Aaron Stout, a close Friend and Brother of mine passed away on Friday the 27th of February 2009.
I met Aaron when I first started to play live. Trying to shake off my stage fright, I would go to open mic nights and sing my new songs to small audiences. It was the second time that I went down to one of those open mics (in Tufnell Park) that Aaron and I met. I was sitting alone, nervously waiting my turn when a guy I had noticed come into the room (very handsome, wearing a great 70's like shirt) made his way to my table. "Do you mind if I sit here?" he said. There were plenty of empty tables for him to sit at, but fate had intended for us to meet that night.... "no, sure"....he sat down. He gave me the confidence and support to perform my songs well that night, and then i heard him sing....I was blown away. His raw emotion and melodic sensibilities were unique. I had just met my first and most important musical friend.
We started to meet up often, going to a studio near Ladbroke Grove and spending hours recording each others songs. We grew our beards together, he was the older brother I looked up to, I learnt so much from him. We planned on making an album together and already had a title for the record... "Paintings in Motion Pictures" (based on the ideas we had for the artwork). Aaron eventually went back to the States when his visa expired. We stayed in contact and continued to encourage one another.
The next time i met Aaron was when I went to New York to film the video for The Pied Piper. Alone in the big city, he came over to the apartment i was put up in to keep me company. We sang songs all night and went on long walks all around trendy Brooklyn. Aaron and I really hit it off on a Spiritual level, that's what we spent most of our time talking about. He was full of love for all humanity, and Supremely in Love with his Creator. He never had it easy in life, but I never heard him complain. I insisted that we figure a way to have him in the video, and thankfully he's there at the end, reminding me....time's running out.....he's the first to leave.
We supported each other the next year doing small shows around London.
We even played extras in a video for Midday (Avoid City After Dark).
Both thoughtfully drinking coffee in a picture on the Yusuf's Cafe dvd booklet.
The last time I met Aaron was in March last year. I was shooting a video for Endoscopises in NY again. With my friend Tom, we hit the streets every night and crashed in the same apartment when we had no energy left. I remember falling onto the pavement with laughter, listening to their witty jokes and impressions.
He leaves behind two beautiful albums, Queens Live in Caskets and The Mind of Kings is Unsearchable. I hope one day they get the recognition they deserve.
I will always hold him close to my heart, and will try to live up to the example he set himself.
"To Him we belong and to Him we return"
Peace be with you always
Yoriyos
here is a link to his Obituary
Aaron Stout