Bruce Roehrs 1950-2010
17 03 2010
Bruce Roehrs passed away in his home on Saturday, March 13th, 2010. He was a genuine friend to many and always had your back and a kind word to boot. An ardent music fan as well as a long time column writer/contributor for Maximum Rocknroll, Bruce lived and breathed punk rock. Bruce will be sorely missed.
Bruce’s resting place
Bruce made San Francisco, CA his home the mid ’80s and over the years he took many of his friends, both locals and out-of-towners, to SF’s Columbarium. Built in 1898, this landmark contains the memorial sites of some of the city’s founding families as well as some of its more notorious occupants, such as Dirk Dirksen (the punk music promoter nicknamed the “Pope of Punk”). The Columbarium is a non-denominational memorial site that Bruce loved for its beauty, craftsmanship, and tranquility, and it was where his memorial service was held on Friday, April 9th, 2010.
The Columbarium (photo by Hugh Young/Encyclopedia Britannica)
Feel free to continue to leave comments here. Let us never forget the great Bruce Roehrs!
Damn it.
One of the columns I always looked forward to with each issue of MRR.
He will be missed.
I am aghast. This is a great loss.
R.I.P. Bruce. Such a cool guy.
This one’s for you, Bruce.
Bruce Roehrs spent his entire life loving, above all else, Rock and Roll. He would forsake all else; love, money, health and well being, for the next great band or reunion. He would travel miles to see one more Templars show, to hear Lemmy belt out one more chorus, or Anti-Seen in some state they had never played before. He loved rock and roll the way kids love baseball. So the next time you’re moved uncontrollably to the front of the crowd, or your days trials are echoed in the lyrics of your favorite band, The next time your otherwise shitty day has one ray of light in the brilliant distortion of some here today, gone tomorrow Finnish black-metal band, Raise a glass or raise your fist and think of my friend Bruce.
I just heard, so very sad! I just saw him last month in S.F. and had a great time hanging out w/ him at our show @ Li-Po Lounge. Always very supportive! He was always someone I would look forward to seeing every time I went to the bay. Cheers to Bruce, he will be missed.
Nothing to say. A great guy, will be missed so much.
Thanks for the outpouring. All comments are moderated, so please be patient while we try to keep up with everyone’s words and thoughts for Bruce…
FUCK NO!!! :(
Every time I got a new MRR, I turned to Bruce’s column to see what great rock n roll band had something new -loved his enthusiasm. He will surely be missed. Aloha Mr Roehrs, malama pono, a hui hou.
I am really sad to hear that Bruce Roehrs is dead. What awful news. He was always someone I looked forward to seeing when I went to MRR ,at shows, or at the bar. In a world of despair he was always so inspiring and upbeat about things, and seemed to shrug everything off and rock out no matter what. He was a pure music fanatic that rarely ever had anything bad to say about any band when it came to music we spoke of. He was always someone I handed every new record I released first, I will be very sad to never be able to introduce him to a new record again. What a loss for all of his friends. I consider it an honor to have been one of the many.
Heavy, heavy sadness. Funny how with the sorrow, the happy, crazy, young, exciting memories comes with it. We were all savages but therapy and booze helped me deal with those past memories but to tell you the truth—I fucking cherish them all. We all loved you and I know you’re wreaking havoc whereever you are. I’m sure you have enough drink tickets to pay the ferryman. You made a difference.
We’ll all miss you, Bruce. What a fucking tragedy!
Such sad news. My favourite MRR columnist. RIP dude.
Always always fucken’ cool when nobody else was or he even needed to be! I will honestly miss him…
R.I.P.
Yow! He was younger than me! It’s sad. I only met Bruce a couple of times, but he was always Mr. Niceguy. He was childlike in the best sense of the word. If pages can miss someone, he will be missed by the pages of MRR. And, of course, by the people who knew him.
My name is Doug Canipe….I played bass in ANTiSEEN for 9 years. I don’t know what to say…..just heard the news and am shocked. Bruce was the man……anytime we headed to the West Coast I knew Bruce was going to be at almost every show and I always looked forward to seeing and talking to him. He always had something interesting to talk about and his passion and love for music was second to none. He was a kind soul. That last time I saw him me and my wife hosted a cookout at my house before the Antiseen 25th anniversary show in Charlotte. After everyone had eaten he spent the next two hours putting things away and cleaning up everything until it was spotless and thanked us 100 times over for our hospitality. My wife who had never met Bruce before commented for weeks about what a nice and kind person he was. I will truly miss you Bruce. If I ever have the opportunity to perfrom with ANTiSEEN again at an anniversary or some other special show…..every single note I play and sing will be for you. RIP my friend.
It’s been several months since I last spoke to Bruce and although I didnt know him well, I was looking forward to seeing him again this spring. He once told me the only two cd’s he had in his truck were the Templars and ANTiSEEN. For some reason I think he would want people to know that. He was a wild character, a lot of fun to be around. He wrote some flattering stuff about my old records many years ago and I’m glad that I eventually got to meet him and tell him thanks in person. He was very dedicated to underground rock and roll… – especially the outlaws, outcasts and rebels. He knew the score and remained the last gasp of old-school punk attitude at MRR. He said the first record he ever bought was the 13th Floor Elevators ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’.
I am.
Bruce was genuinely kind to me whenever I worked at the MRR house. Total commitment to himself and what he loved. Rest in peace.
Bruce was a great friend with the most wicked smile and laugh. Anyone who’s spent time with him or read his column is better for it.
We are all so very sad to hear the news of Bruce’s passing. His love and knowledge of everything Rock and Roll was unsurpassed and it was always an absolute pleasure to spend some time in his company. He will sorely missed and we shall raise a glass or three in his honour and to his memory.
- Cock Sparrer
Great guy, great passion, tremendous loss to the punk rock community. Real neat guy in person, it was as though all the youthful exuberance you imagined and felt while reading his column came to life. Rest in peace, good sir. I will be listening to some GMM/TKO stuff from the early 2000s-late 90s in your honor today.
fly brother…. and i thought i liked and knew about music until i met bruce
Terrible terrible news.
Words cannot express the immense loss the world has sustained. Farewell, Bruce. Thanks for everything.
motherfuck. just ain’t right. I’m stunned / crushed / speechless. Such a strong spirit, absolutely gutted.
Timojhen
Bruce was the kindest, happiest person I knew in the Bay Area. I just saw him last week. I know he wouldn’t want me or anyone to be bummed, so I’m gonna drink beer tonight and play some Cocksarrer and Antiseen.
“Hey man it’s punk rock, there’s nothing wrong with a little fistacuffs” – The Mighty Bruce Roehrs.
he will always be missed.
he will always be remembered.
he will always be spoken of in the highest of regards in my house.
thanks for everything you brought to my fucked up world.
how ironic – the captcha comment to enter below reads – the homeboys
Sad day for everyone who knew him. You alway knew it was on when you saw Bruce at the show. His attitude and outlook are an inspiration to me. I feel lucky to have spent the time I did with him. Be seeing you, Bruce.
Such a sad thing to hear today. Bruce always treated my old band with much respect. Such a nice guy, and I am very saddened to hear this. RIP Bruce!
what a shitty way to start spring.
looked forward to his column every month.
i wish we could’ve met- sounds like you were a hell of a guy!
This is a bum out. Bruce was a really nice guy. I will miss seeing him around.
RIP, what a great guy.
R.I.P. Bruce !!
Arrrgh, heard this sad, sad news late last night from a mutual friend. Bruce will be missed by so many. Can’t think of anything that hasn’t been said already, but wanted to get the grief out. Rock In Peace buddy.
Never met the man personally, but I feel like I know him from his columns. This is really, really sad.
This is hard to digest. No more Bruce Roehrs??! Rest in peace, man :(
Bruce was one of the first people I met during my time at MRR and always the most enthusiastic. His pure, passionate love for punk rock and rock’n'roll was completely unbridled, unironic, and unmatched. It’s hard to sort through all of my thoughts right now, honestly, because Bruce is so one of a kind…and it’s just too strange to think I’m never gonna hear him say, “Heeeeeeeyyyy punk rocker!!” again. I am just gonna second Will and say that I consider it an honor to to known Bruce and been counted among his friends. RIP.
