I'm completely floored right now.
My fiance and I got to spend dinner and the evening with him when Mike Pinder came to Hollywood for the premiere of Dianna Dillworth's and Murray Lenner's two films at the Egyptian. We bs'd all evening, had a great time. Met Pinder. Got photos of them shaking hands. Frank stayed afterwards to see me play a Mellotron for the first time in my life, Brian Kehew's purple M400 that he'd brought over for the shindig. He later described it as a look of "pure joy" on my face as I sat there and did my round of 'tron karaoke. We had a great time the three of us. He topped it off by giving me a copy of his book, he had several with him.
That's how I just found out he died. I spent the evening finishing out the last of his book, now that I've a bit of time. I talked at length about it with my fiance and my mother-in-law at their place. I was getting a little irritated that it seems like there was a time you could snatch up priceless Mellotrons for, oh, $200. I was saying I was going to go home and tell Frank by facebook I'd just finished his book, great stuff, think hard, are there any unwanted Mellotrons laying around California at all, no matter how bad of shape?
Instead I found... all of this. It doesn't seem to be a joke.
Damn, just a month ago he'd mentioned that he also likes that old John Wayne movie "In Harm's Way." No sign of trouble then.
..
I'm just floored. I was looking forward to visiting his place in El Cajon maybe next year if I had time and money. He will surely be missed.
-Sean
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:
>
> I just saw on facebook that Frank died 10 days ago. Was anyone aware of
> this? I know many people on this list had very strong feelings about Frank,
> both good and bad. He was my friend. I will miss him.
>
> Frank
>