Good day everyone, or as “Speed King” aka Brian Hanson would say, “Greetings and Salutations!”
Sadly, I am writing this to let everyone know that Brian passed away in May of this year. I met him 40 years ago (fall of 1982).
When I think of Brian, one of the first bands that come to mind is Pink Floyd, then Zeppelin, then after that Judas Priest. I remember we were watching an episode of M*A*S*H once and one of the characters used the term “Oh, Judas Priest” and we looked at each other and laughed!
We shared some musical interests but there were some things I liked that he didn’t care for, etc. That is how it usually goes! I asked him once if he liked Styx as we grew up near their hometown of Chicago, and he said he liked rockin’ tunes like “Renegade” but didn’t care for wimpy ones like “Babe”! Ha ha!
Six years ago I had also lost a friend tragically around Christmas and Brian was one of the first friends I called to talk about it. My friend and I had spent Thanksgiving together so while I had the turkey cooking before I left for his house, I was listening to Pink Floyd. Floyd’s album “The Wall” and Zeppelin’s “In through the Out Door” both debuted in the fall of 1979. I did not know Brian yet but I can imagine we were probably listening to those on the radio at the same time!
I wanted to do a tribute so would anyone who had the opportunity to chat with “Speed King”, please submit a song as a tribute to his love of rock music.
I also recall attending a few BOC (Blue Oyster Cult) concerts in the last decade and I would always text him a set list of the songs they performed.
Sadly, I am writing this to let everyone know that Brian passed away in May of this year. I met him 40 years ago (fall of 1982).
When I think of Brian, one of the first bands that come to mind is Pink Floyd, then Zeppelin, then after that Judas Priest. I remember we were watching an episode of M*A*S*H once and one of the characters used the term “Oh, Judas Priest” and we looked at each other and laughed!
We shared some musical interests but there were some things I liked that he didn’t care for, etc. That is how it usually goes! I asked him once if he liked Styx as we grew up near their hometown of Chicago, and he said he liked rockin’ tunes like “Renegade” but didn’t care for wimpy ones like “Babe”! Ha ha!
Six years ago I had also lost a friend tragically around Christmas and Brian was one of the first friends I called to talk about it. My friend and I had spent Thanksgiving together so while I had the turkey cooking before I left for his house, I was listening to Pink Floyd. Floyd’s album “The Wall” and Zeppelin’s “In through the Out Door” both debuted in the fall of 1979. I did not know Brian yet but I can imagine we were probably listening to those on the radio at the same time!
I wanted to do a tribute so would anyone who had the opportunity to chat with “Speed King”, please submit a song as a tribute to his love of rock music.
I also recall attending a few BOC (Blue Oyster Cult) concerts in the last decade and I would always text him a set list of the songs they performed.
