| Author |
Message |
Roberto Warren
| | Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2001 - 5:26 am: | |
Seeing the picture of Bill brought back a lot of memories. He was a great guy and a great friend. It's a damn shame he had to go out the way he did, but, hey Bill you know, if anybody understands, I do.
Bill and I were roomates in the house on Willis in 1981. Perry Malette lived downstairs. Many a night we sat in the kitchen at the back of the upstairs where we lived and polished off much beer, vodka, etc. Especially in the summertime. We talked about all kinds of things. Bill was a pretty amazing guy. One of the most incredible painters and draftsmen I ever met. Ingres and Bougerreau had nothing on him. One night we got smashed and watched Puccini's Tosca on this 9-inch Black & White TV. Another night we went to an organ recital at Metropolitan Methodist Church! The two of us made quite a pair at that venue!
Bill was a real friend. Years later, when I was a student at CCS (he's the one that told me to go there, I was going to go to U-M) and I was in a painting class, and an instructor told me what had happened to him, I felt like I'd been hit in the face with a brick. That was one of a few holes I've had made in my heart. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 6:08 am: | |
when i first saw bill at lunch at alvin's he absolutely took my breath away, weeks later we managed a sweet soft hello and introduction, i thought he painted houses and for me that was just enough already! little did i know what this true renaissance man held inside....in my life i have never followed someone home completely enamoured and just to see where he lived, i stalked him really, in that big ol truck of his! next day i found myself knocking at the door, he answered the door and i stated in all my vulnerability, i had no business knocking at his door uninvited, and that sweet ol smile came over his face and he just replied'"come on in, can i make you a cup of tea?"
and well...
all i can think is that this man was born in the wrong time and place, perhaps a century too late, and my when he left did he ever brake this heart, along with every glass i ever gave him!!!
i see you bill ...clear as ever.....even in the mid haze of the early eighties......i hold you in my heart, forever
ps...the first time you sat at the kitchen table in the mid dawn hour and picked up that guitar and played...i just remember thinking, take me now dear lord, for this is about as good as it gets... |
Stephen Goodfellow
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 12:37 am: | |
Dear Anonymous,
This is one of the most touching memorials I've ever read! Unfortunately, I cant place it on his page if you don't sign the message.
I wish and hope you would - but if you don't - I understand. |
Frank Callis
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 7:55 pm: | |
I had the pleasure of jamming with Bill a couple of times. One that I recall was on "the wall", a little retaining wall on the northeast corner of Hancock and Second, across the street from the Renaud. One summer, Barney, Kathy Clifford, and I had fallen into the habit of sitting there in the early evening for some reason, and we attracted whatever friends might have been passing by. Bill came by one evening, and we made beautiful music for a few hours.
The other time was at the old Retro practice space, one of the storefronts between Cobb's and the Willis. For some reason, I had fallen in with Bill and a few other people (we were merely acquaintances, not close) and we went to Hart Plaza for some music, after which, I offered to open the place up so that we could play. We set up the drum kit, turned on the amps, and I played with the finest musician I've ever known. Being a bass player, it was my job to hold up the bottom end of the song and keep it moving, along with the drummer. Sometimes, it's a lot of work. With Bill, it was effortless, we just followed him for the ride.
It had always been my hope to ask Bill for some acoustic blues lessons. Sadly, he left for New York and his eventual demise before I had the chance.
I also remember his funeral. He is buried in the big cemetery that you can see from I-75 north of Troy (White Chapel?). Some minister was giving the eulogy and had the audacity to make a disparaging comment on Bill's lifestyle and friends, many of whom were present. It added a touch of bitterness to an already sad occasion. I'm surprised no one took him to task. I guess it showed that we low-lifes had a bit more character and respect than he did. |
Stephen Goodfellow
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 6:34 am: | |
Frank,
Wonderful memories! I've placed your comments at:
http://kinweb.com/corridor/obits/bill_hodgson.htm |
JamesCaley
| | Posted on Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 10:42 am: | |
My remembrance of Bill, as much as I can put together these 30 years or so later.
