November 18, 1957 - March 1, 2014
Please visit Joe's Page and give a listen to his music.
We all loved Joe. He was a great musician and friend.
He is in our hearts and he is deeply missed.
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FOR JOE
A LETTER FROM BUSTER CLYDE
AND A TRIBUTE SONG BELOW
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I MET JOE IN SEPTEMBER 1974 AT SCHOOL.
WE DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD A MORE THAN JUST A PASSING INTEREST IN MUSIC.
WE BOTH PLAYED GUITAR AND QUICKLY BECAME FRIENDS.
I USED TO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN CLASS.
I KNEW WE WOULD FIND TIME TO DISCUSS OUR MUSICAL INTERESTS
AND WHAT EVER WAS GOING ON IN MUSIC AT THE MOMENT.
LITTLE DID I KNOW HE WOULD ALSO BECOME FRIENDS TO MY COUSINS
JOAD AND DAN COLEMAN AND JOAD'S BEST FRIEND FRED (MICK) HOFFMAN.
UNBEKNOWST TO ME AND WE WOULD SOMEHOW
ALL BECOME INTERTWINED FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
I KNEW JOE THROUGH ALL HIS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
AND HE HAD A LOT OF THEM.
BUT WHAT I REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT JOE IS
HIS HUMOUR, SARCASM AND HIS ABSOLUTE LOVE OF THE MUSIC.
I ALWAYS ADMIRED HIS PLAYING AND CREATIVITY.
AND ALWAYS FELT THAT HE NEVER FULLY SHARED THOSE THINGS WITH THE WORLD.
HE WAS BATTLING A LOT OF DEMONS I GUESS
AND THATS A SHAME BECAUSE THE WORLD MISSED OUT
ON A TRULY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TALENT.
I LAST SAW JOE IN 1996 WHEN I WAS STAYING IN BATH, NEW YORK.
MY ROOM MATE HAD JUST MOVED OUT AND
ONE DAY THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. THE MAN SAID TO ME
"THIS IS YOUR NEW ROOM MATE" AND IN WALKED JOE.
WE BOTH STARTED LAUGHING.
I MEAN WHAT WERE THE CHANCES?
WE SPENT THE NEXT THREE WEEKS PLAYING MUSIC
ON THE PIANO, HAVING A LAUGH DISCUSSING OLD TIMES
AND MUTUAL FRIENDS UNTIL I LEFT MYSELF.
I NEVER DID SEE HIM AGAIN AFTER THAT.
ALTHOUGH HE DID WRITE ME A FEW TIMES.
AND SO MY DEAR FRIEND JOE,
HOW I WISH I COULD HAVE SAID MORE
AND SAID IT MORE ELOQUENTLY...
"I LOVE YOU"
AND I WILL MISS YOU.
RON WILLIAMS AKA BUSTER CLYDE
"NO ONE HERE TO RAISE A TOAST
TAKE ME BY THE HAND, MAN, RAISE A TOAST
TO A ROCK AND ROLL GHOST
TO A ROCK AND ROLL GHOST...."
(R.R.GHOST WRITTEN BY P. WESTERBERG)
PERFORMED BELOW IN MEMORY OF JOE HALEY
BY BUSTER CLYDE
AS PERFORMED BY BUSTER CLYDE
FOR JOE
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WELL YOU CAME AND YOU STAYED
TAKE ME BY THE HAND, MAN, RAISE A TOAST
TO A ROCK AND ROLL GHOST
WE DON`T KNOW LIFE UNTIL WERE GONE
NO ONE HERE TO RAISE A TOAST
BE MY GUEST
AND I WILL BE YOUR HOST
TO A ROCK AND ROLL GHOST