A drink for you, good sir!
A star, a champion of all he loved, helped all he could and a lovely lovely man to boot.
Thanks for your help and support Bruce.
this hits really hard… You will be missed.
i will miss your headbutts and hugs, arm locks and shoves, but most of all Bruce i will miss your unrelenting enthusiasm, your unbridled energy, your undiluted love of rock n roll, and the unconditional bond that you formed with all your fellow kindred spirits. You where one of a kind Bruce, a mentor, a friend and a shinning light to so many.It was an absolute pleasure Bruce.
I didn’t know Bruce well, but every time I saw him, he was incredibly friendly and warm. He always asked what I was up to and how I was doing, even though he could have gotten away with a simple nod and wave. He was a genuinely good guy and a great columnist, and I’m very sad to hear he’s passed away.
RIP
Bruce, your infectious enthusiasm and smile brightened countless days at MRR and nights at shows for me for many years. Nothing was monotonous or drudgery to you…I used to do an impression of the knee bounce rock stance you had when (always) up front at every show…this was only, of course, when you weren’t the happiest dude in the pit. I always imagined you bounding out of bed every single morning, hopping in your truck, grinning, and heading to work…while the rest of us, who partied with you the night before, were cranky, hungover ogres for half the day.
Man, I’d give anything to hang out and flip records with you one more time. Miss you much my friend…
Bruce will be greatly missed. Off to vinyl heaven, R.I.P.
I was saddened to hear about Bruce’s passing and the fact that I didn’t get a chance to meet him when my wife and I were in SF a few years ago makes it even sadder. I still hope to see you at the bar someday, Bruce. Fuck!
Bruce always went out of his way to say hi to everyone. Every time I went to the Maximum house if he was around it was guaranteed records would be playing loud, he would take the time to ask me how I was and how my band was, and then always shuffle through the records I had for review pointing out which ones would be “PUNK AS FUCK!!!!!!!”
Totally will be missed Bruce.
One of a kind!
I just cant believe it….i’m shocked…heavily saddened…i have’nt seen bruce since my last trip up north last yr…genuinely, one of THE kindest, warmest human beings i’ve ever had the pleasure of befriending…i’m lucky to have known him.
The Tunnel Rats never would have been heard of by anyone without Bruce’s unbridled love of rock-n-roll. I dialed information from NH back in 1993 to get his number, and he took my call and shot the shit with me for over an hour without having a clue who I was. Over the years we would meet up only 6 times, but every single one was beyond memorable. The Tunnel Rats wrote songs with Bruce in mind, knowing he would love it. I have never, and will never, meet anyone who lived for music like Bruce. It was an inspiration to musicians and fans alike to just feed off his energy for a few minutes. To see him at a show was to see someone who was not where he wanted to be, but where he NEEDED to be.
RIP Bruce. And thank you for all the kind words in those columns over the years.
The Tunnel Rats, from Dover, NH
Bruce was nice to me from the moment I met him. And it wasn’t just me. In the near decade and a half I knew him I saw him treat everyone line that. He never fell victim to scene politics and he never lost his passion. Bruce dedicated his life to punk rock. Bruce WAS punk rock. We could all learn somthing from him. I know I did.
Bruce you will be greatly missed, growing up in the middle of nowhere, your column was a lifeliine to exciting rock n roll writing and infectious punk rock!
PUNK AS FUCK INDEED
Bummer. Looked forward to his column each month. He always wrote good things about the band, which we will always appreciate. Never met the dude, but felt like he was a friend anyways. See you on the other side.
wtf?? really sad news.. he was the main reason for me to buy the MRR.. bought so many records only because of his great reviews, or got in touch with alot of these bands for interviews for my info riot zine, or record releases on my final vinyl record label.. he will be missed!! RIP brother….
spiller
(emscherkurve 77 / final vinyl records / info riot fanzine)
oberhausen/germany
for once in my life i am at a loss for words…
FUCK YOU FOR IT BRUCEY BABY!!! AF ALL DAY!!!
So very, very sad. Bruce was a houseguest of mine last year when he came down to south Mississippi to see Before I Hang and Antiseen. After a long fight and a two hour car ride he arrived with a bouquet of flowers for me, the “lady of the house.” Bruce was a gentleman with a generous spirit, a true friend and a lover of rock and roll. He will be sorely missed.
RIP Bruce. Heaven just got a little more punk.
I meant flight, not fight. Sorry
Condolences to all at MRR & Bruce’s friends & family. Punk rock was his life, much like Tim Yo. Such a shock.
sadly missed..rest in peace my friend..he was a great friend to have always with a smile…love an respect….DOG PATCH WINOS S/F
Bruce was always upbeat and enthusiastic, but you just had to love him anyway.
You will be missed!
Cheers, Brother!
i have been reading bruce’s columns from MRR since i first picked up the mag back in like 95 or 96. he was always the most enthusiastic, “fuck yeah”, easy to read, no bullshit, no pretensiousness reviewer. the most consistent, his column was always there. he pretty much got me into awesome bands like ANTISEEN, THE TEMPLARS, ROSE TATTOO, AVO, GG and other various raging hardcore/oi/rocknroll. this fucking sucks.
fuck yes! bruce, see you at the bar! i’ll be raising my glass in your honor tonight.
No one was more punk rock than Bruce. What a sweet, cranky guy. We will miss you.
One more quick story if I may………
everytime we went out to the west coast seeing Bruce was one of the things I looked forward to the most. The dude was just a pleasure to be around and talk to. He truly lived for music. He was one of the tiny handful of people I have ever met who totally loved ANTiSEEN’s music and show and realized what it was all about down to the core. He wasn’t just like “cool man….blood.” like so many seemed to be. He truly loved it and dug it for all the same reasons I did. One of the biggest compliments anyone ever gave me was when he came to see us play a show in…..hell I can’t even remember the name of the town now…….but we did a tour with Blowfly and we took a show on like a freaking Wednesday night just to avoid having a night off…….it was in some middle of nowhere town in California…..at a damn sportsbar…..out of the “maybe” 100 people there…..4 of them knew who the hell we were. There was no stage….we stood on the floor…..there was really no lights…..a crap PA…..this place usually booked lame college bands and hippity hop garbage….Well we went on and nobody came up front at the beginning except for Bruce…..So I said screw it, put my head down, closed my eyes, and bashed out our 45 minute set with as much energy as I could…..by the end of our set we had a lot of the crowd up front and in our corner. After the show Bruce came over and said “you looked like you were having fun up there…..you played your heart out man……that’s what this is all about isn’t it??? thanks a lot, I really appreciate what you just did……didn’t want you to think it went unnoticed.”
How many people would even think to do that??? total class act. RIP man….you will be missed.
Wow! This is a shock, somehow Bruce always used to joke that I was responsible for changing his life. Back before I lived in SF I used to visit a friend from college who worked at this bookstore on the haight, Bruce was a frequent patron of that place and was real friendly. I also used to see him at shows like the Replacements (yeah hard to fathom in his recent oi punk phase).
I was involved when Epicenter/Blacklist started, and I think one day when I ran into him I told him about Epicenter. Apparently he came in one day met Tim and they hit it off and that started the process of his involvement in SF punk rock.
After I left maximum I used to still run into me and he’d give me shit about liking the less than raging stuff.
It’s a shame we won’t have him giving us shit anymore because we weren’t punk rock enough.
RIP Mr. Roehrs you were a part of my life here in the city.
R.I.P. Bruce.
FUCK!
Harrington Saints will miss you man. Everyone will miss you brother. I will be buying people pints in your honor on Saturday!
Jay
We can all learn a valuable lesson from Bruce. The man had an unstoppable lust for life.
My cynicism seems to have become my trademark…
I’d trade it in an instant for Bruce’s inspiring optimism.
