
try to remember the good times
warm days filled with sunshine
and just a little bit of rain.

And if you look back
try to forget the bad times
lonely blue and sad times
and just a little bit of rain.

And if I look back
I will remember all the good times
warm days filled with sunshine
and just a little bit of rain."

- Fred Neil

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