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Post by AGD on Aug 7, 2019 17:31:20 GMT -5
Just posted on Brian's Facebook page:
"Today is a sad sad day.
It is with my deepest regret to tell you that our beloved Nicky Wonder passed away last night in his sleep.
We are in a state of shock as you can imagine.
But we are going to honor him with tonights show.
Nicky was my favorite guitar player ever. I always loved the way he used his fingers. He was a real Rock and Roll guy and great singer too.
He was a friendly and very nice person and he was really really funny. He had the best sense of humor.
We are all crying today, he will be missed beyond words.
Our hearts go out to his wife Susan and his entire family, friends and fans.
We love you Nicky..
Love & Mercy
Brian Wilson"
Beyond shocked...
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Aug 7, 2019 17:34:07 GMT -5
What a sad day. Died in his sleep. RIP, Nick!
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Post by Emdeeh on Aug 7, 2019 17:47:52 GMT -5
Oh, no....  |
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Post by bryand on Aug 7, 2019 18:01:48 GMT -5
This is so sad.
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Post by mikedonn on Aug 7, 2019 19:05:09 GMT -5
Very sad news. RIP Nicky.
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Post by Mikie on Aug 7, 2019 20:00:50 GMT -5
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Post by leedempsey on Aug 7, 2019 20:02:25 GMT -5
This really sucks... 😢
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Post by dauber on Aug 7, 2019 20:52:23 GMT -5
I always said one of my few regrets in life was not flying out to LA in 2002 to catch the Knitting Factory gig. Now that regret truly, truly hurts. I never got to see Wondermints as a stand-alone unit; now I never will.
But, I was very fortunate. My wife and I were visiting Chicago for Beatlefest in 2002, the trip coincided with Brian's show at the Hard Rock Café. And a friend of ours was friendly with one of the band members. When this friend told said band member we'd be at the show, said band member told our friend to tell us to stop at will call when we arrive. So we did...and there were after-show passes.
We hung out for a while after the show. Now...in December 2001 I found a copy of Wonderful World of Wondermints at Jack's Record Shoppe in Red Bank, NJ; Jack is a big Beach Boys fan, so I'll bet that has something to do with the store stocking that album! I decided I take the liner with me to any Brian show I went to on the off chance I could get at least one of the 'Mints to autograph it. Well....that night in August 2002 was soooooo lucky.
If I recall correctly, Darian was first. I said, "Darian, would you mind autographing this for me?" He smiled and said, "Sure!" When I handed him the liner, his eyes practically bugged out of his head. "WHOA!! Thank you for buying this!!" I told him I love his music. "You know we have a new album coming out soon, right?" I said, "Mind If We Make Love To You." He said, "Well, of course you know!"
Next I saw Mike carrying an amp across the stage. I was debating whether I should bother him; he's obviously busy. But what if this is my only chance? I yelled over to him and asked if he'd mind signing something for me. He immediately stopped, put the amp down, and said "Sure!" He walked over and sat down on the stage. He had a big smile on his face and said, "This is the first time I got to sit down in SIX HOURS!" Darian came over and said, "He's got THREE songs on our new album! This bastard's getting creative on us!" Pretty sure Probyn was next, and he was already prepared with a Sharpie. My wife and I talked with him for a long time that night; oh, man, he's such a fun guy!
Nick was just sitting by himself off to the side at the bar, keeping to himself, but...he definitely proved to be a friendly guy. He decided he wanted his signature to be on the cloud. I asked him if he could tell me how I know which person on the cover is Mike and which is Probyn; he said Probyn is the one with the stripes.
I did see him again when the same friend managed to get us backstage at the Beacon Theater four years later. I asked Nick, "When's your solo album coming out?" He said, "Soon, I hope!" Damn thing still isn't out, but one track -- "Bionocle" -- came out via a podcast, and it's friggin' amazing.
Anyway...here's the autographed liner...which I'll hugely cherish... |
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Post by Cam Mott on Aug 7, 2019 21:06:48 GMT -5
Very sad. Condolences to his family and freinds.
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petsite
Author/Historian/ Researcher 
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 3,215
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Post by petsite on Aug 7, 2019 21:57:19 GMT -5
Such a sweet guy. And one hell of an axe player. He loved BW's music so much. He just made everything better when he played with the group. Heartbroken tonight.
