Brackendale-based musician Dean Richards and singer-songwriter John Bottomley played as a duo for almost five years, taking their show on the road and recording some of Bottomley's soul-searching music for posterity.
A couple of years ago, the two went their separate ways musically, but in recent months they had talked about getting back together to perform and record some more of the old musical magic. Last November, Bottomley - the Toronto-born musician who had moved to Brackendale from Bowen Island a few years ago - released his latest album, The Healing Dream, to critical acclaim.
For all those reasons, the news that Bottomley - who won a Juno Award as Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1992 - had taken his own life after going for a walk near his home on April 6 hit Richards like a ton of bricks. John Bottomley was 50.
When The Chief phoned Richards this week seeking comments about his friend and fellow musician, Richards said he had just been thinking about Bottomley and what he and his music meant to so many people. It took a couple of minutes on the phone for Richards to gather his thoughts.
"What really hurts is that you'd think if he knew that all these people really cared about his music, maybe it would have made a difference," Richards said. "It sucks. Death is so final."
Richards said he first heard Bottomley play live about nine years ago and immediately wanted to play together. And for five years, that's precisely what they did.
"When you're that intimate, playing in a band, you get really close," Richards said. "One thing about John is that he always stuck to his he didn't compromise on his music. He did what he felt creatively. It didn't make him a rich guy in financial terms, but if you go to his back catalogue and start listening to it, all of the critics just loved him."
In at least one respect, Bottomley's music "was just the opposite of what it appears he was thinking about" when his life ended, Richards said. "His songs had positive messages, but there was a lot of introspective music," he said.
Richards said he last saw Bottomley play at the inaugural Live at Squamish festival last September. The music Bottomley played at the festival was similar to his past material - which is to say, still beautiful and extremely lyrical, Richards said.
"He's one of those musicians where, 'Oh the songs sound kind of similar,' but they were quite soulful and quite deep," he said. "He was very spiritual."
The tributes to Bottomley began pouring in shortly after news of his death broke. They included a Twitter message from the likes of former Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page, who tweeted that the sad news had left him "in a daze." A Facebook page titled "A Tribute to John Bottomley" included hundreds of recollections and messages of comfort and condolence to his family and close friends.
One message posted on Friday (April 15) stated, "How beautiful your music was, ahead of its time in the midst of '90s nonsense! A poet's soul, and dusty shoes, walk on forever. Kind wishes to those close to John Bottomley."
Said another, "You know, folks, the tears don't stop flowing for this man. I don't get it, and yet I do when I listen to him sing. God bless you, John!"
Bottomley's funeral took place on April 13 in Guelph, Ont. Tribute events are also planned next Wednesday (April 27) at Chapel Arts, 304 Dunlevy Ave. in Vancouver, and next Saturday, April 30, on Bowen Island.
