In memory of Kristen Pfaff (1967-June 16 1994) ____________________________________________________________________________ Kristen Pfaff was born in Amherst, New York to fairly middle class parents. She first took an interest in music at the age of five, and later became a classically trained musician on the piano. She attended the near-by Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic school in Buffalo New York. Upon graduation she attended Boston College and later transferred to the University of Minnesota. After settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota for a while her musical interest led her to learn another instrument--bass guitar. She began performing and became part of a local band called Janitor Joe. Janitor Joe was a three piece based in the thriving Minneapolis music scene and preparing to go big-time. Kristen and her band-mates had already built up quite a local following and reputation by the time they recorded their first album and single releases in 1993. While playing clubs in California, again gaining popularity, Kristen was spotted by Eric Erlanson and Courtney Love, who were looking for a new bassist for Hole. They invited Kristen into the group and, after some consideration, she accepted. The rest, as they say, is history. Kristen moved from her Minneapolis home to Seattle, Washington to be closer to Hole's home. They recorded Live Through This, the bands first major label release, posed for pictures, and recorded the album's first video, "Miss World". Everything seemed to be coming up roses. As all of these things were happening around her, and to her, though, Kristen was becoming more and more immersed in the Seattle drug scene. When Kurt Cobain died in April 1994 Kristen took the death amazingly hard. After some time had passed Kristen had possibly decided that she needed to get out of Seattle and away from drugs that were so readily available. She had packed her bags and was going back to Minneapolis. And that's where Kristen's story ends. On June 16, 1994 her body was found by a friend, slumped over her bathtub--dead of an apparent drug overdose. Nearby was a cosmetic bag containing syringes and drug paraphernalia. Geffen's statement read, in part: "We are greatly saddened to learn of Kristen Pfaff's death and extend our sympathy to her friends family and other members of Hole"..."This is all the more tragic because she had gone through a drug-rehabilitation program this past winter and was in the process of moving back to Minneapolis to be with old friends until the Hole tour resumed". The statement from the Hole members was: "We are deeply anguished by the loss of an extremely talented musician, beautiful soul, and a great friend. She was an intense player, scholar, and passionate as a musician, and about life in every way." ...A beautiful daughter A beautiful friend A beautiful tragedy An untimely end... --editor Below a reader remembers Kristen Pfaff. In memory of Kristen M. Pfaff.... By: Lynda Davis It was a year ago this month that the world lost another talented musician. Unfortunately, her talent was never accredited while she was still alive. Sure she was the bassist of Hole, but even after her death she was called 'Courtney Love's bassist' (or worse, Kurt-Cobain's-widow's-bassist --ed.) . Kristen M. Pfaff was just another "junkie" to those who didn't know her. True, she had abused drugs-they even led to her death, but "junkie" isn't a nice word. At a young age of 27, Kristen had already felt the bitterness that the music world, especially that in Seattle, could bring. She had agonized over the choice of staying with her old band Janitor Joe (Minneapolis based) or joining Hole. The suicide of Kurt Cobain deeply upset her. She decided to pack up her things and head for home-possibly to rejoin Janitor Joe, definitely to rid herself of drugs. All of that was shattered though when her friend Paul Erickson found the self-taught bassist dead in her tub. She was talented-something that was clearly more audible with Janitor Joe. She had written music and lyrics and sang up front on certain songs with her last band. Her phenomenal bass playing shone through brighter with J.J. It's been noted that Kristen had, indeed, played a couple of shows with J.J. before leaving Hole for good. Friends said she was incredibly happy right before she died to be getting away from Seattle. Maybe it was because she was back in her old band with old friends. Maybe, as horrible as this may sound to us Hole fans, Kristen had been living inside a "black Hole". Bits of a personal letter to me from an old friend of Kristen's: "I'm sure everybody's got an opinion on whether she would've been better off staying in Janitor Joe, and even though I know what my opinion is (and I think her drug problems had a lot to do with the people she was around) I also know that Kristen would be the first person to admit that the only person at fault was herself (I knew her well). It didn't happen to her, she did it to herself (although obviously she wasn't trying to kill herself, she had a lot to live for and knew it). I don't know, I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's cool to be into what she did, and she was a great musician, but it's important not to glamorize the way she died or that she was even using drugs...." M. "We are greatly saddened to learn of Kristen Pfaff's death and extend our sympathy to her family, friends, and the other members of Hole. She made a unique and vital contribution to the creative force of that band. She will be sorely missed."-DGC "Fondly remembering our dear friend, bassist KRISTEN PFAFF who left this "Demented, ugly world" last June 1994. RIP."-Hole "We are deeply anguished over the loss of an extremely talented musician, beautiful soul, and great friend."-Hole KRISTEN M. PFAFF (1967-1994) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In EveRY isSuE Readers Write: For Kristen Death reached out its hand and curled Its vile fingers 'round her heart She left this demented, ugly world She barely got to start Blinded by shadow This life she endured When she could take it no more She succumbed to its lure But her bags were packed She'd be safe at last Just one more dance With future past She was a beautiful daughter A beautiful friend A beautiful tragedy Had an untimely end Once she had a future bright Her life had meaning to her But Death has now extinguished that light No time No more No future... --------------------------------------------------- Have you a poetry or thought for Kristen? Send it to me! giloturc@tin.it