REMEMBERING MY BROTHER, Part I
My big brother Adam Goldstone passed away on Tuesday, August 29 2006.
Aside from being a beloved brother, son and friend Adam was one of the most musically knowledgeable people i ever met in my life -- and i was lucky to share a household with him for so many years.
Adam passed me mix tapes of Bob Marley, the Upsetters, UTFO, Roxanne Shante and James Brown when i was 10 years old. I had no idea at that time, but my informal education had begun. His particular style of pedagogy was not exactly dialogic in nature; he usually handed me a tape and, with an incredulous glare, asked "What? You haven't HEARD of this??" before walking away shaking his head. I would stand there, trying to read his handwriting on the tape, trying to act indifferent. Then, as soon as he was gone, i would run to my room and put the tape in my Sanyo boombox, close my eyes, and listen.
After my brother left home and moved to New York in the late 1980s he continued my education with bootleg cassette recordings of DJ Red Alert on KISS FM, ever-so-casual phone references to vinyl-only B-side bangers (once he told me to "hang up the phone right now and go find" the 12" single of "A Chorus Line" by Ultramagnetic MCs), and the rare present in the mail -- usually a 12" single on some ancient NYC dance label, with a post it note that said something like "You MUST have this record." Adam's obsession about music proved to be contagious, and i don't know if that's a testament to the quality of the music he so staunchly advocated, or my desire to be as cool as my older brother. I imagine its both.
When i went to visit Adam in NYC for the last time in 1990, he took me clubbing all over the city. There was one place he insisted that i come to; he used words like "legendary" and "mindblowing" in typical Adam hyperbole and i rolled my eyes as he led me into a huge room with hardwood floors and a massive sound system at the other end of the room...a DJ was playing records on bizarre-looking turntables, large and clunky and sitting much farther apart then i had seen in a DJ setup before. "That's Larry Levan...he's God" Adam whispered in my ear, before disappearing for 10 hours to dance. When he came back to get me, i was still standing by the DJ booth, watching with my mouth open as Levan played records i had never heard, sounded nothing like anything i had ever heard before, and did not mix any of the songs together as DJs typically do -- and to this day, it remains far and away the best DJ set i have ever heard. Later that trip, Adam took me to see the Jungle Brothers perform live, to the Red Zone, Payday, Shelter to see Ultra Nate live, and Choice. It took me years to realize how special a privilege my brother afforded me by taking me those places...
Though me and my brother grew distant over the past years, each corner in my musical career brings me back to him. Random international connections reference him, magazines announce hopes of a new album (if you haven't heard his 2001 studio LP on Nuphonic, "Lower East Side Stories," try to track it down), SF and LA nightclubs email announcements of him coming to spin, and incredulous NYC friends scream "WHAT??? ADAM GOLDSTONE IS YOUR BROTHER???!?!?"
Yup, Adam Goldstone is my brother. He is an ancestor now, and his incredible passion for music and its ability to both facilitate and explicate complex human interactions remains very much alive through me and all of the people he touched.
I love you lots and i miss you already Adam...
Love,
Your little brother
PS my brother was a funny muthafukka too...
Aside from being a beloved brother, son and friend Adam was one of the most musically knowledgeable people i ever met in my life -- and i was lucky to share a household with him for so many years.
Adam passed me mix tapes of Bob Marley, the Upsetters, UTFO, Roxanne Shante and James Brown when i was 10 years old. I had no idea at that time, but my informal education had begun. His particular style of pedagogy was not exactly dialogic in nature; he usually handed me a tape and, with an incredulous glare, asked "What? You haven't HEARD of this??" before walking away shaking his head. I would stand there, trying to read his handwriting on the tape, trying to act indifferent. Then, as soon as he was gone, i would run to my room and put the tape in my Sanyo boombox, close my eyes, and listen.
After my brother left home and moved to New York in the late 1980s he continued my education with bootleg cassette recordings of DJ Red Alert on KISS FM, ever-so-casual phone references to vinyl-only B-side bangers (once he told me to "hang up the phone right now and go find" the 12" single of "A Chorus Line" by Ultramagnetic MCs), and the rare present in the mail -- usually a 12" single on some ancient NYC dance label, with a post it note that said something like "You MUST have this record." Adam's obsession about music proved to be contagious, and i don't know if that's a testament to the quality of the music he so staunchly advocated, or my desire to be as cool as my older brother. I imagine its both.