Lesson learned.
Love you Pal,
Jack Control
I’m gutted. Reading these comments really drive this terrible loss home. I’ll always be honored to have had the privilege to call him a friend. We can take comfort in knowing that in his last days he continued to do what he loved, and was psyched for a huge trip to London for some great Punk-Rock-N-Roll courtesy of Cock Sparrer and The Who. His life was full of joy right to the end. Rest in Power! Soft and safe to thee my brother….
Where: The Purple Onion, or someplace similar. When: 1995 or ’96 at the latest. Bruce is double-fisting Pabst Blue Ribbons, punching the air, jumping and swaying to whatever trash-can combo is onstage at the moment. A very fastidiously-dressed hipster passes him in the crowd: cigarette pants, Beatle Boots, paisley shirt, scarf, pageboy, the works. Bruce points to the guy and shouts “you look like I WANTED to look in 1966! Good work, Tiger!”
what sad news i only got back into reading MRR after many years away from it and Bruce’s column and reviews were the one thing i looked forward most too. he was right up my alley..Bruce RIP i’ll have a shot a beer and crank agnostic front loud tonight.
FUCK,FUCK,FUCK,FUCK,FUCK,FUCK.
This really sucks. Wish Bruce had another twenty more rockin’ years.
wish I knew the guy after reading these comments, RIP Bruce.
I used to love talking with Bruce when he would come shopping at Amoeba San Francisco. He was the most informative person I’d ever met when the subject was punk, hardcore or just rock in general. Haven’t seen him since I moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to help open an Amoeba here. He will be sorely missed by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him and by those who read his columns.
Chris Matthews @ Amoeba Los Angeles
I can’t imagine walking into the MRR house or being at a show and not having him around. He made me laugh, challenged me to think and always encouraged me to have fun. I will be spinning everything from Teengenerate to Antiseen today and thinking of him. Long live Maximumbrucenroll!
One of my best friends. My heart’s broken. RIP
My deepest condolences to his friends family and the MRR staff!!!
This is a devastating loss to so many people in the “scene” as we have all come to know it, as well as to San Francisco.
You could find Bruce hanging out at Alice’s Restaurant on Skyline Blvd on his Ducati. You would run into him with a dress shirt on at a George Jones show at the Masonic Auditorium. You could find him, almost without fail, at Ameoba Records EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY after his work day ended. And, of course, you would find him all the time at all the bars, pubs, dives, warehouses across the Bay Area (or sometimes in other cities) watching a show.
Bruce loved to go get dinner almost every night out on the town. He liked Indian food and Thai the most, and he would meet up with people constantly in his extended social circle to dine with them. It was always a pleasure to meet up with Bruce, and to travel with him too. The first time I met him was when we reached for the same record at the same time during one of the KUSF Rock n’ Swaps. It was an amusing moment that turned into 13 years of many more amusing moments.
The last time I saw him, he was in the pit (with a beer), as I was leaving a show early. It is a great way to remember him; he was so at home in that type of environment. However, for those that ever got to sit around and just listen to records with Bruce, those are the moments I will miss the most. He was, without a doubt, the most passionate music-lover I have ever had the honor of meeting.
RIP – Bruce
To our friend Bruce. I’ll miss playing and watching you front and center everytime. I’ll miss sitting slumped over a bar with you. I’ll miss the bearhugs, backslaps and shoulder rubs. I’ll miss making fun of the music you like. I’ll miss headbanging to Never Healed with you. I’ll miss the way you always asked about the kids and family first. You sir were one of the most positive, energetic, fun people I know. San Francisco has lost a father figure, a friend, a fucking legend. SEE YOU AT THE BAR!!!!!
Wow, I can’t believe it. I met Bruce through his brother Chris and spent a fabulous crazy crazy weekend with him in SF. He was totally amazing, took me everywhere (we partied our faces off) and treated me like a brother, all his friends lit up when he entered the room (it was like being with Liitle baby Jesus) and immediately treated me like family, which sure shows you what awesome people he had around him. We went surfing at Pacifica and he was an awesome guy to ride a wave with and that’s the truth. It is rare to find a man with such a childlike sense of wonder and fun who also lives it absolutely fully and with an enormous sense of integrity – while also being the crazed out total dude he truly was. We felt a link ever since and I’m sure thousands of people who met him feel the same way. There must be some crazy shit goin down in Heaven right now. Rock on forever Bruce, we all love you.
So sad. Just saw him last weekend. Always up front at all the shows. RIP.
I will also miss Bruce’s laugh, and hearing him grunt and shout as he listened to his favorite new releases in the MRR hallway, and the way he always asked “How ya doin’?” in his distinct Philly accent. He was extremely intelligent and genuinely sweet and never at a loss for words. Every single week he brought a case of wine and a carton of cigarettes to a 90-year-old woman that belonged to his union and he said that it was the one good thing that he did in life. He was wrong about his kindness because he obviously brightened so many people’s moods on a regular basis. He was a permanent fixture at the MRR pad and I really can’t imagine the house without him. He was super dedicated to writing for MRR and he never missed a single column or review the entire 2+ years I was with the mag. He would always say, “I have to give those five fans that I have something to read this month.” Five fans? Thousands of people are thinking of Bruce today, and the other billions of people on this planet, well it’s their loss that they never knew of the absolute brilliance of the man we call Bruce Roehrs. A true unique character that I will never, ever forget.
Well what the Fuck! I just was talking with Bruce on March 12th and he was in the same order as always excited to be alive and we bitched about work and we talked about Rock n Roll, What else HUH? I have been Buddys with this man since we first talked to each other almost 20 yrs ago and Bruce is one of
THE REAL ONE’S He was given the Gift of feeling music all the emotion and pain and anger, and suffering that motivates a good song Bruce understood it all more than the average man. when ever I talked to Bruce he was so giving and Real in what he said. Bruce was a very intense man and I am goning to miss him .
BRUCE we are very sad today that you are gone but you can bet your fucking ass buddy going to S.F. will never be the same for me.
REST IN PEACE.
Love and Respect
M.KANEL/BONECRUSHER
Very sad news, he will be missed!
Ha ha thats the funniest of all the stories! “You look like I WANTED to look in 1966! Good work, Tiger!” I could hear him saying that right now! lol he understood the filth of rock and roll. Someone had to, now someone has to take his place.
Condolences to family, friends and MRR. We loved his columns and reviews. Last time we were at the MRR house doing the radioshow (in 2008) we met him in person. He was a great guy, very, very friendly. I hope we’ll be as involved into the punk(rock) scene and as raging as he was at 60. We also need to thank him for the kind words he always had for us in his columns. We will miss him!
Vitamin X from Amsterdam
FUCK! Go Well My Brutha!!!! Valhalla
So sad. I never met Bruce, but I’ve always enjoyed his column. He always came off as sincere, never ironic or cynical. You could tell that he really loved punk, lived for it. I’ve been reading column ever since I picked up my first copy of MRR 13 years ago. I credit him with introducing me to a lot of great music. Thanks for everything, Bruce!
What a sad day for San Francisco, for MRR and the scene. This is truly terrible news.
Bruce made all of our lives a little brighter. Truly one of the last few genuinely nice people. You will be missed.
Who is gonna tell me “You’re not here to cause trouble now are ya?” at a show. Course if Bruce was telling you this, it meant you were right up front and center. The optimism, old world grace, and passion this man brought to everything he did was remarkable and contagious. You will be missed my friend.
Such a very great loss.
