Nope, I didn't know him personally. I was audience. Back in the day when Whispers at the Pyramid was something I thought would never disappear; it was a new home. Nope, no talent here, never got on stage or did a damn thing. But then Dean started Rock and Roll Fag bar, and us "audience" types - generic shy gay punk types - had a place to listen to the music we liked. Never knew when the next one would be held, or where. But Dean somehow managed to put together a night for those of us who tended to just show up one at a time, sort of looking around at each other with a scowl that might be cruising, or not. So thank you Dean. I made friends. Not those on stage, but with fellow audience. Yes, I worshipped at the altar of Dean, Ethyl, Bunny, and even got to know some of you a bit - Hapi Phace, Tabboo, Linda Simpson. And then the one who became family - Chrysis. Too many memories. The first night I ever saw Lily of the Valley - on stage at the Pyramid doing an Adams Family thing, as Wednesday ("and things fell out that should stay in...") Genius. Burned in my brain. Years later got the nerve up to even say hi to Lily and tell him how much I love "Hush". At RnR Fag Bar, seeing David Ilku ("Lovechild" back then) in his underwear, wearing a Sixteen Magazine tee shirt and combat boots, slam dancing to Petula Clark - I was in love. I know, this post is going nowhere, but just as a voice of "guy in the audience" - no, we probably never got a chance to tell you - but those of you still here - Hapi, Tabboo, Linda, Lily, Mistress Formika, Guy, JoJo, Connie, Daniel Cartier, and in memory - Chrysis, John Sex, Wendy Wild, Ethyl, Page - thank you. You were why we audience folk lived in NYC. And we had a blast. Dean, you pulled it all together. Schmidt, you carried the torch, and still do. Okay, to be honest - I wasn't cool enough to ever get into Mother. But that's fine; Crowbar and Cock worked for me - and they would never have been possible without the kind of inspiration Dean radiated. Just want to say thank you to those of you still here - your genius made the days bearable.