Yesterday we buried my friend of over 40 years. He was the first legit friend I had growing up in Cranston, Ri. Our first meeting was when I crashed into the back tire of his purple Sears Free Spirit bike with our neighbor's daughters Big Wheel, which 10 minutes before, I stole out of their front yard. I looked up at Brian, my hair covering my eyes, and said, "Sawrry" I was then known as 'Cousin It for the longest time.

He and I would become best friends. Like brothers. We shared everything, including a love for music. From an early age I was fascinated with music, reel to reel tapes and records. That was my grandfather's influence and encouragement. I loved it all, especially drumming. It was no shock hat I would eventually take up the instrument and become the person I am now.

A huge influence on Brian and I was his brother, Gary. Gary had a small collection of albums and a kick ass stereo. Brian and I would blast music in his parent's living room and we'd pretend we were the band. Kiss was probably THE band to really send us into our musical adventures. Much like what The Beatles did for so many bands to come after them.

Brian eventually got a guitar. It was a Fender Mustang copy. Candy apple red. He would try to learn anything he could. At this time I was given a drum kit for Christmas. Then my parents, after seeing how well I took to the drums, signed me up for drum lessons. I lived, ate, shit, slept and breathed drums from then on.
As time went by, jr. high school would be the beginning of Brian and I to think of forming a band. Brian wanted to be a front man, ended up buying a bass and hooked up with Bill DeLuca, who was learning guitar. We would form Dionysus. With this line up we'd go through a few bass players until, a few years later, as the punk scene was really taking off in '82 - '83, Rodger was introduced as our new bassist and the name was changed to Vague Perception.

With the complete line up we would put together a set list of songs, record our first single, "Crucify The Stupid" w/ "Run To The Greenhouse" and "Masturbator In The Elevator" and take the Providence punk scene by storm, or, at least a decent rain.

So many great times, bad times fucked up times, equipment fights where we'd all be so impatient and frustrated we'd through our interments at each other. Drunk times, high times, drunk and high times. It was a crazy 10 years with this band for me. I wouldn't have gotten up on stage with the Dead Kennedys at Lupo's that night if Brian hadn't grabbed my shirt and tell me, "You're going to play with the Dead Kennedys." Long story short, DKs drummer was very late so Jello pulled drummers from the audience to sit in until Peligro showed up. It was a huge impact on me.

He was a master manipulator, ring leader, friend, enemy, drunk stoner and joker all in one. But, most of all, he had a heart. He had a dream to keep alive by any means necessary and he fucking did it. He kept Vague Perception going for 35 years.

It was some crazy times, my friend....

Rest In Peace, Brian Rotgut Luiz.