We’ll miss seein ya dancing up front Bruce!
i’m thinkin about Bruce ambling up & bear huggin me at Amebix sayin “just another night in the pit. next year i’m turning 60 & im gonna be in the pit when i do!” i’m thinkin about knocking back beers with him at fucked up while Damien sipped a pint glass Shirley Temple & laughed at Bruce’s wild stories. i’m thinkin about Ox & Bruce, faces inches apart, fuckin with each other the way only old friends can. but mostly i’m thinkin what a shame i won’t get the honor of that smile & wave again. crying fucking shame.
bruce was always, always so nice to me. whether it was at a show or at maximum it always seemed like he went out of his way to encourage me. but he wasn’t going out of his way—that just was his way. i remember one time i was doing shitwork at MRR and he was typing up his column (which will obviously, obviously be missed greatly and widely) and he told me, “okay—you have access to ALL THIS MUSIC. i don’t want to see you looking for that anti-cimex record you don’t have or anything else you could probably find at amoeba. go for the obscure stuff! check out something new!” all with the hugest smile on his face. he was always so gracious and kind. i’m just glad he was so prolific in his enthusiasm for everything punk as fuck. HELL YES! FUCK!
There are very few people you meet in life that are more real and passionate about music life, brotherhood, camaraderie and you knew it the moment you met Bruce. As he got older he seemed to become more and more enthusiastic for the scene and you gotta admire that. It’s hard to imagine him not at a show not seeing him around I’m shocked and it’s gonna take a long time for it to sink in.
Rest in peace Bro
Sad, just sad
I have been sad all day, but reading these tributes have really pushed it to an extreme.
Bruce was a great friend for many years. He befriended me at MRR in my first days there in the early 90s. He was with me when I bought my first motorcycle and rode it home for me because I didn’t yet know how to do it myself. He let me be third wheel to Katja and him for years- going to shows, eating at Pak Wan’s, riding bikes on weekends. He is the only man I would ever let rough house me! Because of him I met Duke and Jake and then my now husband, Erik. In fact, I know many relationships brought together by Bruce.
We moved across the country and didn’t stay in touch mostly because he hated computers so email was out. But we all met up in Austin for Cocksparrer at Chaos in Tejas last year and true to form, Bruce fell in immediately grabbing Erik and me in a big painful bear hug. And we fell right in step like no time had passed.
That was how it was with him. If you were a friend, you were a friend for life. It does give me comfort that I am not the only one who knew what a great guy he was. All I can hear now is his funny pitchy laugh… I love you Bruce. And I am not yet sure how to say goodbye to you…
xoxo
Sarah
A true journeyman, and a good friend.
Well my friend, it shouldn’t have happened to you… you will be missed, not only by those close to you on the left coast but your friends/brothers on the East coast will miss you severely as well… you’ve had our back since day one, we’ll never forget that interview you did for us @ Rainey’s/TKO HQ way back when… just laughs & good times and we continued to share laughs over the years, supporting us whenever we go and supporting whatever we do… never in the back of the club, but always at the front of the gig, there was always a spot reserved for you friend when we played!! Playing SF will never be the same without you… MRR will never be the same without you!! Beauseant Bruce… Ave Atque Vale!!!
OI! OI! OI! OI! OI!OI! OI! OI! OI OI! OI! OI! OI! OI! OI! OI!, my condolences to bruce`s family and friends. His columns introduced so many new bands to me and were so funny sometimes.
Like everyone else here, I’m so shocked and so sad to hear about this. I recall Bruce with only the fondest of memories. He was so sweet, warm, affectionate and uplifting, and he had a way of making people feel really special and appreciated. I’m not surprised to read so many tributes to Bruce. He was such a sweetheart and it was a real treat to be around him.
Thank you Bruce Roehrs.
you opened the door for us.
REst In Piece
Fuck! Hardcore, Punk and Oi has lost a true champion. Bruce’s enthusiasm for the music he reviewed in MRR will be missed. It is mind boggling to think about all of the great records we’ve purchased after reading his column. You could always count on his taste and opinions. We raise our glass to Bruce…
Here’s hoping wherever you are, the music is loud, the drinks are free and the exclamation mark key on your computer will last forever!!!!
What a loss… I don’t get out much these days, but whenever I’d bump into him at Amoeba, he always had a “where the hell have you been” and we’d chat. There was never any pretense with Bruce…he was the real deal and always will be.
I’m gutted, having a very hard time with this….genuine, honest, inspiring is what comes to mind when i think of Bruce. You always put a smile on my face and i am honored to be your friend. i miss you so much already and the world is a lesser place without you! Damn, we should all be more like you! the next round is on me,Bruce-”See you at the bar!!”
Reading these comments makes me sad/makes me laugh/warms my heart. When local shows would come up that where we knew Bruce would be at, going to that show was just a bit more enticing, because you knew it would be FUN. And if it wasn’t fun, Bruce’s enthusiasm would make it fun..when you weren’t expecting Bruce at a show and saw him there, you couldn’t help but smile. No one else had that in them…and many times I saw him stand up for the little guy at shows when things were turning into something not so fun.
I posted a small tribute to Bruce on my Blog, and I posted this song. When I listened to it today at work it reminded me of him and I got all misty like. Hope Colin doesn’t mind…
http://www.mediafire.com/?mqt34jknnje
I’ve met very few people as sincere, kind and fun as Bruce. He will truly be missed by all. Rest in Peace Brother.
I’m pretty sad for US that Bruce won’t be by the MRR house anymore. He put just about all of us–certainly me–to shame with his enthusiasm and energy. He could not have been any sweeter. I barely go to shows, but he would constantly be giving me props for the very few shows I did make it out to which he missed. He’d ask about my job, talk about unions, and of course shit-talk this rotten system. A motherfucker on fire with the power of rocknroll! Rest In Tall Cans
Wow, what a huge lose for Rock and Roll in general!!!! As a promoter in SF, Bruce was the go to guy to play diplomat. He could coax out a cover on MRR, or a review, interview, etc. He was the cool head in a crowd of chaos. He was the musicians kind of fan. Always giving the benefit of the doubt to young groups, insanely supportive and a penchant for buggery. I will miss the gigs without you there, but I’m blessed to have called you my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All of us at TKO Records would like to echo the sentiments of so many from around the world in expressing our sadness and feeling of great loss at the passing of brother Bruce Roehrs. Throughout his life, Bruce was a tireless champion of Rock n’ Roll, loving and supporting music with a vigor far surpassing most people half his age. His enthusiasm for all forms of Punk Rock was boundless, contagious and nothing short of inspiring. Bruce will be deeply missed by all of us and everyone who knew him.
Farewell, old friend- until we meet again.
NO GOD DAMMIT! You fuck – I finally got the cash together to re-subscribe to get your awesome column in the mail every month again and you go and DIE? I’m utterly heartbroken. I’m sorry I never got a chance to meet you and see some of the awesome energy you poured into your column in person. From this young punk to older dog, Rest In Peace. :,(
*an* older dog… damn typos
Bruce was the only person I would ever, ever let call me “princess” when I was a fresh-faced and semi-feral Epicenter volunteer in the early ’90s, or when I was slightly less these things as a MRR shitworker a decade later. RIP.
Been crushed all day since I heard. So many memories of hangin’ with BR at shows, bars, places to eat, etc. but they all ‘kinda hurt to call up (somewhere right now he’s calling this entire message board a bunch of sissies). What a legend and not an ounce of pretense – always genuine. Thanks for being such a one of a kind friend…I’ll never forget.
goddammit, bruce..one step ahead of all of us again…too bad you’re not in hell, you’d be partying with gg…
Bruce was such a great guy. I met him around 1989 through my mom (he was dating a co-worker of hers). I always saw him around throughout the next 20 or so years and he was always the most consistently happy guy. He was always having a good time and was always genuinely interested in what you’ve been up to or how you’ve been. He made me a UK Subs tape a long time ago, I found it a couple months ago and reminisced about how rad it was that he made it for me, I was just some kid. Thanks Bruce for your friendship and being the best. I’ll miss ya.
