Sputnik is Out
Again I’ll say that we were shocked but very honored about all the hype after we posted our first studio track. I just want to take a moment and say thank you to all the old fans, and all the new ones! It wasn’t easy recording another track with all the pressure to make it as good as Pentegrax, but I’m not afraid to say Sputnik may be even better.
I want to take a few moments to tell you about Syghe’s original drummer. He wore tattered clothing and always loved to party. He was a really fun guy to have around, and a fantastic drummer. He had run away from his foster family when he was 16 and as soon as he was 18 he had changed his name to “DR-5” so no one could find him. I never knew his real name but we all called him Dee.
We found Dee drumming for a speed metal band and playing in hole-in-the-wall clubs. He wasn’t happy, but he was getting by. We invited him to come jam with Syghe for a night, and to our surprise he accepted.
We were blown away by his talent and the amazing energy he brought to our music. I wish we had recorded any of our shows back in those days (if any of you have the few dozen bootlegs floating around, post in the comments).
Towards the end of a tour in 2002, Dee was going really hard one night. I could tell from his playing that something was on his mind, but I didn’t have a chance to ask him after the show. I don’t blame myself, but I’ll always wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t gotten distracted after the show. When we got back to the van, Dee was gone, which wasn’t unusual. In the morning he was still gone, which almost never happened. David and I walked around to a few bars and strip joints to ask if they had seen Dee. Finally one bar owner said he had seen someone matching Dee’s description. The bar owner said Dee was totally strung out for most of the night and was eventually kicked out when he vomited on the floor.
I think that’s when I knew for sure. Dee hadn’t used in almost two months, and he was doing really well. But bright stars burn out fast, even if their glory lives on forever in the memories of everyone they touched. David and I got to the hospital as fast as we could and sure enough, we found Dee being moved to the morgue.
Sputnik is about the amazing two and a half years Dee spent with us, and I hope, captures Dee’s untamable spirit.
Thanks again to everyone.