A Brief Word On The Passing of Icon Jimmy Buffett, RIP

I took the Labor Day weekend off to enjoy the annual respite from all my toils, troubles and labors. Truth be told, since I’m still recovering from my recent tendon repair surgery, the weekend consisted of the Rock Chick propping me up in front of the TV to watch football and the US Open Tennis Tourney. Sure it was restful, but it certainly didn’t feel like a holiday… but I’m getting off track. While I was out I saw the sad news that Jimmy Buffett, Margarita-icon and hero to a legion of self-proclaimed Parrotheads had passed away. He had lymphoma that stemmed from an earlier bout of skin cancer. He was only 76, which seems very young.

I have to admit to all of you, I’m not and I’ve never been a Jimmy Buffett fan. This may come as a surprise to many as his beach, drinking, laid back ethos seems to be a prime fit for B&V. I think, once upon a time, I had a greatest hits CD (God knows which one, he had a number of compilations) that I either owned or recorded to cassette… back when cassettes and mix tapes were a “thing.” The man did have a string of hits in the 70s including “Margaritaville,” “Changes In Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” and “Why Don’t We Get Drunk (And Screw)”. And even I have to admit, the man was all about having fun, which is a great thing to be about. Not many people remember this, but Buffett started off his recording career attempting to inhabit the same niche that Gram Parsons invented and the Eagles owned, a folky/acoustic melding of rock n roll and country. He was briefly considered a peer of the Eagles and that style of music.

While his recorded music dropped off the charts by the 80s, his 70s hits and his uncanny ability to market kept him a huge concert draw. His fans dubbed themselves “Parrotheads” and they filled his concerts to the rum soaked rafters. If you look at his discography, along with his many compilations he has a ton of live albums. He went beyond the usual T-shirts and hats marketing and opened restaurants, bars and had his own brand of beer for a while. The guy was a marketing juggernaut. You’ve gotta respect that.

Beyond all that, he was a big supporter of the environment. He founded an organization to save the manatees and if you don’t think that’s awesome, you need help. He was an old sailor with an old school hippy mentality. There’s something about that I just like. While I didn’t spend the weekend cranking “Fins” or “Cheeseburger In Paradise,” I did feel sad about his passing. We did fly the rock flag at half mast this weekend in his honor. This guy was big in the 70s. And while you didn’t hear his music on the radio much after that – outside of the coastal areas of the U.S. or in the islands of the Caribbean, he was always a presence.

If you doubt the man’s influence, look no further than all of the other artists who have tried to inhabit that whole beach party niche. Sammy Hagar tried to be the hard rock Buffett for a while with all that “Mas Tequila” stuff. There’s a country guy, I think it’s Kenny Chesney, gads, who has been trying to be the full on country-Buffett for a while now. It’s a comfortable niche for those with the marketing gene. I mean, shit, who doesn’t like relaxed, boozy fun?

I kind of see this as yet another of that great rock n roll generation slipping away. It’s been a tough few months with the music losses mounting – from Sinead O’Connor, Tony Bennett and Eagle Randy Meisner to Robbie Roberston – we’re losing our rock stars. My advice in these situations is always to crank the music of these icons. And if you get a chance and a band you like (or used to like when you were a young wild one) comes to town, buy the ticket see the show. Who knows how much longer we’ll have these musicians and artists. Rock n Roll is a beautiful thing but it certainly claims a heavy toll.

For now, we say a fond farewell to Jimmy Buffett, RIP. My condolences to his family, friends and all those Parrotheads out there probably toasting Jimmy with rum. “They say there’s a woman to blame, but I know it’s my own damn fault…”

It’s a long dark ride, try and have a little fun out there while you can. Cheers!