I’ll miss you,Tiger!
when i moved to SF and met bruce i was in my 20′s and he was in his 40′s and i thought he was OLD but really cool! throughout the years of seeing him at shows i loved his smile, his “air guitar dance” that he’d do up front at shows… and how he’d grab ya by the neck and say “HOW YA DOIN’???” allrightie bruce!! you will be really, really missed. thanks for giving me an older rocker to look up to. i always admired your spunk and will do my best to carry on the torch. it’s a sad, sad day for punk rock right now. xo
Bruce all the shows, parties, bars and good times you shared so much with Jim and I. I love that you and Katja shared our wedding day with us. I think about other friends of ours that we loved that have left us to soon today and I am grateful for the love, family and friends that I have. I miss our old friend the old days. I will always have a good memories from those times TKO , lower haight the cocoadrie. Bruce thank you for being a friend to me a shy girl in a new town thirteen years later…
When L.C.B. got interviewed for MRR by Bruce in 1998, he really wanted us on the cover. Street punk was a no-no for MRR at that time (and still is.) We had to wait one year, but Bruce stood his ground. We got the cover in Oct. 1999. We’ve drank a lot of beers together since then. “See you around…”
This is devastating news. I will always remember Bruce as the guy who would write a single column using up an entire legal pad with his huge adrenaline pumped scribbles talking about new releases, as the guy who built and maintained a human-sized cage for a very large city-living iguana (RIP Clarence) for a good friend, and as the owner of the coolest and toughest looking El Camino ever. His passion and empathy were inspirational. He will be sorely missed.
The irony surrounding Bruce’s last interview, Agnostic Front on their 25th anniversary of Victim in Pain,is mind blowing.
Bruce was always a super sweet guy and a gentleman. This is a great loss for the planet.
Bruce was such a great man! Genuine to the core. I miss that laugh and that big lumbering walk headed toward you followed by a big bear hug. A true lover of all things rock-n-roll. I am very proud to have had him as a friend and be a prospect in the club he loved so much. I was listening to his interview today with Agnostic Front that Ben wrote about. I had the pleasure of being able to be part of it. It made me very proud that he let me be part of that and watch him do something he loved. I couldn’t help but smile every time I hear him laugh on that tape! You will be dearly missed my friend! See you on the other side!!!
I have that interview partially transcribed and the tape and would like to pass it on to MRR to see if you guys would like to use it some way!
ANTIMOB & MOUNTZA FANZINE
we never got to know him but he was the greatest dude to read on MRNR
We are so proud to have our record reviewed in his last column ever.
See you at the Bar of the Immortal Punks Bruce!
Very sad and shocking news, total jolt when I opened this page. Will miss the column and his enthusiasm for punk rock. Hard to imagine picking up MRR and not finding the Bruce Roehrs header. His column always got me psyched,not just about the bands and records he reviewed, but about punk life in general. Rest In Peace Bruce.
And on his way next week to Interview Cock SParrer in London… Their first gig in London in almost 20 years. Such an important person, yet so humble, he was always a pleasure to be around. I will miss him and his articles. Glad I got to meet and spend time with him… Living version of his articles I read forever… RIP Bruce… I’m going to the Bar!!
Ben Rumbler (07:05:32) :
The irony surrounding Bruce’s last interview, Agnostic Front on their 25th anniversary of Victim in Pain,is mind blowing.
so long bruce. my heart goes out to your family and friends.
If you never got a chance to meet Bruce, rest assured the dude that came across in his column was a real guy! That zeal for punk in his writing was as genuine as anything I have ever witnessed. He LIVED for music, and even with all the shows he’d seen and all the people he’d met, he never got even slightly jaded. A one of a kind human being to say the least.
No question I’ll miss him. The Bay Area already seems a bit blander to me in the awareness that there is no chance of running into him on the street, in the bar or at a show and getting one of his patented warm welcomes. Here’s to Bruce! It was an honor and a privilege, my friend.
I didn’t know Bruce well, but I was always impressed by his unassuming no bullshit friendliness. It’s not easy to be an old punk, and be able to still have a fresh set of eyes and ears. It seemed to me that every show or record Bruce wrote about was as important to him as the first
I’ve been reading MRR since 1993-and Bruce’s column was always so amazing, especially for me, at that time. I tried to track down just about everything he raved about (which was quite a lot!) Didn’t like some, loved some others. I was Bored, looking through a recent issue of MRR yesterday-read his column, and thought \man, this dude is still so fucking stoked about punk and hardcore!\ I really loved the fact that he seemed to take a ton of stock in the lyrics of a band,
even taking the time to write his favorite lines in a review, or just to gush about a release. Reading all these stories makes me wish I could have met him. My heart goes out to his many close friends and family, and too all the fuckin’ PUNX-
that looked forward to his inspiring column. I’ll miss your words Bruce, Shame I never got to that bar you always said you’d see me at. FUCK!
The only time Bruce showed his age in all the years I knew him at MRR was when he held the lined yellow notebook pages where he scribbled out his column (about four lines of text per page) up close to his thick glasses – presumably to make sure he’d added enough !!!! after the names of the bands that deserved it most. From the day I stepped into MRR as a 23-yr-old kid, he let me know what an important job I had, and that he had my back. I know he did the same for the coordinators to come. You were part of MRR, almost literally a fixture, with such a kind smile. Bruce, it’s too soon for you to leave us.
rest in peace Bruce!!!
marco 70 (italy)
Sad, yes and no.
I saw him for 10 years before I finally stuck out my hand and said hello.
The memory that I’ll hold onto is Bruce, Duke and I riding in his truck on our way to see Oxblood at the stork Club in Oakland listening to the Templars.
While I wished he didn’t drink so much he lived his life as he wanted up until the very end. A true street punk, friend, scene supporter, rock n roller, music lover and working class brother.
all my love and respect
-Stark-
Been putting off commenting here cause I feel I lack the eloquence to really say what I need to say about the man that so many of us loved so dearly. As someone above has already mentioned, he’d definitely be calling us a bunch of misty-eyed dribble-dick wimps, or something to that effect, for all of these emotions he has dragged out of us. But I’m also sure he’d be touched by how much of an impact he made in this world.
Bruce, it was an honor to have you in my life, and I will forever cherish the many many hours that we spent together blasting records and eating cheeseburgers n shit.
I’ll end this in true Roehrs fashion with some lyrics from a record that Bruce was way amped on these last couple weeks: T.H.U.G.’s “S/T” LP:
“Mate, you can’t be replaced / There’s a void left in our hearts, an empty open space.”
Rest in power, sir
Huge loss for the punk scene and the Bay. For those of us who were fortunate enough to have met Bruce, we’ll hold him in our hearts forever.
WOW…. Just a speechless as you. Bruce was ALWAYS in the front of a show. We will always make sure he will forever have a spot there!!!
YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!!
For years I would look forward to picking up a copy of MRR just to read Bruce’s column, and I was so fucking stoked to see the review he gave the first Virus ep. It just seemed to legitimize what we were doing to have Bruce’s approval. I hope to see a collection of his writings in book form one day. My condolences to his friends, and family.
I’ve been reading Bruce’s column for years. His enthusiasm kept my enthusiasm going and i’ve discovered many great, new bands because of him.
Very sorry to hear such sad news.
Very unfortunate, he was one of the last of a dying breed. I wish i could have had the pleasure of meeting him, he always seemed very excited about punk and rock n’ roll. Very bad news.
You will be truly missed!! We will keep a spot for you right up front, just how you liked it!!!
If Bruce was at a show, it was going to be a VERY good night. A bear hug & a beer & old times & now. The last time I talked to him he was trying to convince me to fly to Texas with him to see AntiSeen. There was no way I could afford it, but while he was talkin’ I was gonna go! Or was already there. Bruce spread the good word of Rock ‘n’ Roll like only a true believer can. Too soon to stop. Fuck
R.I.P Bruce,youve done so much for so many bands over the years,always the first column I d read every month.it wont be the same without you,my thoughts go out to your family and friends
My condolences to Bruce’s family and friends. I’ve communicated with Bruce for years. He always did right by us (BROKEN). He was always upbeat and enthusiastic. A positive force. Whenever I sent in anything to be reviewed at MRR I always sent an extra release for Bruce. On all of my visits to the Bay Area over the years our paths never crossed. My friends on the West Coast always told me that I had to meet Bruce and that we would get along right away. I was planning a trip to the West Coast for later this year and I was looking forward to finally meeting him face to face and cracking open a few beers with him. Sadly that won’t happen. I am deeply sorry for your loss.