When i went to visit Adam in NYC for the last time in 1990, he took me clubbing all over the city. There was one place he insisted that i come to; he used words like "legendary" and "mindblowing" in typical Adam hyperbole and i rolled my eyes as he led me into a huge room with hardwood floors and a massive sound system at the other end of the room...a DJ was playing records on bizarre-looking turntables, large and clunky and sitting much farther apart then i had seen in a DJ setup before. "That's Larry Levan...he's God" Adam whispered in my ear, before disappearing for 10 hours to dance. When he came back to get me, i was still standing by the DJ booth, watching with my mouth open as Levan played records i had never heard, sounded nothing like anything i had ever heard before, and did not mix any of the songs together as DJs typically do -- and to this day, it remains far and away the best DJ set i have ever heard. Later that trip, Adam took me to see the Jungle Brothers perform live, to the Red Zone, Payday, Shelter to see Ultra Nate live, and Choice. It took me years to realize how special a privilege my brother afforded me by taking me those places...
Though me and my brother grew distant over the past years, each corner in my musical career brings me back to him. Random international connections reference him, magazines announce hopes of a new album (if you haven't heard his 2001 studio LP on Nuphonic, "Lower East Side Stories," try to track it down), SF and LA nightclubs email announcements of him coming to spin, and incredulous NYC friends scream "WHAT??? ADAM GOLDSTONE IS YOUR BROTHER???!?!?"
Yup, Adam Goldstone is my brother. He is an ancestor now, and his incredible passion for music and its ability to both facilitate and explicate complex human interactions remains very much alive through me and all of the people he touched.
I love you lots and i miss you already Adam...
Love,
Your little brother
PS my brother was a funny muthafukka too...
posted by dj sake 1 at 9:06 AM
12 Comments:
I am so sorry to hear that Adam passed away. I was only fortunate enough to meet Adam twice. A kind and passionate soul who will deeply be missed.. Much love and respect. Heather
You and your family should know that your brother was truly loved my a multitude of people. You nailed it re: his sense of humor and his intelligence.
I was (one of) your brother's first friends when he made it to NY. I knew at first site that we'd be friends, with his pegged jeans, Mr. Spock hair cut and obvious proclivity for Mod. (We were both fans of an old local mod band from SF called The Targets). We became roommates our soph year at NYU. There was never anything short of intensity in our lives...he was tickled to death when I hooked up with the dying and decaying beats...Corso, Orlovsky, Huncke and misc. miscreants.... We crashed the NYU Christian Club meeting together (staged a famous fake fight betwee Satan and JesusFreak along w my now-wife), posted propaganda, published nasty poems and made films together (I was not the actor he hoped...I was too spontaneous and couldn't take his direction well....). He met up with my heroes Suckdog and Costes on your family trip to Paris. He exposed me to much more music than I did to him, although I know he treasured my RAPE GG record.... He came to my wedding, along w DJ Cosmo....
Just 2 years ago, we were contemplating producing a cover-mix of "Happy People" by a defunct band of same name from Phoenix from the '80s (your life in Tucson prompted a certain bond). Adam contributed to my Necro Enema Amalgamated products, the BLAM! CD-ROM series in the early '90s and invited me to more parties than anyone ever dared. In fact, one of my greatest regretes while knowing your brother is the amount of times I had to decline, based upon my own workaholocism. I'll always regret that. Lesson learned (to live a little). The hard way. In fact, just recently, he tried to get me out to see an old friend Concetta (Princess Superstar...). I declined, but then, of course, was the mention of Burning Man...
Adam should be respected as someone who was dedicated and focused on his passion: music. And ideas. Most people are not as true to their school as Adam was. We float between priorities and never stay focused...we make excuses for it, etc. Adam never did that. He was always on target. He never compromised his values. He remained a staunch minimalist and a true superhero.
He hated the war that is on. He hated the engineers of it, too. Adam had no tolerance for bullshit. I know, because I sat and talked with him about it not that long ago.
So, the motto I ascribe to your brother is: STOP AT NOTHING.
