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WHAT'S
ON MY BRAIN: November 11, 2004
DAYS OF
SORROW
My dear friends, I am sorry I have not posted the past few weeks…my
dear, dear, dear friend William (Bill) Liebowitz passed away on October
27th. Fuck.
I have been coming to LA since 1989, and would go to the "Golden
Apple" comic book store on every trip. I had the good fortune to
get to know Bill very well--and even luckier to get to know his lovely
wife Sharon. I moved here in 1993, and have rarely missed a new comic
day at the "Apple" and would always enjoy sitting in front
of the store with Bill, me having a smoke, and we'd talk about everything--the
business of comics most of all. He was a true "Staple" of
the industry and then some---most of all--and fuck the business--he
was my friend.
So I knew this wonderful person, his wife, and his family for nearly
20 years, which speaks for it's self, the best people you'd (anyone)
meet in your life---but how could anyone say more? Easy, I met my wife
there.
Julie Strain is the love of my life--I knew it the first time I met
her--and when I was to scared to call her for three months, then we
met again, it was love at first and second sight--I blame it all on
Bill--let me explain…
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  I
was working on the forth TMNT movie in 1994, which was never made, yet
I was flown to LA many times to work on it. Every time I would come
to LA I would go by to visit my friend Bill, and on November 11, 1994
(today in 2004!) I stopped by to see Bill,(see the flyer, picture one)
and he was having a "Scream Queens" signing and I got to see
Julie for the first time. I met no one else (see the other girls signing
that day in photo two)--I stood in Julie's line, joined her fan club,
she had no clue who I was--I had no clue who she was--but we liked each
other, and I was just thrilled to meet her. End of story so far…
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 So
I come BACK for the TMNT 4 film in February, go by to say "Hi"
to Bill, and there's another signing going on--(see image three)--and
guess who's there? That's right--we got to meet again--still no clue of
who each other is--we get married six months later--that that was nearly
ten years ago. Fuck. I met the girl of my dreams in my dear friend's store… |
There's
never enough payback for that--but that was never a factor of Bill as
a fucking great guy, and well--just a fucking nice guy.
One of my greatest--of many, many great memories with Bill is something
I want to share…when Julie and I decided to publish her first book
there was no other place we considered but the "Golden Apple."
Here's a cool photo of Julie's first billboard ever, and it was of course
for her signing at Bill's.
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 The
next image is of my lovely wife, having the time of her life posing
in front the "Golden Apple" at the event of a LIFETIME! |
 The
sixth photo is of Julie and I kissing in the same location where we actually
"MET" in Bill's store a few years before--I still think of that
moment everytime I go there, on new comic day every Wednesday. |
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 The
next image is just a great photo of Julie signing her first book, the
infamous "It's only Art if it's Well Hung"--in full freak,
and happy to be there. That dress certainly makes her look…good… |
 Olivia
and Joel Beren were great friends of ours at the event--in fact I was
so in love with Julie before our "First date" I bought this
painting of her, and we got to display at the event. Killer--killer---!
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 And
here's one of Julie's favorite shot from the night, (her and Olivia
holding the "Golden Apple banner)---she didn't want to show any
photos of her and Bill together because she'd be crying out loud everytime
I showed her what I wanted to post for "our" fans--so she
said, and I agreed, we'd just show a few of our favorite moments. |
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Okay--so where can I go from here--I called my best friend Simon, and
told him Bill had passed--Simon was also a friend of Bill's--he just
said "fucking Cunt" and had to hang up and take a moment to
himself. Simon, like me, thinks Bill is a cunt for leaving us way to
soon.
Please take the word "cunt" as Simon and I's highest term
of endearment--we call each other that daily--with love and affection--and
that is all that I think of Bill.
Bill was kind, thoughtful, hard, critical of the business--especially
when the business deserved it, his family is more than the best--Sharon,
Damon, Ryan, I considered the kind of folks I would be there as quickly
as my own family--they're so few people I EVER think of in that way--and
I FEEL really blessed that I am lucky enough in this world to think
I can cal Bill and family…THAT.
As you know Bill--I miss you more than I ever told you--but you knew--you
had so many people that love/loved you--I think they'll be a long line
of folks standing in front of the store, hoping for the chance to sit
with you in those plastic chairs--and have the pleasure to share a moment
with you.
Fuck. For extended friends--on November 14th from six to nine, ALLOT
of dear friends will gather at the "Golden Apple" comic store
to toast and share a great memory--Julie and I will be there--hope to
see you there too.
For any more details, or to leave a message for Bill and family, go
to www.goldenapplecomics.com.
Days of sorrow for sure.
Warmest, Kevin
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