RIP to a true punk rocker.
My love of the Wretched Ones is entirely his fault. I’ll be raising a glass to him tonight.
See you fucks at the bar.
I’m totally floored by his passing. Bruce was so gregarious, enthusiastic, genuine, honest, passionate and thoughtful. He had such a presence about him. The MRR house is gonna miss that old man. He made most of the young scenesters seem like frigid, old fuddy duddys. We should all try to be more like Bruce. I know Bruce will continue to be an inspiration to me.
The first time I met him was when my band was doing a west coast tour in August of 2007. I’d always been a fan of his column and the record reviews within it. As far as reviews go, when the few records I’ve been a part of came out there were only a few people whose opinion on said records mattered to me. Bruce Roehrs was one of them and it flattered me every time I got to see something I was apart of receive an enthusiastic review from the guy since I’d been reading his columns for years. Anyways, we played our last show of tour at Gilman and he was up front the whole time with fists in the air, it was awesome. Immediately after we were done Bruce pulled me aside and we shot the shit for a while afterward. He was a genuinely refreshing guy to talk to, not bothersome in the least and concerned with how my stay on the west coast was and how tour was treating us. I think we shared a van beer then went to go watch Government Warning.
My last memory of Bruce is from when I was visiting the Bay Area this past September. It was my second time meeting him. There was a show at Bottom of the Hill and Young Offenders were playing. I walked in from the back to see Bruce right up front having a blast! That’s how I will always remember him. To all his close friends and family, you’re in my thoughts. Wish I could’ve been there today to grab a drink at the bar with all of ya! Cheers, Bruce!
It’s going to be gut-wrenching having an open seat on our flights to London next week, but we all know he’ll be there with us. Seeing CockSParrer’s 20 year homecoming in London and then The Who a few days later was something he’d been looking forward to for months. Everyone who knows him can attest to the fact that the man wouldn’t shut up about it!!
We are all so thankful to be out there with all of these wonderful memories everyone has shared fresh in our heads, celebrating (with you all) FOR Bruce… that’s what he would have wanted! (…of course we’ll be in the front row!!)
Bruce rubbed off on a lot of us, and for the rest of our lives every time we feel that inclination to rush to the front and scream along… it’s really just Bruce pushing us from behind… and every fist in the air, arm in arm chorus, he’s right there with us!!
Whether it was 10 years ago as just Skippy the Intern at TKO, or last fall, bringing Sparrer back to SF for our Pirates Press 5th anniversary party, or last Saturday as simply his friend, Bruce always showed his love and friendship on his sleeve. He never hesitated once praising all of his friends for our accomplishments.
The biggest hug I ever got from the man was when I told him that we’d licensed the Sparrer back catalog and planned to reissue it all so that a whole new generation of fans could enjoy it. As we prepare to send it all off to press this month, I find it unbelievably ironic and ridiculously appropriate that all of the artwork was scanned from Bruce’s personal copies… There will be a little bit of Bruce’s love for this band in every single copy.
I had saved a copy of the test pressing for each record for Bruce, as a thank you for loaning us his copies to scan. I think its only appropriate that we auction this off in Bruce’s honor, and donate the money to the fund MRR has setup in his name. We’ll get back in touch with more details soon…
Keep On Keeping On! ..that’s what he always did!!
See You Fucks at the Bar!!
Eric (Skippy) / Pirates Press
It was really a terrible shock to learn from Paul at MRR that Bruce Roehrs had died, since he always seemed so full of youthful energy, especially for a geezer almost as old as me. (Ironically, I was just telling another old friend of mine last week that I hadn’t been in contact with Bruce for some time, in part because I hadn’t seen him at any punk gigs in the past couple of years, and that I really should give him a call to see how he was doing. Maybe I was having some kind of bizarre premonition of his upcoming demise. Now I’ll never be able to make that call, or get another \bro hug\ from Bruce at an upcoming Oi show.) Moreover, in a world full of jackasses (both within and outside of the punk scene), his premature death inevitably leaves one pondering about why it is always the truly nice people who die young rather than miserable bastards of one sort or another. If there is a god (or gods), he or she must be a sadistic psychopath. In any case, I will miss having some drinks, listening to records, and hanging out at gigs in sleazy underground dives with Bruce, and I sincerely hope that – if there is a \soul\ or consciousness after death, however unlikely that may be – that Bruce is rocking out to the Upstarts or another one of his favorite bands. I for one will be hoisting a glass and making a heartfelt toast to him the next time I go out drinking. Evens so, I will be left with a really sad feeling, as I’m sure many of his other close friends or girlfriends (like Christeen and Katja) are.
I only met Bruce once but I was blown away with how personable and friendly he was. After talking for a few minutes I wanted to get his opinion on somebody that I was certain he knew and who I had had an unpleasant encounter with. Out of respect for Bruce’s privacy I won’t mention any names, but it was certainly reassuring to hear that Bruce did not hold this person in high regard. He proceeded on a rant about this person and their lack of musical knowledge. I think my favorite quote from his rant was how this individual didn’t know “Joan Jett from Alice Bag”. I hope Jeff Bale’s got it wrong and we get to see you again on the other side!
We’ll drink one for you, Mighty Bruce…
So many bands that are important to us we found via you…
bad news from the USA. I`m Sebi,singer in german band STOMPER 98. We met Bruce on our first US-Tour in Summer 2008. He came to the show, spent the whole time at the bar & when S98 & THE TEMPLARS played in front of the stage. I met a funny ,nice,friendly & loud guy with a lot of things to say ! A day after our New York Show I was walking by myself down the streets of manhattan & guess who I met there in the middle of Washingthon Square park ? Yeah, it was Bruce, he hughed me & we had a big laugh & talk about that funny shit. He said a with the words of THE TEMPLARS \ A city so big & a city so nervous! \ million of people & we met there. Hope to meet him again one day ! R.I.P.
Sebi/Stomper 98/Germany
bruce, youll be an icon to me in the next life as well.
Been reading the man’s column for the best part of 15 years. RIP Bruce. Best wishes to his family and friends at this difficult time.
I have been friends with Bruce since 1983. It all got started through rocknroll. We were literally at hundreds of shows together. I took him to 2 crappy artpunk shows. He mocked me about those 2 nights on and off for 20 years. He was one solid rock of a friend. I allready miss the guy. If anyone knows how to contact his 80′s girlfriend Christine Curran please do.
I met him first time at the 25th anniversary show of Antiseen and we had such a great time. Talk over bands and music and realized how common our taste of music was. I hoped that we could continued with this sometimes but sadly…
R.I.P.
Max Schmeling (Chemnitz/ Germany)
Playing Victim in Pain and 13th floor elevators at top volume in memory of Bruce Roehrs…..see you at the bar!
Wow. A great and tragic loss.
still shocked. Bruce was such a fixture in our city and our corner of rock & roll, it’s impossible to imagine either without him. he deserved a long life, retiring and living out his many years seeing, listening to and writing about yet another generation of killer new bands. one of those rare people that you could always count on, whether to give you a ride, score you an impossible to find record, or even just to be there across the room at a show, letting you know you were in the right place… reading MRR and seeing him at shows over the years, he always seemed like someone I’d like to know: a kind, no bullshit, genuine person and FUCKING EXCITED!!!! about this music. I had the privilege these last couple years to count him as a friend, and all those qualities he not only possessed, but LIVED. Bruce, we miss you buddy. – Chad/SF
Bruce was unique.His energy was infectious. Being in his presence was always the best. Imet him in Miami in 1970. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of all music and turned me on to everything from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee to Charles Mingus. We spent many years seeing groups now considered to be “classic Rock”. I did threaton to reveal this to the punk world but BR was proud of having seen Hendrix and the Who at Miami Pop in 68. He was psyched to see The Who at Royal Albert Hall in London this month. Im still stunned and very sad that I will never share a beer and a laugh with my great friend.
