Bobby Load, 1970-2012
Via Jim McCrady on Facebook.com.
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, Bobby Load was a drinker with a singing problem. He died this morning after weeks in hospice, and long weeks in the hospital before that. His death surprised no one. Really, he’d been dying for 20 years.
If you were out on the local music scene from about 1995 to 2010, you have a Bobby Load story. My old boss at City Link, Jake Cline, often told the story of how he was sitting at the Poor House one night when he saw Bobby and asked how he was doing.
“Just got out of rehab,” Bobby responded.
Jake expressed his sympathies and asked when that had happened.
“No,” Bobby responded, “I mean like I just got out of rehab. It’s right over there.” He pointed down the street.
I’ve got a couple Bobby Load stories. There was the time he showed up to a house party, raring to go, at about 6:30 a.m., when everyone was passed out or on their way. But the one I usually tell goes like this:
We were at the Billabong Pub, down in Hallandale Beach. This would have been 2006 or so. A lot of the local-music old guard were there, I think it was a reunion show or a farewell show or something else of that nature for some band that was reasonably big in the early 2000s down here. Maybe Whirlaway. Anyway, Bobby and some ridiculous goth kid were both angling for some girl, and the goth kid didn’t take kindly to that. He shoves Bobby into the women’s bathroom and beats him about the head and neck — nothing too damaging, really, the kid had arms like No. 2 pencils, but Bobby being Bobby, a feather could’ve knocked him to the ground. So the goth kid runs outside, where he’s surrounded by many of Bobby’s friends and acquaintances, who make sure he doesn’t leave till the cops show up. I think Duncan Cameron from Hashbrown was out there, among others. Meanwhile, Bobby comes stumbling out of the women’s room, looking none the worse for wear given the beating … except that there is now a dark stain on his jeans from his crotch down to mid-thigh level.
Bobby starts stumbling to the door, muttering to himself, and I sidle up next to the man. He gives me a blank look — Bobby and I were introduced at least half a dozen times, but he never remembered me. “Bobby,” I said, “I’d check your jeans.”
He looked down, gape-mouthed, and then said something I will never forget. “Aw, man, I pissed myself. I hate when this happens.”
I hate when this happens. Genius.
I must’ve told that story 100 times at least, and the idea that there was a man for whom pissing his jeans was such a routine occurrence that he could complain about it in such a fashion never ceased to get a laugh. But now, now that he’s gone after a lengthy stay in hospital and hospice, after he put in an appearance at the funeral of another local-music icon, Dan Hosker, that was, in a word, strange — a yellow-hued shell of a man, yelling at inappropriate times — I can’t help but think I wish I would have taken these sorts of events more seriously. There were plenty of people in Bobby’s life who tried to get him help. I was not one of them. I laughed at him and bought him another beer. Because everyone loves a drunk.
But Bobby was who he was, and maybe I’m not the one who missed a chance to help him. Truthfully, I think anyone who tried to help the guy out of love was probably wasting his time. There was a part of Bobby that wanted to change — he told me several times that he wanted to do something to change his life, maybe start writing, like me. But mostly, he was, if not happy with who he was, at least accepting of it.
It’s a shame, because the man really was a hell of a singer. His first major band, Load, had already broken up by the time I moved down here, but his ferocious howl was still intact throughout his years in Southern Flaw. Witness this performance from the 2004 City Link Music Fest. (Note, too, the intro from bandmate and close friend Pat Joyce, who says, “You think I’m a drunk guy, look at this guy. I love him.” The casual dismissal of Bobby’s astronomically huge problem with booze was common to most of us who knew him.) Or this from 2006 in Stranahan Park. Bobby had a voice that was part Kurt Cobain, part wounded badger. But he could tone it down and sing when he wanted to — I recall a solo acoustic performance of “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy (I Got Love in My Tummy)” that was weirdly poignant.
Bobby gave this Sharpie-on-cardboard punkscape to Salty Eggs culture editor Erica Landau and contributor Pat Rothblatt outside the Monterey Club after they gave him $5 for cab fare. Click to enlarge.
Still, it was the howl that people remembered and even after he started to really fall apart by the end of the last decade, even after the howl was not as powerful, and the musicality was all but gone, the howl was enough to land him briefly in The Psycho Daisies. It was a particularly short-lived gig because the founder and guiding force of the band — and another famously obliterated South Floridian — Johnny Salton, died in 2010. You can see the voice isn’t quite what it was at this 2009 performance at Alligator Alley. Take a good look at that video. It was taken just three years ago, and half the people in it are dead.
