It was summer, 2000, and Jeremy and I were nearing the end of a month-long trip around the south, northeast, and midwest seeing Phish. We wound up in Oberlin, Ohio at our friend Jesse's house, to complete the tour.
Suffice it to say that Jeremy and Jesse's extreme personalities were a sight to behold pretty much any time of day or night.
Which brings us to this picture of them.
I don't quite know how this really started, but Jeremy and Jesse started to sing songs, particularly an imitation of a Disco Biscuits song named Magellan, and while doing so, also engaged in a philosophical discussion on the personalities of the bandmembers and what would happen if Magellan suddenly met its musical/lyrical rival in a Disco Biscuit song.
This probably means very little to most people in the world, but this is, by far, my favorite picture of Jeremy. Jeremy and Jesse singing and playing air guitar after a complete overanalyzation of a band and their songs. The lyrics: "I had to sail for my life." One of my most cherished memories - not only of Jeremy, but in general as well.
I bring you: I Had to Sail for My Life - Jeremy and Jesse, July, 2000.
Here are some pictures from the Florida benefit shows on 1.16.04 and 1.17.04:
Marge Brownstein read this letter from Jamie and David Wainland to the Disco Biscuits band and crew and extended family on the day of the second Florida benefit show on January 17, 2004.
This heartfelt and touching letter did not yield a dry eye in the room.
I love you, Jamie and David.. thank you again for everything you've done.
-ericalynn.
Dear Marc, Jon, Aaron, Sam, Jon L, the tech crew and everyone involved with this group including Ethan Schwartz, and Ericalynn
What can we say,
Is thank you enough, is because of you, you help me keep the memory of Jeremy alive enough, is I now know why JEREMY loved all you people so enough, WHAT IS ENOUGH???????????
I use to think JEREMY was crazy every time he told me he was going to another state to hear some group called the DISCO BISCUITS play. I would say, JEREMY, isn’t enough, enough. How many times can you see the same people, how many times can you hear the same music. His answer was you just don’t understand. I guess I really didn’t until last night.
I stood in a crowd of people with their hands flying in the air, with their bodies moving and grooving to the sounds, with a lost look in their eyes as they just heard the sounds coming from within all of you. So I decided to move and grove a little as well. I must admit this is the first time I have ever heard the bands music. I didn’t know quite what to expect, however, even though I hate to give into JEREMY, I NOW understand all those times he left for the airport, got on the plane, came back 3 days later either saying---------they were good, they were great, this was the best show they ever played.
So my dear friends, In Jeremy’s eyes you were always a winner, always a friend, always someone he loved. Both David and I and his sister and Kira are honored that you cared enough about him to have this intimate gathering of hundreds of people to celebrate JEREMY’S life. I promised everyone if the band ever played in FLORIDA even though it wasn’t your strongest following I would do everything in my power to get press release and people. Try me again, I won’t let you down, wait until tonight.
HOT AIR BALLOON...JEREMY has asked you to play for him tonight, He will be sitting to the right of you Marc watching every move all of you make and critiquing every song. The smile will be on his face as always as you play the night away.
With much feelings and caring from JEREMY’S mom, dad and family. If he had one wish it would be to see you again and tonight he will,
Jamie Wainland
Hello My Name Is Jeremy Dobski and i'm 16, and I knew Jeremy for only a
small amount of time, and he left a huge impact on me. Jeremy was my
personal trainer for a week, because i was only in Florida for a week
visiting my mom.
Jeremy worked me hard, if the words "I can't" came out of
my mouth it meant push ups. If I didn't do the "homework" he assigned me,
push-ups. Jeremy liked to discipline, when he needed to. He was
very...artistic with his training. He would trick me into doing an
excercise, and I wouldn't realize it until afterwards. He taught me a lot
about myself and gave me a lot of confidence. After that week i digressed in
my excercise and eating habits. But recently i got back into it, and as I
was doing it I was thinking about Jeremy and what he would say how he would
push me, because he knew I could do it. He meant a lot to me, and it's
amazing because I knew him for such a short while. Now I'm losing weight and
it's thanks to Jeremy. I think about Jeremy at least once a day. I just want
to say thank you to Jeremy one last time.
Thank You Jeremy
I remember when Jeremy was visiting White Plains, NY, and I was working with
Stukes Atwood (later became Corporate Trade Solutions). Jeremy was doing some work with Don and Jake - consulting and sales, etc. This was before he got into personal training. We went to lunch a few times, talked a lot about science fiction. We kept in contact for a long time thereafter
He came back to White Plains some time later and discovered an allergy to cold.
"How can someone be allergic to the cold?" I asked. He showed me - blotches on
his arms, only from going outside in the cold of New York.
He left for Florida almost immediately thereafter. We've always kept in touch,
and even exchanged books now and then by mail. I hadn't heard from him since
last July. I had no idea he was gone.
I'm glad I got to know Jeremy - he was always enthusiastic and thoughtful about
so many things. He is missed.