If you met him, you loved him. I will miss you
Anyone that has ever known him knows what a genuinely all around nice guy he was. I’m really sorry to hear the news.
I miss you Bruce!!
Please check out Allan McNaughton’s piece on Bruce in the Guardian : http://www.sfbg.com/2010/03/24/see-you-bar or pick-up this week’s paper p.24.
Feeling it.
Bruce- thanks for the great memories you gave me.
Thanks for the memories
Love you!
I met Bruce in 1988 at a Butthole Surfers show. We were part of a steadfast group of friends for many years and saw countless shows together. I have no words to express the joy of being a close friend with him. My tiny claim to fame was that no matter where we went he would introduce me as follows…”This is my friend CC. She saw the Misfits live.” The sweaty bear hug in the pit is what I will miss the most. Tears, love and sincere gratitude for my dear dear friend ………
It took some time for me to process this but you played an integral role in my life and I wanted to say thanks. Thanks for chipping my tooth at a Teengenerate show, thanks for interviewing my crappy street punk band way back when (sorry you weren’t the first person to know when I quit I could tell you were pissed), thanks for introducing me to Ian who I introduced to Ken who then hooked up with so and so to make some good records and thanks for helping hook me up with a long time girlfriend. I’m glad you got a chance to meet my mom and a couple of my brothers too. Anyhow, I had a blast at your wake! Sounds weird because a lot of people were bummed but I saw all kinds of MRR and band cronies who I never thought I’d see again! So thanks for bringing us together. Finally, thanks for that hug, beer and shot the last time I saw you at the Parkside. I’ll miss you. Besos!
Damn. Lived in the bay area all my life (30 years), and never met you. But I sure as hell loved your column! Holy hell, fuckin’ bizarre that Bruce Roehrs is no more…
It was my pleasure to meet Bruce in person one time in Philly, I don’t know him very well, but he felt like a friend to me, he will be missed – and rock and roll lost one its biggest fans. Cheers Bruce, you are a cool guy!
Bruce was everything to me- my big brother, mentor, teacher, competition in all sports, my protector, my best friend. Although he would want to be remembered as a good friend and brother, as an exuberant rocknroller, as an energetic fun guy, I think he would be most pleased to be known as a great example of our Mom’s good work. Most of the comments I’ve read so far show that kind of love and service our mom taught us. Since my very first thought I have always wanted to be like Bruce when I grow up…… always will. I look forward to meeting the San Francisco part of our family !
he was a helluva guy. i had a great deal of respect for Bruce and he always had a smile and a kind word for me. last time i saw him was at Pierced Arrows gig. Thanx for setting a good example Bruce. tip your bartender and don’t forget your donation to his memorial…
It’s been a couple of weeks now since st. pats day.. we (before i hang) were playin a local show that night and i remember saying aloud to myself, “we’ve GOT to get back to San Fran”.. the news came the next morning.
i still can’t wait to go back but it just wont be the same this time cause getting to see bruce was part of the highlight of my trip. I met bruce when we were asked to play the weekend of Antiseen’s 25 yr show a few years back in charlotte, NC. right after we played, this dude comes straight at me with his fists in the air, still punchin the sky, with nothing but an outpouring of compliments on our set. lucky for us, he came to our hometown the next year along with the antiseen camp while they were on tour. bruce and i had a fun time ridin home once the show ended and after just a couple of miles of backroads and some thrash blairing out of the stereo, it felt like i had known this fellow all my life-same feelin of hangin with an old friend you haven’t seen in years- SO fuckin cool.. one of the kindest and most genuine souls to ever love/live rock and roll–just being around the dude for any length of time, you got a sense of his energy and passion and devotion to music. my condolences and sentiments go to his family and to the rest of his friends. Proud to have known the man. R.I.P.
John w. (randy midnite) littlejohn
hattiesburg, MS
It is an honor to have met someone whose life truly impacted the lives of others. Even now Bruce, you still reach the masses. Godspeed to you…
Bruce was of such huge importance to the scene and everyone involved in it… the man never had a bad thing to say about anyone… such a sad loss…i can only hope he’s lookin’ down on us happily thinking ‘oh drink a beer you fucks’… R.I.P.
Me and my girlfriend JUST visited bruce last august…. he has ALWAYS been one of my favorites when i go to the city,and when i first met him at Gilman circa 1995, we had introduced ourselves and then just ranted on and on about bands and shows and labels and EVERYTHING that was cool basically…. he WAS a mentor to me too dougie…. He breathed hardcore,rock and roll, and pure enthusiasm…. the ONLY columnist that represented genuine HONESTY in his writings, rants, and love for music… ONE of a kind…and you’ll NEVER get another one like him…. THE BEST GUY…. i will think of you while listening to many of your favorite groups… im about to play Niblick Henbane for you old friend….. I’ll see you soon enough…. he’s in Oi heaven ….wherever that is…. – Trek B.
First time I was in SF I slept in the MRR kitchen and the first person I met when I woke up was Bruce. He started to say good things about my bands and He made me very happy… He always wrote kind words about my bands in his columns too. Grazie Bruce, riposa in pace.
I met Bruce a few times .. it was always a pleasure to speak with him about music. A TRUE MUSIC FAN !!! You will be missed !!! jl – Headline Records
Man… when I opened my new MRR in the mail and saw Bruce on the cover I was happy for a second ‘cuz he was my favorite columnist (don’t worry, George, you’re a very close second), but then I immediately got a sense of doom because I knew something must have happened.
Bruce was a joy to read. I always got cracked up seeing his mild, kindly face at the head of a column about music that he promised would crush and pummel us lucky fucks until we were destroyed/annihilated/left in a heap, etc.! His columns were always a million laughs, but also a lot of valuable info, too — I think Bruce turned me on to more good music than anyone else in the magazine, and I could always trust his judgement. I’d actually seek out bands based on the fact that if Bruce liked them, there must be something worthwhile there. And his enthusiasm was infectious. His columns were fun to read because you could tell he was having a lot of fun writing them. That unashamed, bombastic prose… it ruled! He loved the music, and he made us love it, too. I’m really going to miss seeing him in MRR every month; he was always the first thing I turned to. And even though I never was lucky enough to meet the man or even correspond with him, I still feel kinda like I lost a friend. This is a big loss, and he’ll be missed. But, he won’t be forgotten. I’ll think of him every time I listen to Bonecrusher, the Templars, Hammerlock, The Wretched Ones, Nuts & Bolts, or any of the other great bands he helped steer me towards. So, I’ll still see ya at the bar, Bruce.
I only found out about this today and am still in a state of disbelief. I’ve known Bruce long enough to admit that I took him to his first “punk” show back when it was still “New Wave” (Talking Heads at “Choo Choo’s in ’78.) Of course they’re now mainstream but at the time I met him he was a big Dead head (seriously) though he also had his broad eclectic love of all things musical. (I think we saw Sonny and Brownie at the same venue we saw Iggy Pop.) But while I convinced Bruce to enter an “Elvis Costello Look-Alike Contest” with the promise that 1st prize was 10 Columbia LPs and he could fill in his Dylan catalogue (he took second place – this is when he had hair!) he completely blew past me with his complete submergence into the burgeoning punk scene. Of course there were the road trips to see a wide array of bands but this was 30 years ago when we’d decide in the morning to check out some band in Phoenix after seeing them in Tucson the night before. Jesus – we even saw the Beach Boys – I shit you not! If it was musical Bruce was all over it with an open mind and an appreciation of the musicians who make it all happen. I think this is why he was so beloved at MRR – because he was never caught up in the marketing – he just loved what he loved – and most of small bands are the closest true musicians we have left. Yet, he was still psyched about going to see The Who perform Quadrophenia when I last spoke to him. I busted his balls on what would be our last conversation – telling him how lame they were and that Daltrey had a one note range, that I saw them do that back in ’73 – oh yeah, and that I was jealous since we actually drove to LA to see them (but really for the Clash who opened – plus T-bone Burnet who opened for the show…) But the funny thing is that Bruce was really about so much more than his all-consuming passion of music. He loved art, botany, “moter-sicles” J, old cars, and mostly all of you. Over the years he always spoke fondly of the bands he supported, the fans who supported them, his union brethren and his gig at MRR where I guess he was something of a legend.