If there is an afterlife, Bobby is sitting at the bar — because they can’t 86 you in heaven — trying to find a beer and some change for a bus ride home.
UPDATE: If anyone would like to help with the costs of Bobby’s funeral arrangements, visit the Bobby Load Tribute Facebook page for more information.
Best South Florida frontman of all time… RIP Bobby LOAD. I remember driving Bobby and some of the Blanket, Death on a Stick (pre Baby Robot) peeps to a show one night and Bobby was playing all the new tracks they had just recorded and before each song he gave a good 5 minute monologue about how and why each song came to be. It was fucking hilarious! I always wished I had tape of those stories… I have some VHS tapes and some ADAT tapes of LOAD that needs help getting digitized.
Someone said something about a Bobby Load stories page, that would be interesting, I know I’ve got a few good ones.
I did on the Salty Eggs facebook page. Share them on here, in the comments section. I’m trying to upload a piece of cardboard art he gave me in exchange for $5 cab fare.
I thought of Bobby this morning, was wondering when we’d hear this. A train wreck is sad, even in slow motion.
actually, you are wrong Mahone. A train wreck is fucking awesome, all the time, at any speed. At least it has integrity
Our bands did some shows together when I was in The Livid Kittens and I can rember no matter how on we were that night, Bobby would always steal the show…It was always a thrill for me everytime we would share the stage because I was such a big LOAD fan!
I loved his free spirit and that he answered to no one but himself.
Rest In Peace friend!!!
I remember that night at the billabong. My wife and I both remembered some one bought one of his paintings that night that was the size of a door. They paid like 20 dollars for it just to kind of shut him up. Then they put it on the railroad tracks and a train ran it over. I felt bad for Bobby because he had put time into that painting and the guys were being dicks. Bobby had a beer at the bar when we got back inside and those guys paid for it.
WOW …DAN SWEENEY ….NO ONE NEEDS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FUCKING SECOND HAND STORIES …YOU & A LOT OF the SOUTH FLORIDA PRESS SUCK !
NO ONE CARES TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT BOBBY JOHNSTON or ANYTHING ELSE …I have known BOBBY my whole life & you have only been down here for a SHORT TIME compared to a lot of us like bobby who were born & raised here .
You only got to hear about the very end of BOBBY’S life and you should just KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ! Bobby JOHNSTON HAD MORE TALENT IN HIS LITTLE FINGER THEN YOU HAVE IN YOUR WHOLE BODY ! I guarantee that you have done some stupid things in your youth …JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS …..but no one would care to hear about your passed because you are a NOBODY ! For every one bad story you have HEARD about BOBBY I could give you 1000 good stories about him…he was a GOOD hearted and caring person …unlike YOU !
Somebody needs a lesson in respect.
DAN SWEENY NEEDS MORE THEN A LEASON IN RESPECT !
I love it when the press like “DAN SWEENY ” who has ZERO TALENT , COMMENTS about artist who are just trying to do there best and make a lot of people happy with their art …be it through music or any other art form. A lot of people are doing their best just to make it through this crazy thing called LIFE !
WOW..now I sound just like PRINCE !
I suspect that whoever this FOB is, he’s feeling guilty over not having saved Bobby from himself, but he can never admit that Bobby needed saving — and so rather than break that taboo, he chews out Dan Sweeney and makes him the target of his incoherent rage.
Amen bro!!!
Amen to that!
I think we all would have liked to hear how chills went down your spine when Bobby screamed,”Nobody deserves that shit!” Or how he touched you with his vulnerability and kindness. Very disrespectful, and to a man who deserves our respect. Terrible. I will miss Bobby. Let those who loved him tell the tales. I’m with u guys this is SHIT!
We were just talking about Bobby the other day when I was told that he was in hospice and I recalled having just moved here about 12 years ago. At the (now defunct) Boca Pub and Nite Gallery with the normal crew of Ant Lunch Music folks and it must’ve been near closing time and Bobby was… well, loaded. I remember being pretty young and a scene virgin and thinking that there was no way this guy was getting up to do ANYTHING, let alone put on a show. In typical fashion, he takes the tiny stage and proceeds to rip the goddam roof off the place. I’ve never seen anything like it to this day and many hundreds of shows later… RIP Bobby Load…
fuck this condescending, smug article. Bobby was an amazing musician and person and his legacy certainly doesn’t need this sort of pussified nonsense coming from you.
