September 17, 2026 – Gifts from those no longer with us

I didn’t expect this to be the topic of today’s post, but I also did not expect to find out that fellow musician and my Facebook friend, Robert Svilpa, passed away yesterday. I wrote about him late last year, when he was closing down his guitar-making business and had sold one to me. Here’s a picture of when it arrived at my apartment:

I never got to meet him in person, but we had chatted here and there before about music. He was very active online and candid about his experiences with being a musician and navigating today’s seemingly impossible job market. I related to those struggles a lot, and still do. I’m sorry that he has left us so soon, but I am happy to have a piece of his legacy in my possession.

This got me thinking of other special items in my collection that had been gifted to me by people who are no longer with us. This also goes for ticket stubs that I have held onto for bands that are no longer active due to band members passing away or retiring. Shows like Greg Lake’s Songs of a Lifetime tour in 2012, Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2019, the original lineup of Asia in 2010, and Al Stewart, who retired from touring recently. Speaking of Greg Lake, I’ve held on to more than just the ticket stub to that show. I also have the Tarkus CD that he signed for me (when I still went by my middle name), and the guitar pick he gave me.

An inevitable reality of being a Gen Z prog/classic rock fan is that I have/had fewer years to enjoy these artists while they were still performing, but I am eternally grateful that I did. The first major prog rock death that really hit me was Chris Squire in 2015. Over eleven years on, and we’ve seen more and more of these rock legends leave us. These passings don’t impact me the way they used to. That’s not to say that I don’t care, it’s just that it’s become more expected. I know it’s where we’re all headed one day, so I do my best to enjoy the time I have with those who are still with us while they can still perform well.

One more special gift that I’d like to share here came from my late friend Jeff, who passed away in 2016. Like Robert, we never met in person, but we had fun conversations about music and going to concerts. This led to one birthday, where he very sweetly sent me a package that contained a pair of drumsticks, as well as a single drumstick that he had caught from the late Graham Edge at a Moody Blues show in 1986, I believe. I remember being blown away by his generosity in giving me such a treasure. I don’t personally have those sticks with me at the moment. They’re packed up somewhere in my California home, but I do have a photo I snapped of them a few years back!

I haven’t taken up drums yet, but you know, never say never!