I was in a band playing at "The Deer Hunt Inn",.on John R, near 8 Mile Rd. Bill came in one night and was introduced to me, he was a friend of someone else in the band, maybe Dave Opatic.The band was "The Amboy Dukes",they had to change it later when Ted Nugent had a hit with HIS Amboy Dukes. I had left the group by then. Anyways, we must have partyed after the gig,and Bill was going off to school somewhere.
Six months or so later Bill came into the "Baby Lounge" on Gratiot I believe, He was back from school, and had learned to play AMAZING guitar in a very short time! More partying afterwards,.and that's when I was introduced to marijuana, which Bill had brought with him. We took a liking for each other,.and he eventually lived with me and my brother Jerry, at a "Crash Pad" we had near Fenkell and Livernois.This was just before the riots.
The riots kinda put an end to the Parkside crash pad, and all of us went separate ways, but kept in touch.
My brother and I were Draftsmen working for a small shop in Hazel Park I believe,...and at one time we got Bill in there to work. HAH! If ever there was a non engineering type it was Bill! All three of us were out on our butts very soon!
I was, of course shocked and very saddened by the news of his death some years later, and I missed the funeral. |
Peter O'Keefe
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 7:23 pm: | |
I met Bill when we were taking painting classes together at WSU in the mid/late 70's. I was working as a bartender at the Traffic Jam in those days and urged him to come by and apply for a job. He was immediately hired as a doorman (i.d. checker) and bouncer. Bill was probably the most gentle bouncer that ever carried that job title--I don't recall him ever actually getting physical with anyone. In most cases a little verbal persuasion backed up by his imposing (6'7"?) presence was all it took. My most vivid memory was when the two of us were ordered to remove a very drunk and belligerent local painter from the pool room in the back. We were both near tears as we escorted the man--who was slobbering, runny-nosed,drunk out of his mind, trying to pick a fight--out of the bar. He was a well-known Cass Corridor painter who happened to be an icon for both of us so it was a sad, funny scene. We commiserated about it after work and joked that we were going to end up the same way. I was living in NYC when Bill ended his life there but I didn't hear about it until a visit to Detroit much later. I was sorry to hear from an earlier post that there were disparaging remarks made at his funeral. Bill had a good heart and was a stand-up guy.
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patricianeering
| | Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 7:32 am: | |
Hi,
I was looking for an old friend of mine, an artist, who lived in Detroit-someone I loved dearly but hadn't seen since the early 80's, she lived around Second and somewhere. Her name is Kathy Clifford. It used to be Kathy Kosht. I think she is the same person that is mentioned as having died. Can anyone tell me what happened to her? Thanks.
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Stephen Goodfellow
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 11:39 pm: | |
Hodgson - I miss that guy! |
Kris Peterson
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 2:58 am: | |
I didn't know that Bill committed suicide. What a drag.
Kris |
Diana Bonner
| | Posted on Friday, June 01, 2007 - 5:46 am: | |
I remember Bill from Alvin's. He was an imposing presence, but really a very sweet guy. He was one of the few in his crowd who deigned to talk to me. His band, Shadowfax(?), was one of the better bar bands who played there. What a shame he killed himself. I guess why is always the wrong question to ask since such a choice is generally beyond rational thought. I thought he was handsome. |
maryelaine
| | Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 11:25 am: | |
Diana sorry you missed talking to all the band. they were the sweetest group of men that I have ever met. If they didn't talk to you it was their shyness not that they thought they were too good for you. I know I have been married to the drummer for 26 years.
We still both miss Bill & George too much. We were just talking about Bill tonite. |
Dayanara
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 - 3:25 pm: | |
Ab fab my godloy man. |
Janisa
| | Posted on Friday, July 08, 2011 - 6:21 am: | |
Ab fab my gdooly man. |
Philips
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012 - 8:23 am: | |
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Jahlin
| | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2012 - 8:19 am: | |
It's a pleasure to find soeomne who can think so clearly |
Jock
| | Posted on Monday, September 10, 2012 - 10:33 am: | |
Life is short, and this artclie saved valuable time on this Earth. |
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