GOODBYE, LES LEWELLYN
By George Petersen
I MET HIM ABOUT A YEAR AGO–FOR THE SECOND TIME. Actually, I wrote a blog in this space about 12 months ago about a wonderful coincidence that led me to rediscover Les Lewellyn, and now he’s gone, having passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 12. You see, I was originally searching on the web for his older brother Bob Lewellyn, a guitarist I was in a band with back in 1968–in Naples, Italy, my home town. The only reference I found to Bob was something about him playing a session on one of Les’ recording projects, for his band Preying Lizard, but I also discovered that Les was somewhat of a messiah for independent music, offering help, guidance and exposure through his #1 rated web music podcasts at PreyingLizardMusic.com.
Les loved music of all kinds and did much to help so many independent bands. He will certainly be missed, but I find at least some solace here in the knowledge that Bob Lewellyn will be taking over the site and podcasts, a lasting tribute to the great work begun by a true music hero named Les Lewellyn. He will not be forgotten.
When not working on MIX stuff, George Petersen records and performs with the SF Bay Area-based rock band ARIEL. Click here www.jenpet.com/ariel.html and check ‘em out.
________________________
What do YOU think?
CLICK ON THE COMMENTS LINK BELOW AND SPEAK OUT!
June 25th, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
This is a big shock and a huge loss. Les Lewellyn (aka Manic D from the old mp3.com days) was not only an excellent musician, but also a great supporter & promoter of independent music through his internet radio broadcasts. He was very passionate about music; his unselfish contributions to the indie realm will be sorely missed.
R.I.P. Les
November 10th, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
I remember Les/ManicD from the old MP3.com message board days and met him a few times while I lived in Houston, did a few online shows with him and one song, he was a great guy and a Musicians….Musician
RIP Les, you are missed
Robert,
Robert,
Thanks for your kind words about Les. I knew him back when he was the 13-year old younger brother of the lead guitar player in one of my bands back when we all lived in Italy, and it was some 39 years later that we reconnected via the Internet and became friends. He was also a huge supporter of my current band ARIEL,
( http://www.youtube.com/ArielRockstheWorld ) and I miss him so much…
He truly was a one of a kind and I’m not sure there will ever be another.
–george