WELL SAID …..Shiny FLUFF
thanks, SWKBJ. this article is bourgeois shite
So i am reading some upset to this article. I’ve known Bobby for 20 years. He was such a delightful young man and i never met ANYONE who didn’t LOVE the guy.
What I want to say is, the Bobby I knew took pride in Being Bobby Load. It was his legacy to punk rock and he felt very strongly that it made his life important. The essence of punk was instilled on me for the first and ONLY time as i witnessed Bobby on stage many times over the years.
All the wild stories everyone tells about their encounters with Bobby would put a smile on his face. To him this would mean he has done his job to represent Punk Rock as acurately as possible.. It is a special blend of talent and attitude and lifestyle. Bittersweet? Yes. But he is pleased in the afterlife now that we speak of his life with truth and shock and awe and laughter and of course great respect <3
Forever the Legend Bobby Load
Lisa "Noodles" Hayden
Interesting how a poignant but honest celebration of Bobby — he was who he was — can get lost on some, especially those not willing to share their names…
Thats Funny ERICA, I noticed that you didn’t leave your FULL name either !
If they were really his friends, they would have tried to help him while he was still alive. But one of them can’t even admit that Bobby had problems, and the other thinks that dying a slow agonizing death at the end stage of a lifelong pants-pissing alcoholism is somehow romantic and fighting The Man. They could both use a stint working the night shift at a major hospital.
I offered several times to take Bobby to a meeting, as i have been in recovery over 12 years. He always said no. He knew his problem was bad, but did not want to try to quit. .I did care, and i did try to show him the light. But as any addict in recovery knows, we only get clean when we are ready. Bobby was never ready. And I’m sure i am not the only one who tried.
Wow, I wonder why you’ve never made it as legitimate professional writer, and your contrived secondhand regurgitated scribblings are relegated to college blog? This piece of shit, condescending opinion piece has no place anywhere near Bob Johnston’s legacy as a musician, lyricist, artist… and front man for the best punk band to ever come out of South Florida. Go wax your eyebrows and get your teeth whitened you hack, loser scumbag.
yeah! sing it brother
I LOVE YOU, LIFEGUARD JIM !
I agree with Lifeguard Jim. At the very least, you could have given it a couple days before you wrote this lame opinion piece.
Well, i just read this and as bad as things are – they just got worse. I believe in truth in reporting okay but that would mean the inclusion of a actually KNOWING Bobby and writing from the HEART this is BANDWAGON. So you have a story, its sucks. Your timing Sucks. Your tastelessness Sucks. Mostly though what I get from ths “article?” is BANDWAGONING. You just jumped on, and you missed. You had to write about it because its what is hot and now – so you jumped on WITHOUT A CLUE. SERVERLY IRRESPONSIBLE of you Sweeney. You are so far from the reality of what this is / who Bobby was. 2006? You don’t KNOW a THING. Take your shitty story away please.
Gee, your writing style is very similar to that of “Someone who knew…”
^^^^ NO ITS NOT !
Thats Funny ERICA, I noticed that you didn’t leave your FULL name either
!
The logo says Salty Eggs, look to the right of the article.
OH ERICA …you are just another piece of shit …wanta be writer that moves to SOUTH FLA from god knows where & tell everyone …YEAH I’m A WRITER ! You guys write for a HOBBY not for a living , so keep telling yourself that you are a PROFESSIONAL writer !
Well thank you Mr. Sweeney for this obit. I have known Bobby & his family for 20 plus years. I’m sure they would love your take on Bobby’s life . I presume it takes years of journalistic integrity to pen the last years of a alcoholic’s life (from a bar stool no less) instead of researching the budding punk/metal south florida scene of the late 80s/early 90s. Out of all the “couple Bobby Load stories” you have, it must make you feel good to share the ‘Bobby pissing himself story”. Since you have told it to your friends over one hundred times. The last time I seen Bobby was at hospice & he still had that undeniable laugh & wit. But you sir, Mr Dan Sweeney…I’m sure all one hundred readers at saltyeggs & The University Press are waiting on baited breath for your next dispatch of wisdom. Stay Classy Mr Sweeney, you’ve come a long way since City Link!!!
Sincerely
Brad Smith
Really? REALLY??? After how many years of being an integral part of the South Florida scene THIS is how you’re going to memorialize him? You couldn’t think of a single other story that didn’t involve him being wasted, mocked, or pissing himself. Smug little fucker aren’t you? You are no better than the pieces of shit that threw his painting on the railroad tracks. Actually, you are worse. You wadded up his memory, his legacy, wiped you ass with it and laid it on the tracks right next to that painting.