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Post by Emdeeh on Aug 7, 2019 23:03:46 GMT -5
Dauber, that's an amazing collection of signatures and embellishments -- Nick's math formula & "serf's up," Probyn's selfie toon, and the atom (Darian?).
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Post by reggiedunbar on Aug 8, 2019 1:51:37 GMT -5
This is so sad. Anyone have any details as to the cause of death?
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Post by E on Aug 8, 2019 4:32:42 GMT -5
59 and in his sleep. Jesus. RIP.
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Post by filledeplage on Aug 8, 2019 6:28:36 GMT -5
Terrible, just terrible. RIP - you were a Wonder!
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Post by kds on Aug 8, 2019 7:13:45 GMT -5
RIP Nick - Sending Good Vibrations to you and your friends and family
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Post by andrewhickey on Aug 8, 2019 12:38:46 GMT -5
Truly heartbreaking news.
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Post by dauber on Aug 8, 2019 13:48:15 GMT -5
BTW, in case anybody wants a quick sound bite of Nick:
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Post by Al S on Aug 8, 2019 17:17:43 GMT -5
RIP, Nicky W.
I have great crystal clear memories of Nicky on stage, in the spotlight, playing the dadada solo of Please Let Me Wonder on Brian’s ‘02 tour down here - 10/12/2002.
So cool, he looked like he owned the world.
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ash
Grommet
Posts: 13
Likes: 16
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Post by ash on Aug 9, 2019 4:24:09 GMT -5
Oh no that's terrible news. I must have seen Brian's band more than 30 times and Nicky was an integral part as a musician and a great character on stage. That period in the early to mid 2000's was absolute magic. Thanks Nicky. RIP.
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Post by John Manning on Aug 9, 2019 14:39:44 GMT -5
Just playing catch-up as holiday interwebbity stuff not constant. Fek me, what a bloody shame about Nicky. He’s been a great part of the Brian resurgence and a damn good soldier for Brian. The shows can never be the same without his amazing skills and gifted contribution.
Gutted for his family and friends; far too young of an age to leave us.
Nicky, thank you so much for your skills and your music; thank you for your camaraderie with the fans and thank you for writing out the lyrics to the spoken section of Holiday on my 2004 Smile tour programme in (I think) Glasgow!
God speed.
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Post by dauber on Aug 9, 2019 22:28:13 GMT -5
Correction: I saw them at the House of Blues in Chicago, not the Hard Rock Café.
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Post by Paul JB on Aug 10, 2019 16:27:25 GMT -5
Sad news indeed. IMO Nicky and the Wondermints are as responsible for the great years of Brian’s solo career as Brian was.
Thanks Nicky.
Dauber....holy crap. Would you by chance have had long blond blonde hair back in 2002 at the house of blues? I was there and remember a guy chatting with me and several others after the show about how he had been in Chicago for Beatlefest and heard Brian was in Chicago and was all over it !? I honestly can’t remember talking to Nicky, but for sure chatted with Mike, Taylor, Darien....it was when Darien told me how Brian was starting to warm up a little to Smile material after a few years of being very much against it. Pretty sure you and a few others had after show passes and I didn’t but no one kicked me out.
Even if that was not you....totally great show. Awesome crowd of people that loved Brian. They played Cabinessence...!
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Post by dauber on Aug 11, 2019 12:39:01 GMT -5
Guilty.  |
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Post by Paul JB on Aug 11, 2019 18:41:18 GMT -5
Guilty. Thought so, wow I don’t even know you but I remember you...smiles all around.😀 proof that Nicky helped create lasting memories....very cool and a silver lining in this sad thread. |
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Post by dauber on Aug 15, 2019 21:53:40 GMT -5
Hey, what was that TV show that Wondermints made a brief appearance on? It was one of the many, many Fox TV series that lasted maybe three episodes. They were shown "performing" "Puppet Grrls R Go," a song Nick wrote and sang, but they had Darian lip-sync it because apparently his (slightly) taller height worked better on camera. There was a clip of it on YouTube some time ago, but I think it's since been taken down.
UPDATE: found the answer! It was Get Real.
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