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To say that I'm shocked by the news of Robert's passing is an understatement. I'm literally lost for words. Robert, Elvis, Eurotrash... the man of many names and many many more friends around the world is someone who I first came into contact with whilst co-running Chapter Of The Mad (with Jameson Calantoc, Eric Nielsen, Steve Wiig and Jeff Shaw) several years ago. He was the head of German Power Wolves and they, like several other chapters of that era, became our friends not only here in cyberspace but in real life as well no matter when or where we would meet around the world. Well before we actually met, Elvis and I would be constantly trading official and not-so-official releases. There was much recycling of padded bags that would rack up more frequent flyer miles than he and I put together. Nothing was too much trouble for him. He would help me track down that super-rare Euro promo of whatever and he was all knowing of some of the obscure Aussie releases we've had over the years. It was a pleasure for me to send those things over to him knowing just how grateful he was and how much he appreciated the them. After my first trip to the US in 1997, it wasn't long until I would return and once again drag Jameson up and down the West Coast during the later part of the U.S. summer in 1998. This is when I would first meet Elvis. His real life persona was exactly the same as what I had come to expect through the numerous emails and letters we would exchange. Nothing was too much trouble for Elvis and he was always helpful and kind. He was a great guy who would go out of his way to help you out when needed. There was never a time when he wasn't smiling. We only got to hang out over the course of eight shows, but they were a blast. The 98 crew - Elvis, Swiig, Dan N, MetMarc, Bryan, Soichiro, Jameson, myself and at a couple of shows, Jeff S, Evil E and Big Jeff H. With living down under, it would be several years before I would see Elvis again and little did I know then that it would be for the last time. He was unable to make it down here for Metallica's 2004 Australian tour. It would be later that year that I would once again get to catch up with my German Power Wolf friend. It was in Amsterdam in June of 2004 that I briefly got to say hello to Elvis and catch up with him after the show. He was the same old Elvis and it was like we hadn't seen each other for a week, not the 6 years that it had been. Still smiling and as pleasant as always. Same ol' Elvis. It was great to see him again even if it was for a short amount of time. Like many others have said that knew him much better than I did, it is hard right now to put into words the emotions and feelings within. R.I.P. Elvis. You will be greatly missed.
Your friend from "Down Under",
 San Diego - Sept. 1998 Elvis (back row, 2nd from left) and Me (back row, 3rd from the left) |
