Ben Spangler, AKA Bi Polar Ben, AKA Ben Brizini, left this, our world, on June 21st, 2007. He was 32 years old... we dearly loved him and will surly miss him, as everyone will. The Touchers last album "Blithe" was recorded right when they got home from their west coast summer tour, and was wrapped up just days before Ben pasted away... "Blithe" should be out in Sept 07. Ben was very proud of it, so... we'll all get one last chance to hear it from Ben himself. R.I.P Ben. Your music will fill our souls forever. BIO}}}}}in the banal,bloated and completely corporate modern (rock) horse shit that is supposedly
alternative or indie, one finds little hope for
anything original and full of hate for the mainstream
and its culture of doom and class warfare.
Rising from the voluptuos mountains of montana
comes the touchers,carrying the ethics and ideals
of the late seventies early eighties punk scene.
FUGAZI, NATION OF ULYSSES, MINUTEMEN, FLipper--minor threat
BLACK FLAG, DEAD KENNEDYS< the Stooges and X. ramones, heartbreakers,daniel johnston,tom waits
and the butthole surfers, Frank Black, etc
so we have a twang and a taste of johnny cash and willie nelson
but the Fury of THE jesus lizard or the melvins
so keep being spoon fed the corporate whores
excrement and take a flying fuck at the moon
blithe –adjective, blith·er, blith·est. 1. joyous, merry, or gay in disposition; glad; cheerful: Everyone loved her for her blithe spirit. 2. without thought or regard; carefree; heedless: a blithe indifference to anyone's feelings.
i still feel that without having the comfort of knowing that pure and passionate music is still being written is very troubling i do listen to the shotgun and underwater fascist albums every day i hope that somewhere ben is in a dimension that is beyond human comprehension still making his own catchy brand of music he was truly something special
Whoa. I am just reading this on July 26, 2007 from Seattle and am really sad/stunned, and wanting to know more details.
Ben was pure and beautiful in his music. This is a huge loss.
He approached me last year about having Global Seepej Records help put out The Underwater Fascist which he recorded with Jack Endino. I took one listen and said yes. He told me he didn’t want any money and he already had a distro deal with Wantage in Missoula, he just wanted to put the GSR logo on there.
That meant and means a lot to me. I don’t put out many records because in reality I don’t want to be associated with things and people I don’t like. I am not in this to be hip or cool or make money off of folks. Neither was Ben and that is why I liked him and his music.
Ben wrote some amazing songs and they were a great live band too. Any punkish rock band that can make someone dance, not beat each other up slam dance, but really dance is definitely doing something right.
I really don’t know what else to say. I will miss Ben and his honesty. I was looking forward to having Ben & the Touchers come back to Seattle and play the Global Seepej Records 12th Anniversary show. I had called and emailed him in the last few weeks and not heard back, which was very unusual. Now I know why, but this is the last reason I had ever thought of or wanted.
LONG LIVE THE GREAT MUSIC OF BEN SPANGLER AND THE TOUCHERS!!!!
Sincerely,
Mike T. At the Spine http://www.atthespine.org http://www.myspace.com/atthespine Global Seepej Records http://www.globalseepej.org
As many of you know Ben passed away last month. His death is a great loss and will be felt for some time. Before Ben died we finished recording a new album and I want to extend every one the opportunity to contribute photos, art or remberences to the booklet of this CD. If you have anything you would like considered for inclusion in the art of Blithe please email it to the following link.
We had many great shows together and talks on the street, old neighbor. You were the only person in Bozeman to recognize the Fugazi drawing on my wall. Everywhere I went I saw you driving in that crazy conversion van. You are missed by us!!!! Thanks for giving to this world.
I will always be happy that we became friends even though i thought you were a stalker... he he thanks for trying to teach me bass... and letting me show too many people my undies with the Rectal Assasins!
I can't wrap my mind around what's happened here! I'd known Ben just a short time.. an immediate (big, big) fan of his music, he was so genuine and I loved anytime he and the Touchers came to Missoula! I am in the middle of a promotional campaign for the new record and just today received this review.. he would have been stoked to see that his music is appreciated globally! RIP Ben.
Click on this link to read, in depth, what Aaron (IRELAND) thinks of Ben and the Touchers..
