CRIMSON GLORY - Remembering Midnight: One Year Later Original
CRIMSON GLORY vocalist
Midnight (real name John Patrick McDonald Jr.) passed away on July 8th, 2009 due to kidney and liver failure. He was 47 years old. Danae Saree Drenning, vocalist and the wife of founding guitarist Jon Drenning, has issued a tribute to the fallen legend:
"Hi, Mid.
There's a part of me that believes that if I write you a letter, you'll read it, and understand what I want to say.
The first time I heard your voice and your words, I felt the chills of familiarity...I see the world like you did; I see the colors...they're everywhere. In every word, in touch, sounds... I see the faces, too...the inanimate comes to life in ways both frightening and captivating.
I wish I could have told you that; I would have so loved to sit down and share over beat-up guitars and shitty cigarettes of all the wild wonder that was part of your life and mine.
I wish I could have laughed and cried with you at the absurdity of it all.
When you were in the hospital, I prayed so hard...I should have stopped begging God and started demanding God...as His Children we are ALL entitled to have our demands met.
I wish I had learned that sooner.
Most of all, I wish that I would have had the balls to open my mouth and say, 'Hey guys, let me sing for him.'
There's a part of me that just knows that
music is what you needed most at that moment. To go beyond the tubes and IVs and machines and sterile sorrows of that room...
And I'm not saying that it would have saved your life...but maybe it would have.
I will forever mourn my lack of courage on that day. I was afraid of what other people would think. I blame myself for not at least offering you a serene, familiar passing.
You transcended amidst the muffled, soul-less beeping, pumping, wheezing machines invading your veins, your lungs...you deserved far better than that.
I don't believe that you were ever someone who was at ease with all of these artificial bullshit machines and inventions that clutter up humanity and blind the masses to the true and real magic of this brilliantly-lit, frighteningly beautiful and overwhelmingly colorful world.
And so, my friend, today I apologize to you for not having the gumption to do what I knew was right. You needed music more than chemicals and plastic and crappy cotton sheets and the foul stench of iodine and hospital cleanliness...you needed music more.
And I know that it's too late for that...the moment has passed into the Ether just as you did...but I hope that you know that every time I sing your words, every time I play your music, every time I compose something new with you in mind...it comes from a true and heavy heart.
And I guess I shouldn't be moping about like this, down on myself, because I don't think that's what you want. But I know that you know what it feels like to walk the tightrope of manic happiness and crushing sadness, and come out of it with a crooked smile, the blindfold slipping from one eye, trying not to spill your drink in the process...
In closing, I want to say that I'm sorry I didn't step up to the plate for you.
I'm happy that you're finally experiencing what you and Jon used to discuss at length for so long.
I'm honored to have your paintbrush (it sits on my piano).
I'm relieved to know that you're still around when I smell cigarettes in my house (where we don't smoke, mister!).
Please continue to bumble and stumble through our lives, as you used to...nobody minds. :-) ."
All my love,
Danae