As Spock would say, "Remember."
Best to you and your family.
- E. Swenson
Sake, I am sorry for your loss. The past 10 years I've known Adam he has made me laugh, has educated me and has always been a lovely person all around - he will be missed. I wish only that I got to know him better. Blessings to you and your family.
Asya
I will miss Adam-there was no one else like him and there never will be. He has been apart of my NY club experience since day one-he lived it. And yes he was very funny. Too many great experiences to mention and everyone brings a smile to my face.
Space Dockers unite
Maurice Bernstein
CEO Giant Step
Sake, I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother.
I haven't spoken to him since I relocated to SF.
If I had, I'm sure he would have suggested that I look you up. I've heard you spin a couple of times and it's now obvious that good musical taste runs in the family.
Adam, to me was a brother in rhythm, a reliable supporter and a hopeless music junkie.
He invited me to participate in his 'Lower Eastside Stories' project and he seemed fascinated by the fact that I was born and grew up there and years later was still DJing clubs in the area. It was a pleasure to share my stories with him and I really admired him for trying to bring some international attention and cultural dignity to Loisada.
I always felt a bit smarter after each encounter with him since his life's mission was to spread the gospel of GOOD MUSIC..well... mission accomplished, Adam.
I'm proud to have known him.
I'm sure you'll continue his legacy, Sake.
I (and Loisada) will miss him...
Wayne Hunter (DJ Smash)
Hi Sake,
What you wrote about your brother was beautiful and I felt I should contact you to let your family know how much Adam meant to his friends. He was (and still is) a special force.
I was lucky enough to have Adam as both a dear friend and music colleague for nearly 20 years. I met Adam in 1987 when he first came to NYU as a mod (I did a student video portrait about him and how he kept his clothing – colour coordinated with each pullover in it’s own plastic zip lock bag!). We quickly bonded through music as I was doing a radio show called Mod Monday and later that year he discovered the NYC clubs and house music for which he became it’s premier proselytizer. Like you, he was the first person to bring me to Tracks, Payday and any other club happening at the moment. Crucially, he was the first person to bring me to The Loft and that really changed the direction of my life as I slowly switched from being a rock-based DJ to more of a dance DJ (which I still do today). I easily owe that to Adam.
What can I say that hasn’t been said already? Adam was by far the most quick-witted person I have ever known. He had an immense knowledge of music and was fiercely intelligent. He was one of the most ideological people I will ever know (a vegetarian who didn’t wear leather). He stood by his principles and lived life in the way he wanted and he did it fully. He embraced New York in a way that sometimes left me feeling guilty as I didn’t have the energy he had to go out and enjoy the city to it’s utmost every single day (and night :). He was also a great friend and a very sensitive spirit, a trait that may not have been recognized by all around him.
I’m happy to say that the last experience I had with Adam was lovely – we DJ-ed together at a night I was doing in London and I’m so glad that I will always have that memory.
I miss him deeply.
We love you Adam!
Colleen x
Hey Stefan,
I'm so sorry to hear about Adam's death. Haven't seen you in long time (other than steady promo posters) and even longer since I saw Adam, but you're in my thoughts. There are very few like him and we desperately need the few there are. Much love to you, Lara and your parents.
scott mcglashan
Add me to the list of surprised New Yorkers - I had no Idea Adam was your brother Sake. My deepest sympathies and condolences to you and your family. Adam was a true New Yorker and is truly missed by all who knew him.
Best,
Language
Rest in peace to the person who inspired your immense talent, DJ Sake 1. You and your family have my deepest condolences.
Jevaillier
This is the worst news. I have known Adam for a few years, and we built up a rapport. He is one of the few people in music that passed from business associate to friend.
He was a genuine guy with a very good sense of humour.
The last Time I saw him was at Fabric in London, after he'd been spinning in the club.
I want to send my sincere condolences and support to his family and close friends.
RIP Adam - May your spirir soar.
my condolences...
I'm remembering adam a lot tonight. i wish we had more time together. although we had not known each other for long. it was earlier @ Love that we worked together. he soon invited me and introduced me to so many folks. i feel i missed a great relationship to be. and wish i taken every chance i let pass to hang out and share.
but we had gr8 moments
gee i really miss him... mm
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