Fuck you and all the fuckers who call you their friend. No talent scumbag fucking hack! FUCK YOU!
Kind of a poorly-timed, shit-toned piece, Dan.
Can’t help but think Bobby would have gotten a laugh out of it.
I’m afraid you missed the point of Bobby Load.
Too bad. He was a helluva musician and artist.
This is a disgusting article. Who the fuck is Dan Sweeny, anyway?! I hope Bobby’s family don’t have to read this garbage. What a dick move not only writing this but publishing it. FUCK YOU, DAN SWEENY…it’s quite clear you didn’t know Bobby AT ALL.
Having met Bobby several times over the years and being frankly a mix of awed and frightened by the man, I found this piece to be a pretty warm and personal remembrance of the man. I appreciate that Dan didn’t pretend to know him better than he did or lionize Bobby, he just gave his perspective on the passing. Bobby is a legend for good reason, his outsized persona probably was only the tip of the iceberg that was his real personality, but I honestly don’t see anything in this piece that portrays him as anything but as a guy who lived as he wanted to live, regardless of the toll it took on him. I’m gonna listen to my load records tonight and think of the times that Load pummeled my teenage mind and I hope nothing but peace for those who knew Bobby personally and are missing him in a way I could never possibly understand.
As Voltaire said: “One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only truth.”
This article was written with both respect and truth in mind. To pretend the guy was a plaster saint without flaws is to deny the fullness of who he was, as well as the reason he died in his early forties, alone and broke and in pain.
FUCK YOU PHOENIX WOMAN ! GO BACK TO PHOENIX !
South Florida Punk and Hardcore= boring. There’s a reason nobody outside of aging drunks have heard of most of these guys/music…Anyway, keep bashing the author of this article for trying to give it any more press…
RIP Bobby. You rocked.
And obits are hard to read and write, trust me, I know. But dude, respect Bobby’s entire life, not just what you saw of it. There’s a time and place for piss stories, this was not it.
Dan Sweeny,
You call yourself a writer? Where the fuck did you get that information about Bobby getting jumped at the Billabong? First of all I was standing right behind him the night that happened, and that “goth kid” that you refer to was a 45 year old man by the name of Giovanni Vitanza Who just happened to be another local legend, singer for the LA -based band The Comatones. Ever heard of them, you jackass? The fight lasted all of about 5 seconds, and right after the fight I drove him home. And about you insinuating that he pissed himself, your just making shit up…signs of of a desperate writer.
P.S. Please don’t ever use Southern Flaw’s name in any of your ill-researched and idiotic articles again. Now go eat shit.
Funny to find out he was only a year old than me, GOD how we looked up to him and those load guys. I was in a band in that area in the early 90′s and played many shows and was entertained many times at the foundation by LOAD! I still have 2 7inchs and loads of load fliers. I know it was just one part of his life and agree with my old school punk sisters and brothers takin the piss outta HACKS obit! I always felt an ametuer hack next to those guys they SHREDDED SO HARD, and my band practiced a lot and were sober and couldn’t touch them. And I’m NOT kissin butt. Uh uh
Dan Sweeny, I can see you pride yourself on receiving “crazed death threats”. It’s unfortunate that you chose such a kindhearted , talented, and influential artist to slander while his loved ones including myself, are mourning his loss. I would tell you to go fuck yourself, but that would give a personality such as yours too much satisfaction. Instead, I’ll say this; I hope you receive all the satisfaction in life one can receive by kicking the weak while they are down, stealing from the blind, and pissing on the poor. This article is a disgrace and not a reflection on Bobby, but on yourself. Shame on you.
nice reply jennifer! well put
I was not a friend of Bobby’s but I did have a couple funny stories about being lucky to have shared some time and great conversation with him. I have to say that this article made me feel sad. Its shameful and mean. I don’t care to share my story on here either. I’m going to refrain from calling you an asshole piece of shit. Ill leave that up to his real friends.
Bobby was a sweet and talented guy unfortunately overcome by demons. He was an old school rockn’roller who deserves a better epitaph. Load blew me away at a time when authentic punk was almost non-existent, and Southern Flaw kicked ass as well. Sure, there was plenty of drunken bufoonery, but he had a big heart and should be remembered as more than just a clown.
