“I don’t want people to judge him for the mistake he made. He wasn’t just a drug addict; that was a little part of his life that he just couldn’t overcome.
“He was a great guy, a great musician, a great husband, a great friend, a great brother and a great son. I want people to know that”
So is the quote from Brenna Gray, widow of Slipknot Bassist Paul Gray.
Sad isn’t it?
A mother (Brenna was 6 months pregnant when Gray overdosed on prescription meds in Iowa) a wife a cry for recognition that wont come.
See here’s the sad fact.
No matter how great you are and I don’t really consider Paul Gray of legendary status, you die of drugs- your legacy is drugs.
If you look at Hendrix or Cass or Morrison, they’re remembered for their brilliance AND their drug issues.
You cannot and you will not shake it.
Its sad to see a woman thinking it would be any other way.
We don’t allow shortcomings with our rock stars. Elvis Presely himself died in a bathroom. We couldn’t even respect the King himself enough to let him go with dignity what makes anyone think a costumed bassist for a gimmick band would get more?
When Joe Strummer died, when Joey Ramone died…..first words out of people mouths?
Drugs.
Yet neither one died from drugs or complications there of but rock and roll death is drugs and that’s that.
You can go on an educational junket, teaching kids to say no, you can show all the good he did (um yeah what was that cuz I’m not clear) but the simple fact is he will be forever remembered as that guy from that band with the masks who died of drugs. Shes trying of course, with the organization Musicares- but will it change one mind? Suppose it could but its a long shot.
I don’t mean to be cruel I don’t agree with the mindset but what I feel is a mothers lament. I feel badly that the daughter of Brenna and Paul will be subjected that stigma.
To go out and make a statement that you don’t want him remembered as such, was counter productive. He will be, and thats what you can use to educate.
Why not infuse us with memories to surpass the truth of his death?
He didn’t have enough time on this Earth or in this industry to become anything more than “the bassist of shock rock band Slipknot”, as a loving wife your job is to make sure his name is associated with something more or allow his memory to rest in peace.