R.I.P. Col. Bruce Hampton

[Tim Bowen]

Jam scene patriarch Col. Bruce Hampton died on stage during the final moments of a benefit concert honoring his 70th birthday at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Monday night.

https://www.jambase.com/article/jam-scene-patriarch-col-bruce-hampton-died

 

[Blooby]

So friggin' sad, but I can't imagine a more glorious way to go. surrounded by many fans, friends and family.

Zambi forever!

Blooby

 

[jazzfromhell]

This sucks

 

[JK1965]

Yeah sad but on the list of ways to go this has to be near the top. Wow

 

[soli528]

So sad. Lots of memories with that man.
Time is Free, Bruce.

 

[Marc Roy]

RIP. I dug the old Aquarium Rescue Unit.

One of my favorite Col. moments was his appearance in Sling Blade.

 

[MKB]

RIP. I dug the old Aquarium Rescue Unit.

One of my favorite Col. moments was his appearance in Sling Blade.

I used to quote that poem "I stand on a hill..." every time we would do a mic check before festival gigs. Someone would always hoot their approval.

RIP Col. Bruce.

BTW, I have a new regret in never seeing ARU live. If you have a favorite artist and are waiting to see them live, don't wait. Life is too short.

 

[soli528]

ARU in the early 90s was the stuff. They would commonly open for larger bands, and as their set was finishing up, they would often have a couple guys from the headline band sit in, then another, all the while ARU members would leave the stage mid-jam one by one until the bands had transitioned without a break.
Bruce used to love to talk to fans before/after shows, guessing people's birthdays, or home towns, doing parlor tricks, generally blowing minds.
One of the strangest yet sweet people I ever met.

 

[beanbass]

Woah - one of my buddies played his afterparty that night in Atlanta. He 's been playing bass & mandolin with the Col.

 

[smolder]

A sad day. I feel very fortunate I got to see both him and the ARP perform. May he rest In peace.

 

[CharAznable]

Glorious death in battle.

 

[Staticbuster]

Such a bummer. I've seen ARU, plus seeing The Colonel sit in with dozens of bands over the years. His energy and good will will forever be missed. Sad day.

 

[Smashies]

Holy s*** that's awful! He will be missed. Loved his music, especially with Aquarium Rescue Unit.

 

[Cropduster]

Sure beats a cancer bed

 

[mannish]

Hate to hear that - loved his role in SlingBlade

 

[sws1]

Real sad. And an eloquent way to go out I suppose.

On the other hand, I watched the video on YT. He fell down and was laying there for 3+ minutes (maybe even more) before anyone approached him. They all thought it was some sort of joke. If it was in fact a heart attack, perhaps he could have been saved if people reacted quickly. Not finger pointing at all, just commenting on one specifically tragic part of the story.

 

[Seth L]

I had the great pleasure to see The Hampton Grease Band back in the day, also The Late Bronze Age many times, and The Aquarium Rescue Unit as well. A true legend.

 

[Crowder]

He used to come through here with the ARU pretty frequently (we're not far from Atlanta) and it was always a great show. Seeing Jimmy Herring and Oteil up close in a small club was amazing.

 

[taez555]

RIP.

But man... what a freakin' way to go out. During the last song, on-stage, at a benefit concert for your own birthday. Literally playing guitar right up until the last moment. I know it's sounds horrible, but That's freakin' awesome.

 

[Tim Bowen]

Hampton Grease Band and Eric Quincy Tate definitely get a chapter in the history of southern rock. Glenn Phillips, guitarist for Hampton Grease, plays my little town regularly and will be doing a show here in a few weeks. I expect he'll be paying tribute to the Colonel for a while, wonder if some of the old HGB material will be dusted off.

Bruce was one of a kind, and an Atlanta institution. A band I was with called the Fashion Clowns split a bill with him at a club near the Varsity in downtown Atlanta years ago, can't remember the name of the joint. Bruce was a calculated nut of course, but also very kind and gracious. At the gig he was wearing a pair of overalls with a bra on outside of the overalls. What a goof. He will be missed.