A couple errors in the article. Bobby’s tenure in the Psycho Daisies was not “short lived”. He was the drummer from 2005 into 2008 and was the drummer on the final Daisies record Return From Blood Island. He was a great frontman – the best. Plus an incredible drummer. Salton would not suffer poor drummers for long hence Bobby’s long tenure on the drum stool. In 2008 Bobby left and formed Bobby Load and the Bastards. Amber from Fraulein joined the band. She is the drummer in this video. Bobby was in attendance at this show – his band played first – and he jumped on stage for the final song.
Second – Bobby was beaten up by some guy from the LA punk band Comatones. Not some Goth kid. And Bobby was not angling for some girl. Bobby had dated this girl some years back. He was trying to talk her out of hanging out with this person. Not so he could get back with her mind you; but to shield her from bad habits.
That would be the late Giovanni Vitanza. Who Jeff Contaldo (see his comment above: http://saltyeggs.com/bobby-load/#comment-2766 ) idolizes.
Dear Dan Sweeney:
Thank you for writing a piece that reminds me very much of Charles Pierce’s similarly-unflinching overview of the life of Teddy Kennedy.
The longer I live, the less patient I get with people who, either out of guilt or a misplaced romanticism, choose to either glamorize or sweep things under the rug about friends or relatives who died the way Load did. I’ve seen too many people die young, broke, and from agonizing illnesses that came about because they couldn’t or wouldn’t put down the bottle. I’ve also seen other people who managed to decide that they liked life and other human beings more than they liked booze, and wound up living happier, fuller lives as a result — though no doubt they were all terribly ‘bourgeois’ and uncool, being happy and productive and all that.
You kidding me with this story homeboy? That story is the biggest hunk of shit I’ve ever read in my life. I’d suggest your next “story” be an apology to Bobby and his friends and family.
Postface and Load played tons of shows together, hung out and partied together, and always supported each other . Bobby and I were pals who had a lot of inside jokes. I have seen every side of him and I was greatly saddened to see him at Danny’s funeral. Rest in peace, old friend.
I almost forgot, Sweeney, you Hunter Thompson wanna-be, go scratch yourself, ya jagoff
Hear, hear, buddy! Fuck this idiot.
Greg..i let your band & LOAD open for some shows in the past …i have met this piece of shit Dan Sweeney & trust me…he is no H S Thompson …The guy used to be the calendar writer for that ( free paper ) city link ….I am a concert promotor in town with over 100 national touring bands (booked ) in Ft Laud., Miami & WP beach since 1997 ..THIS DICKHEAD DAN SWEENEY would argue with me about every band i brought to town…telling me that they where not important enough to but in the calendar section of that FREE paper ..so i called HIS BOSS …JAKE C. who told me this guy knows nothing about MUSIC & to always call him ( JAKE) directly if I had a problem again with dan the DICKHEAD Sweeney ….after that conversation with Jake all my shows got listed with promo photos to boot ! NOW YOU KNOW WHO I AM Phoenix WOMAN & DAN SWEENEY…YOU FUCKING DICKHEADS !
Alcoholism is a shitty disease. Bobby Load, a talented musician and more importantly, friends to MANY, just died because of this. And you decide to talk shit about someone that many people loved dearly that just died? You are such a disrespectful human being and should be ashamed of yourself. My suggestion would be for you to donate quite a bit of your hard earned writers cash to his funeral. It’s the least you could do for writing this shit article.
I find it in absolute poor taste that you recount an incident of him ‘pissing in his pants”. Maybe he acted like it was a common occurrence because he was embarrassed. I find your article to be cruel and heartless. I have known Bobby since 1983, and your story is not a memory I want to have of him.
My English teacher taught me, when writing anything, first consider your audience. This was no fancy private college, just South Broward High, Bobby’s Alma Mater… Who do you expect to read this? It’s bobby’s friends, fans, family. I read this, and I thought, well, maybe this is some kind of inside joke, something from the scene I’m not really a part of.. that’s what I hoped at least. I really think you are trolling here mr. Sweeney, hoping for some negative comments to fan your ego… see, we’re all using your name!! Bobby may have found you inconsequential, but all these responders are remembering your name, is that what you were going for? Bobby met me a few times too, but didn’t remember me either.. He would sit with my Dad and other retired cops at a local pub here, and I’d find them all laughing and smoking and drinking..I knew I couldn’t hang with those guys, I had nothing to contribute, so I waited in the van. Knowing that you have nothing germane isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it doesn’t mean you have to start writing fiction. for me, this has made all the difference. Cops of my Dad’s era used the word “punk” to describe a set up, like, “we drew our weapons because the scene was punk” So, I think we are all confused here.. did you just traverse the words in the title of your poorly timed joke? Are you setting us up so you can have a big laugh alone? Or are you fishing for some hate mail because your article isn’t as good as it should be, given your years of experience on the scene? Given your expertise, do you think maybe you should consider editing before you post? I didn’t know Bobby personally, but I know that he was loved by retired cops and punks and everyone in between. He could sit and chat with folks of all different walks of life. He steadied the trembling hand of my very ill Dad so he could light his smoke. That’s all I ever saw first hand, so that’s all I can contribute. Try sticking to the facts. When you write, as Mrs Marsh taught us, consider your audience. Why hurt people who are already in pain? and yes, maybe Bobby would have thought this all great fun, playing a joke, irreverent comedy… But he’s not here. His grieving family friends and fans are. hours after a tragic death is no time for performance art.
