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In Memoriam: Mike Pearson-O'Neill Aka Dj Nter
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Czarkastik replied on Wed Feb 3, 2010 @ 5:31pm |
 Coolness: 148955 | In Memoriam With Love and Respect for Mike Pearson-O'Neill aka DJ Nter/The Walrus
Four years ago our friend Mike Pearson O'Neill passed away tragically. I only met Mike in 2001, but we quickly became inseparable. Though he was quite a few years younger than me I found in him a friend with whom I could share my growing interests in music and music-related events and lifestyle; together we spent many hours breaking down the musicians and DJs that we loved and the reasons why, always digging for records, listening and sharing with each other. Mike introduced me and re-introduced to many amazing albums, anything from Steely Dan's "The Royal Scam" to Manfred Mann's Earthband, DJ Rush or Too Short. He had no prejudices and could be touched by anything from an aggressive rap song to a soft-rock ballad, if it meant something to him. We spent many hours plotting ridiculous parties, most of which would never happen, including the infamous I Hate Neon events where we had planned to smash a TV with the image of Tiga onscreen. This reminds me of one of Mike's online antics. Many of us in the electronic music community frequented a website called memf back then (montreal's electronic music forum run by Ben of Nice Productions), and mike began posting as 'Jordan Dare', claiming that he was gay, and liked really bad music, and so on, to make fun of Jordan. Well lo and behold Jordan eventually cottoned onto the whole thing, and felt a need to defend himself online. Therefore he created an account as 'the Real Jordan Dare' and made a couple of angry posts detailing his grievances and trying to clear up the fact that the 'Jordan Dare' account was not really him. When Mike read this post he did not give up but instead got an even better -and funnier, idea. Minutes later Mike had created a new, third account calling himself 'The REAL, REAL Jordan Dare' and began to accuse 'The Real Jordan Dare' of being an imposter. Eventually Mike had to face-up to Jordan and apologize in person, but damn it was funny. Eventually Mike became a very productive member of Level 4, our little techno-music crew, practicing his DJing enough so that he began playing out at parties, and taking a keen interest in good techno music, DnB, breakbeats and hip hop. All the while his value to the team as a promoter was limitless because he possessed the type of unbridled enthusiasm and charisma that us jaded raver types just weren't capable of anymore. With the spark that Mike provided to Level 4 Productions we went on to throw Flux in 2003 and Good Vibrations in 2004, and Mike continued to help organize other events with a collective called the Coloured Co-ordinators. DJ Nter (Mike's DJ name) played at a massive new year's party we did with Kops Crew and Kirk6 (2k4, dec 31, 2003). Mike also played at Level 4's final E-cube party School in 2004, and was the very first DJ to play at the Mix Thursday weekly at Saphir, a night that Rhys Taylor and I began in April 2005 that would eventually run for three years. The last time I ever talked to Mike was on the dance floor of Saphir, on a Thursday night. The times that Mike and I spent together, although they were incredibly fun, unpredictable and exciting, slowly became more and more difficult as it became clear that Mike was suffering from addiction to ketamine and later, cocaine and heroin. We could no longer trust Mike as he was willing to lie to friends and family alike in order to get more money to buy these drugs. Like many of his friends I faced the challenges of trying to maintain friendship and still care about Mike, even when it was clear that he no longer cared about himself or his own life. In an attempt to help him -perhaps misguided, we cut Mike off. Nobody wanted to be associated with someone whose life was clearly going downhill. I was in Ottawa when I found out the surreal news that Mike had died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heroin overdose. None of this seems relevant as, four years later, I would do anything to have him back, or just to know that he is alive somewhere on the globe. I bring these facts to the forefront not in any attempt to tarnish Mike's memory. Many of us that knew and loved him were well aware of his problems and either did nothing to stop them or simply felt that we were unable to. I know that I did not feel I was able to change things. I bring this up, and take the time to compose this teary-eyed message, because I know there are still many in the electronic music community who indulge in drugs that are dangerous, perhaps underestimating the long-term effects of these toxins, sometimes without consideration of the future ramifications it will have for their own lives and those of the people they know and love. Sometimes, frankly, because they think that it is cool to take drugs. Mike's death made us think a lot about the choices we had made in our lives, and it made it very difficult to continue to promote electronic music events, because there is often an assumption that electronic music and hard drugs go hand in hand, and the last thing I have wanted to do since Mike's death was to encourage more people to take this dark and fatal path. Of course, communicating with others in any way, via music, words, or symbols, is always healthy, and that's why I'm writing this now. It is important to remember those that came before us and to respect, remember and re-tell their stories. I see many happy, young, beautiful and intelligent people here in Montreal, and I don't want them to make the same choices and pay the same cost. -Steve Lalla, Feb 3 2010 |
| I'm feeling 1146/286.5 right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Screwhead replied on Wed Feb 3, 2010 @ 11:41pm |
 Coolness: 685540 | still can't believe it's been four years..
