Nikki,
Dear Nikki,
Such sad sad news… I’m so sorry for your loss… I have met Chris a few times briefly while he was on tour in the Netherlands with Women, he and the other lovely guys of Women and their music have made a great impact on me (and my friends). He was such a nice and friendly person. It is great you have set up this blog… Much strenght to you, Rena, family and friends.
one photo was taken at the Women/Chad VanGaalen show – VERA Groningen in 2008 by Esther
one photo was taken by me at the incubate festival 2010 in Tilburg.
Hedwig, Groningen the Netherlands Continue reading
Posted: February 29th, 2012 (3 hours ago) by Theodora
In honor and memory of Chris Reimer, who passed away February 21st, 2012 due to complications from a heart condition, we invite fans and friends to celebrate his life and work with the band Women. Today at 3pm EST, we invite and encourage fans to listen to both Women albums back to back HERE. It’s a simple gesture in remembrance of our talented and compassionate friend, Chris.
Filed under press
Found these – from Primavera 2009, which is where I first met him and the whole crew.
He was on stage with Chad here, in the baking Barcelona late-afternoon sun.
Sounded magnificent, of course.
x
Hi Nikki,
Bequest
When last words ablate and death is exhumed
When harmony collapses on a lifetime in tune
In the closing climax, mind and body quiver
Into one final shudder plunges rhythm’s red river
Tremulous yet unshakably benign
And the celestial dance resumes.
From rhythm’s black hole, a wave breaks away
Sound become matter in physical dismay
But the wave propagates, oblivious to Law
A duality of functions: an aide memoire
Or an agent of change
And often synchronically grey.
In grief’s trough our eyes lose the peak of the wave
Confusing the now with the days gone away
In a subconscious effort to sever the tie
Neurons decay while at synapses vie
For the road to the substantia nigra
By amnesia the road is unpaved.
But at times we are dowsed by a torrent unseen
Just moments before, now revived as a dream
By memory’s lapses retracing synapses
Awake now as rhythm, the memory elapses
A wave weighing nothing and all:
Our matter bequest is our rhythm sublime
Which, as harmony betrays us at the brink of our time
And collapses on the medley of body and mind,
Persists as a wave in a squall.
Filed under words
I have only briefly spoken to Chris on two occasions, but I feel compelled nevertheless to share two memories I have of him.
Firstly is of seeing him recently at Weeds. Before starting, he announced that he was drunk and proceeded to play an otherworldy, powerful and downright impossible set. Part way through my friend told me that it was “transcendental”, and it was true. The fact that it was improv and that he was drunk made the kind of sounds he was creating all the more insane. Jordan is right in saying that Chris is the kind of person who would simultaneously inspire you and make you want to quit music forever.
Another is of seeing Women play at Comrad Sound maybe two years ago. It was the first show to be held there and was billed as a secret. I was set to play my first show ever there at Comrad about a month later and through working out the details of this show I found out about the secret show. Needless to say, Women floored me. While I was maybe 15 and just beginning to get into the scene, I knew at the time that this would have a profound impact on me. This show was my first all ages concert experience and it seems fitting then that Women are now my favorite band.
I can already see Chris’ influence come up in many places and I know that it will only extend further as time goes on. It is clear that we’ve lost not only an incredible musician but a deeply loved person.
I am extremely lucky to have seen him in my lifetime.
Michael
|