Hey, “Phoenix Woman”,
Who are you, do I even know you? What the hell are you talking about, idolized Giovanni Vitanza? I met the guy once, never saw his band or knew anything about him. So why don’t you get your head out of that liver fluke Dan Sweeny’s ass (your own?) and think about it before you start talking shit! It’s also obvious you have never had to deal with addiction in any capacity. You’re a fucking fool. I would never wish the kind of pain that addiction brings on anyone or their loved ones.
Fuck you and your fucking stupid alias, Dan.
you dum dums dont get it
The thing is, I don’t remember ever being embarrassed by Bobby. Even when he was selling his art, he’d never pester me, just move on if I didn’t want to buy it. I don’t remember him running around, starting fights and acting like a drunken douche. He always seemed like damaged nobility, shuffling around in a haze of music and memories, then coming alive like a punk marionette, completely aware and electric on stage.
The antithesis of this would be Dan and his manufactured, Bukowski-Lite persona. Interviewing bands at bars and then ending the night stuffed like a sausage into the back of a cab (or police cruiser) by the band, embarrassed patrons wondering why anyone would let that whiskey-fueled leviathan in their nice bar. As anyone who “knows” Dan, this was a common occurrence.
I recall one time, he was asked to host an event my band was playing during Art Basel. It was to be a type of “Storytellers” thing, with Dan interviewing us at intervals during the show. As we were sound-checking, I noticed an open bar being set up, and to my horror (knowing Dan), the bartender was lining up bottle after bottle of Makers Mark. Needless to say, halfway through our set, Dan was shit-faced. He proceeded to sway backwards, trip over a monitor and fall into a heap on the stage. At the end of the night, he was snoring, slumped on a couch. I didn’t notice if he had soiled himself, but I have no doubt that, emotionally anyway, he was pissing and shitting himself like a chocolate fondue fountain at a Jersey wedding.
So, in the end, I GET was Dan was trying to do. He’s saying, “Hey, I know what Bobby went through, ’cause I AM that guy.” Well, sure, if you take away the kindness, musical talent, and the “Little Prince” effect that drew people to him. (Or was he the Fox?)
In reluctant defense of Dan, he admits to not really knowing Bobby, and is simply relating a few “war stories”. Too soon? Maybe, but I didn’t know Bobby all that well either, so my comment is probably just as arbitrary and pointless as Dan’s article.
spot on.
Wilkins, you are awesome with your response. And Dan Sweeney is not. It’s a shame. Bobby Load deserves better than dan’s drunk ramblings disguised as memories. I won’t be reading anything written by Dan ever again. It’s easy to avoid. As bobby would say, “I’ve got five of these (holding up his hand and counting on his fingers) and only one of you!” (shaking his fist.) RIP BOBBY LOAD
Big fucking fail dan….
Bobby was and is larger than life. He did not deserve this shit smear you put out.
For shame!
Celebrate his life, cause that’s what he did.
It’s a Louisiana tradition called a Second Line where we celebrate the life of our loved one and all the great things he did with his life, which Bobby did.
One of my fondest memories is a 14 hour ride from Lauderdale to NOLA on Sept. 12th (yeah the day after the attacks) with Bobby and Stan Street. We just talked about music and girls and life and well just about everything……
Bobby was a very smart and wonderful man and that’s the Bobby I will always remember and talk about.
Fuck you dan.
Not having been in South Florida since 1997, when searching info on Bobby, I came across this site, saltyeggs.com, thinking to myself– cool, probably something to do with Charlie Pickett and Los Huevos, possibly?! But shit no— not with that article allowed to print. Here’s the thing: Bobby Load was the greatest frontman eva! Period, plain, simple. Oh, and by the way, besdies his many talents, he had a heart of gold too!