But what I really loved about Bruce was that he was one of a kind – something clearly affirmed by all the people who have made a point of leaving a comment and sharing a thought with us. You know that he was ornery, cantankerous, argumentative and caustically funny. He’d frequently find out what pissed someone off and then immediately latch onto that like picking at a scab. Hanging with Bruce was rarely dull for me, but sadly, though I finally ended up in the Bay Area I never saw him enough since it was pretty hard to drag him out of SF too often.
I know I’m rambling here but I’ve only had a few hours to digest it. Let’s just say that my life is richer because Bruce was a part of it and I will miss him like hell. I am glad I have Bruce’s friendship as part of my legacy – and will NEVER forget him. Thank all of you for looking after him because he was really just a big kid, which is a part of us we could all be happy to embrace. Love you and miss you B!
I still can’t believe it. I was lucky to live with Bruce from 1978-1984 until he left Tucson for SF. We hosted the TDO annually, an amalgamation of punkers, cabbies, law students and others cutting loose. He had more life in him than anybody I knew. He knew and loved music, never complaining about my acoustic taste.
I’m so sorry I can’t be there tomorrow. I haven’t seen Ted in 100 years and probably wouldn’t know more than one or two people, but Bruce would want everyone together.
We’re going to raise glasses to Bruce in Tucson on the 17th. Anyone in this part of the desert who’s interested should give me a note on facebook. See you fucks at the bar.
This was the last thing I expected to read when I surfed onto the MRR site….I just wanted to listen to the radio show, and this is simply shocking since Bruce had a large part in getting me into Oi and Street rock n roll. In the early 90s, when I was an @narchopunk, I avidly read MRR and was beginning to get into Oi. Bruce’s was really the only column that regularly mentioned these types of records, and as there was no internet or mp3s at the time, I would dutifully mailorder the records which he would review and which sounded rockin and powerful by the way he would write about em. It was through Bruce’s column (and his reviews in the back) that I found out about Anti-Heros, Niblick Henbane, Those unknown, the Service, and many other oi/street rock bands whose records I got and still have…..As a matter of fact, i still have those MRRs precisely because of Bruce’s columns and reviews. If it hadn’t been for him I surely wouldn’t have found out about these awesome bands because that stuff was simply not available down here (Miami) even at the independent record stores. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but it would have surely been an honor to meet someone who truly changed my life, as street music will be with me until my dying days. Thanks a lot Bruce, and I know we will drink and talk about mighty oi oi music in the great pit in the sky….cheers, brother.
Isaac Carrillo
Miami, FL
OI THE ULTIMATE SOUND!!!
we’ll miss you,mate!!!
R.I.P
bezirk 7-markus/ germoney
Bruce, thank you for holding onto to what you believed in. Thank you for all fun times we shared in the pit, and for all those intense debates and discussions…. There will always be a warm place for you in my heart.
Travel well my friend…
RIP Bruce!
What shitty news!! Yet another tragic loss in the punk rock community!
I just found out Bruce passed. There is all kinds of storys to tell but the thing i liked about Bruce the most was not matter if i saw him every week for a month or two years went by like the last time we met up, was his ” Come here and give me a Hug”. I hate hugs but he was genuine about it. Take it sleazy brother you are one of a kind.
It was a pleasure to have met you Bruce at the Ruducers SF gig when I was in San Francisco in 2001…Yes it was my first day there, first gig there and at the Mad Dog I bump into the guy who had been reviewing the 7\s from my label at that time that I had sent in to MRR. I only ever met you once Bruce but my instinct told me you were a 100% genuine guy.
Rest In Punk friend…your passion for punk rock will be sadly missed
Jim intimidation records
So Bruces brother Chris and I took some of Bruces ashes to Shannon Falls, a huge waterfall near Vancouver BC last vweekend We found a really cool place right up close to where the falls are roaring and powerful and massive. We both had small evergreen trees to plant in his memory for ya all. First we put some of his ashes in the hole for the trees and then planted them on top of them. I poured beer around mine in his memory, then we both shouted ‘See you fucks at the bar”. You were all there with is and it was pretty fuckin powerful. Love ya all and love you Bruce. Mighty trees to be, for a mighty guy.
I first met Bruce Roehrs at the Purple Onion in San Francisco. I think it was the Rip Offs/Skull Control/Loudmouths. Anyway, i am standing there, watching the bands, and Bruce emerged from what passed for the pit — complete with glasses and stinky Devil Dogs t-shirt — told me “I HOPE YOU’LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOUR READERS THAT THIS BAND IS FAR INFERIOR TO SUBURBAN MUTILATION!” ((Suburban Mutilation being my hardcore band in the early 80′s)) and then, without further ado, re-entered the pit whence he came. It was great. I haven’t had contact with the guy in over ten years, but it is indeed a shame he’s gone.
man, i only just found out about Bruce’s passing. such sad news. i met him 3 times on 3 different trips to SF from Liverpool, England and he was always the soundest fella you could hope to meet.
the first time i met him was in 2001 in Amoeba and we got to talking over a Randumbs 7″, next thing you know we’re arranging to meet later that night at a Stitches gig in some transvetite bar. i met him as arranged and he intoduced me to all his mates, most of whom were guys i’d seen on the back of record covers, like i was an old friend of his from way back. the Stitches were playing Gilman St the following night. getting there wasn’t a problem but getting back to SF would’ve been had it not been for Bruce’s insistence on giving me and my mate a ride back. he dropped us off on our door step and as we were saying our goodbyes he says, “hold on, you might like some of this shit”, he opens the car boot and gives us a bunch of shirts (randumbs, workin stiffs, OMA- still got them all) and a handful of records each! what a guy! i don’t know if bruce always rode with a car full of records and t-shirts but i always thought he purposefully picked them for me after our very first conversation.
RIP Bruce. a great guy. a kind heart.
6-28-10 Sixty of Bruce’s high school buddies from the Kentucky Military Institute, Louisville, Ky., were informed of his passing only yesterday. Is the California crew a bit shocked that Bruce hung his hat at KMI from 1965-68 or did he actually talk about it from time to time? You all might have guessed that Bruce was a bit rebellious toward the whole ROTC thing. He did a pretty good job of \not getting caught\ during his shenanigans because he managed to keep a pretty good ROTC rank during his senior year. He actually was our batallion Sergeant Major. Imagine that!!! He and I talked from time to time over the years when I would inform him about upcoming KMI reunions. His early sense of humor was something of which all of us could have used a little more. He’ll be missed.
He was one of my best friends, beer drinking buddy, and all around great man! Nobody can replace him and I will miss that Fucker! I found out on the web that he is gone, as I just talked with him a week earlier. As a Chief Engineer and fellow contracter I raise my hammer and beer to my friend. I hope the Rumblers in the Bay Area keep his Pontiac and Buick alive and in the family. I wish Rich, Hillbilly, Ben, Loch, EB, Lars and the rest of the crew my best. I still feel your pain and shed a tear knowing he is gone. This beer is for you brother and we will meet again some day in the future!
Craig
Last Originals C.C.
San Francisco
In case anyone has made it this far down the page, and they want something wonderful to do to help the cause… check out http://www.piratespress.com/bruce for more info on our continued plan to get Bruce in the Columbarium.
Thank you for everyone’s support!!
I didn’t know Bruce well, but I remember he and Tim Yo from Epicenter and MRR and it was those guys that reminded me that punk could be much more than a haircut. Not an ounce of pretension in Bruce, just kind, cool & humble.
Wow, Bruce was one of a kind. I sent him a Red Squares 45 in 2008; he called me and thanked me. Was one of the best reviewers ever…raise one to you brother…