He will indeed be missed.

I must admit that I found his writing style to carry with it kind of an elitist, smugly sarcastic, condescending tone.  I didn't know him personally, but I'm sure there are those in this community that will really miss him. 

Matt, I hope you, being a friend, are not offended by me sharing my honest impression of his writing.  It is meant as a statement of his writing, nothing personal, as I did not know him personally.  If you find my comment offensive, or feel that this is not the time, place, or proper forum, for expressing criticism about his work, feel free to delete it or ask me to delete it. 

Chris was always a kind guy that went out of his way to give press to the fledling underground art scene. He was also a great guy to work with when we were starting off the Kelly Lounge series many moons ago. RIP Chris.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtime...

drbit: You are dead-on correct about Page's writing. He WAS smug, elitist, and condescending. He was not very well liked in Bakersfield or the East Valley.

 I didn't know Chris, but any person willing to put their voice out their- in art, writing, music or anything- deserves a bit more respect than "anonymous" seems able to muster. And it is a bit lofty to say anyone isn't "well-liked" by an entire community of over 300k. Frankly, that sounded condescending itself as well as just plain rude.

ETA: He was cute. Such a shame. :-)

Anonymous didn't know him apparently.

He wasn't the kind of guy you could describe easily.  He was dedicated to his job.  He added a lot of happiness to my life personally.

He was a confident talented writer and there is nothing wrong with that.

He was my roommate for a while and a fellow band mate.  He was such a talented musician as well as a great writer.

I don't need anyone to tell me he was or wasn't liked.  I liked him.  I miss him.

And another thing:

"Matt, I hope you, being a friend, are not offended by me sharing my honest impression of his writing.  It is meant as a statement of his writing, nothing personal, as I did not know him personally.  If you find my comment offensive, or feel that this is not the time, place, or proper forum, for expressing criticism about his work, feel free to delete it or ask me to delete it."

If you haveta ask, you already know the answer. Shameful.

I know it is in our cultures practice to lionize those that have passed on before us. We (yeah- the royal "we") do this for many reasons but most of all I think people would rather be remembered in glowing terms, not for the grumpy bastards we all can be sometimes. I can tell that Chris and I would have gotten along famously, both of us being writers and criticized for the same (apparent) short-comings. I know that I've been nothing if not arrogant, condescending and rude most of my adult life, but I should hope that when I die my friends and family say nothing but what a wonderful, loving and giving person I was (am?). As my Momma always (should have) said: If ya ain't got nuthin' nice to say, wait 'til after the funeral.

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I didn't know him, but I read his articles in the Calfornian regularly, back when I lived in Bakersfield. They were a welcome dose of hipness in that desultory conservative rag. I was hoping I might see him write for the LA Times or Rolling Stone one day. No one knows how hard someone else's life is, but they're all hard in theor own way.....

peace

Never speak ill of the dead. They might come back to haunt you. Kidding. Sorta.

But really, I hope (as it sounds like) he led a happy fulfilling life. And he died while living out MY fantasy life, writing and getting paid for it.

If you haveta ask, you already know the answer. Shameful.

Not necessarily the case.  That's why I asked.  Shameful?  I disagree.  If my comments represented a personal attack, on his character or personal life, rather than on his work, that would be shameful.  Sharing an impression about his writing, his work, is not shameful by any stretch of the imagination.  What is shameful to shame somebody for expressing an honest, if not altogether flowery, opinion. 

There I go, shaming you for shaming me.  It's contagious.  That's what's wrong with shaming and blaming people.  Nothing good comes from it. 

Never speak ill of the dead. They might come back to haunt you. Kidding. Sorta.

True, "sorta."  :) Never speak ill of the dead, but don't be afraid to offer an honest opinion about their work. 

But really, I hope (as it sounds like) he led a happy fulfilling life. And he died while living out MY fantasy life, writing and getting paid for it.

I hope you are correct, but the way his life ended doesn't suggest to me that he was happy.  Quite the contrary.  This is sad, and I feel bad about it.  That doesn't not mean I have to make him out to be a flawless writer. 

I'm here to tell you if you didn't like me in life don't kiss my ass in death. Don't tell great things about me if you didn't like me. I would welcome your honesty over trying to find something nice to say about me. This is beside the point of this blog I know.

I didn't know Chris or his articles to form an opinion. I'm sure he had good traits and bad ones, we all do. Perhaps blt was a bit scorned by something said by Chris. He didn't seem to be running the man down on a personal level.

Is it possible to not say anything at all if it isn't nice or positive?  His friends and family will probably read this (including me) and If you are just commenting to be an ass who wants attention maybe you can start a blog somewhere else and not here where people are trying to cope with their thoughts about losing him.  I knew him on a personal and musical level and he was a very great guy, misunderstood at times, but he was an awesome person.  He has two nieces and a nephew that adore him not to mention family and friends from here locally and abroad.  Let those who do have nice things to say, say those things.  If yu didn't like his writing or whatever, then go blog about it elsewhere.  

I never read his articles, I just remember the shy little boy whose parents adored him.

More detail on Chris Page's suicide: http://blogs.phoenixnewtime...