(wow is this really the only pic I can find of the both of us?)  |
| I'm feeling like a drama magnet right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» flo replied on Thu Feb 4, 2010 @ 10:58am |
 Coolness: 146275 | If only all of this could teach lessons to some... I wish it does!
Some people need to learn the hard way, and this way can get much harder for some than for the others... and sometimes, even harder for those around them, too. |
| I'm feeling fresh doctor :) right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Masa replied on Sat Feb 13, 2010 @ 5:37pm |
 Coolness: 158720 | Thank you. |
| I'm feeling like prom king right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» basdini replied on Sun Feb 14, 2010 @ 3:34am |
 Coolness: 145150 | i made the decision to stop doing K a few weeks ago
you must set some limits on yourself otherwise you will have none at all. |
| I'm feeling surly right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» MolocH replied on Sun Feb 14, 2010 @ 11:08am |
 Coolness: 226225 | Originally Posted By BASDINI
i made the decision to stop doing K a few weeks ago you must set some limits on yourself otherwise you will have none at all. Dood, that sucks, do you imagine how much I'll have to do now, just to keep the drug market from collapsing? J/K. Abuse can be a sad thing. RIP nter. |
| I'm feeling ka-tet of one right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Nuclear replied on Mon Feb 15, 2010 @ 12:36am |
 Coolness: 2603935 | I've had someone stop breathing on me while visiting me at my apartment because the guy did a hit of heroine. The ambulance people came and the guy was dead for a good three minutes before being recesatated. It's the craziest feeling in the world see someone almost die from a thing as dumb as believing that "i'm only getting high now, later life will be better but for now i want to be like this"... it's crazy seeing someone turn blue and no matter what happens the only thing they want in the end is another hit... nothing anyone can do about it...
Heroine is definitely a class of it's own... I've never seen things fuck people up like that. If you know anyone who has a problem get them in a psych ward as soon as possible. |
| I'm feeling nuclear right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» sex.is.boring replied on Mon Feb 15, 2010 @ 12:55am |
 Coolness: 78220 | heroine is just pure crap, my best friend from high school is himself and heroine addict and it's just sad |
| I'm feeling $%? right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» crimson replied on Mon Feb 15, 2010 @ 11:39am |
 Coolness: 66375 | Originally Posted By NUCLEAR
I've had someone stop breathing on me while visiting me at my apartment because the guy did a hit of heroine. The ambulance people came and the guy was dead for a good three minutes before being recesatated. It's the craziest feeling in the world see someone almost die from a thing as dumb as believing that "i'm only getting high now, later life will be better but for now i want to be like this"... it's crazy seeing someone turn blue and no matter what happens the only thing they want in the end is another hit... nothing anyone can do about it... Heroine is definitely a class of it's own... I've never seen things fuck people up like that. If you know anyone who has a problem get them in a psych ward as soon as possible. When I lived in montreal back in 1999-2000, I was heading out to too Magog with my girlfriend, When the guy in front of us started screaming and slapping the girl who was with him. She went from talking/ok, to blue and very dead in a matter of 5 minutes. The bus driver get them off the bus, Called an Ambulance, and drove away as "It's not my fucking problem". Still one of the most surreal experiences I've had. Update » crimson wrote on Mon Feb 15, 2010 @ 5:20pm @OP, Sorry to hear about your friend, Always sucks loosing people this way :( |
| I'm feeling sore.. i think i'm dead right now.. | |
In Memoriam: Mike Pearson-O'Neill Aka Dj Nter
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