RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERINGS: Unofficial Community for Rainbow Family
Bam Bam was a man who did what he wanted. He loved a lot, was loved a
lot and was much beloved. There were more than several people who
didn't care for his drumming or his leadership in drumcircles. For
certain Bam Bam could be a disagreeable rascal. He was a legend for
well-earned reasons. But he was also an arrogant snot. For instance,
Bam Bam acted like a know-it-all high holy from time to time, as well
as being downright cruel to young neophyte drummers. But let me say
it's damn difficult not to seem like a high holy given circumstances
that all too easily line up when especially leos bring pressure to
bear. Likewise, it's damn difficult to teach and not be cruel because
teaching denotes learning and there are always those who will not or
cannot learn despite their own expectations and evaluations.
While there's nothing here I wouldn't or didn't say to him, I'm sure
that this post seems negative in the balance so far especially to
those who hold with maxims about not speaking ill of the dead. But I
only want to emphasize one more negative before I go on to praise this
guy I loved: Alcohol. Goddamned godblessed alcohol. If you tell me
what a hell of a good drinking buddy he was I puke on your shoes.
Alcohol informed everything. Rather: alcoholism. Bam Bam's life,
death, mania, depression, talent, bad acts, good acts, sweetness,
meanness-- all of it was affected by alcoholism. Please don't get me
wrong. Just don't act as if being good at drinking is a commendable
attribute.
I love Bam Bam dearly. I cannot think of Bam Bam and not get happy.
I saw him do a lot of things but two stand out. 1993. May? Dead
Show. Sacto. It's just the way he would lead that tide of one
hundred drummers against that sea of leos and block the squadcars from
encroaching on the village in the parking lot, just as he would at
various gatherings. It was a joyful thing.
That day was very very hot. 115. Early in the year. Still early in
the day, say three pm, under the press of an orange fiery sky on that
black coal asphalt, Bam raises one arm, says, "There we were on the
Serengeti--" Well, I fell instantly in love and we were paramours for
that day, making that scorched africa motif our script for the day and
night. There were only half a dozen drummers at that hour. By the
time the crowd swelled to a hundred or more then went down to just
several of us again, somehow Bam Bam's brand new very fine jimbe (sp)
had been ripped off. It was such an outrage. Outrageous! He was
dejected and whispering after an initial burst of hilarity and
invective that seemed so short lived considering the magnitude of the
loss. THEN! It also turned out someone has knicked his backpack,
rendering him a man with the clothes on his back (plus thousands of
friends). He really was like a little boy and even cried a bit and I
with him. I gave him five bucks which was half what I had. It was
tender and moving to see a big man of such art and ideal who with such
extravagant primitivist showbiz acumen "led" a big exuberant motley
orchestra brought to little boy tears and knees by some greedy maya-
deluded people. I was struck by the gentility in one who might have
been expected to be macho and blustery.
Flash forward a few weeks. July 1994. Wyoming. Vision council.
I've been knocked flat by altitude sickness and stuck in my rig in the
parking lot from the third on sundown until this time on the seventh.
Up through the middle of the circle of some hundred people come Bam
Bam and a few other brothers carrying the peace pole which they then
plant in the ground. Now that's the entire story. No more plot than
that. The story was that the story goes on.
The reason I write of it is that this is Bam Bam and this is life!
That's the first I'd seen him since the dead parking lot. I mean
there he was! In full throes! Free! Yet in harness! A gallop!
Nearly naked and magnificent. Muscles. Veins. Sweat. Teeth. Hair
tangled like roots or flying clouds or lover's limbs or real life's
real soap opera plots. Big bony feet. Pounding a rhythm on the Teton
dirt. Smiles, grimaces. All worthy of the late masters' oils. All
browns and tans and blacks and reds and golds. God I love the
rainbow! God I love Bam Bam! The story is the beat goes on!
Comment
I hate to hear of the loss of Bam Bam. I never had the pleasure but I feel a huge connection with him. I am an alchoholic. I no longer drink, (once a pickle you can never go back to being a cuckumber)!However, I am still a drunk even if I do not drink(sober 6 years).When I got sober a bunch of others in my group did as well. A few went back out , a few got sober, and a few couldn't or wouldn't . The few that wouldn't or couldn't of my "Littermates" chose to take the path that Bam Bam took. Like you Miss MaMa Turtle , I was a mess and deeply saddened. I also knew I was still very sick and all I needed was an excuse to get drunk at the situation. However there were other plans written for me and I made it thru.That time,as I do each time,one thing at a time.
I felt the need to write and let you know that I heard and wanted to reach out and comfort you if possible. I hope by sharing that perhaps I have given you some comfort . Thank you for sharing. I need to hear these things,to be reminded and remember that I am to help if I can......
Huge Hug for You
Tracey LaForge
Welcome to
Rainbow Family Gatherings
Rainbow Family Websites.
Please message me if you have more links and resources can share. You can also create your own group.
Goodreads Group
Help select the next Author Interview on "Up Close with Chris Tinney". Join THIS GOODREADS GROUP
Questions? Message me here or any of these social networks.
This site supported by SpreadPeace.org.
Linked In / Facebook / Instagram / Radio Show
Thanks,
Chris Tinney
My Rainbow Profile
Thankyou network marketing companies Hempworx, & Uforia, and Young Living Essential Oils, Purium Brand Partners, and Arbonne Distributor for sponsoring this site, and paying the monthly fees!
© 2021 Created by Chris Tinney.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Rainbow Family Gatherings to add comments!
Join Rainbow Family Gatherings