Melinda Hsu

The Smiths-There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

The Smiths

If it doesn't look like I'm writing much these days, it's probably because I'm sad and depressed at my best friend, Melinda, passing away unexpectedly.

I've known her since late 1992, through a Morrissey fanzine called The Morri-Zine (vol 4, #4). We became close friends. She was there to recommend taking over her Black Velveeta radio show, I became a radio DJ for KFSR 90.7 FM. She was there with me through our hostel adventures throughout England. She was there to buy my first beer when I turned 21 at midnight (the bartender didn't even check my ID!). She's always been there for me, and it's safe to say that I would not be the person I am today without her. If you have ever known Melinda, she is the kindest person you've ever met.

If you would like to observe her memorial service, details here: morrissey-solo.com (re-published below).

Melinda Hsu
posted by davidt on Saturday April 24 2010, @07:00PM

I've just received word that a longtime fan and friend Melinda Hsu has passed away recently. Posting on the site as "Mel Torment", Melinda was very well known amongst Morrissey fans, often contributing to this site, forums and email lists. Morrissey himself recognized her and talk to her often during concerts.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held at:
Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church
Saturday, May 15 at 4pm.

Melinda's brother Victor asked if any friends have any pictures or mementos, they can be sent to [email protected].

I remember Melinda for her dedication, so many times I would hear her report on a Morrissey show and think, "how in the world did she make it there?" There was never a Morrissey show too far. She was a great friend to the site, contributions were always very sharp and observant. I will miss her humor and generosity.

Below an article that Mel was kind enough to write for us two years ago.

>>>
"Beware of the Piano": DJ Lebowitz rockin' your punkass like the donkey
written by Melinda on Apr 1, 2007 at 3:59 PM

DJ Lebowitz - Holiday In Cambodia

Muzak and lounge versions of punk rock songs are no longer novel. But years before hipster smartarses started churning out their oh-so-ironic versions of punk rock songs, DJ Lebowitz was pounding out on the pianner (instrumentals only) some of my beloved punk rock faves, even exceeding the passion and intensity of the bands he covers.

I first encountered Beware of the Piano – a beat-up old LP which is currently out of print – in the vinyl archives at KUCR on a tip from DJ Tina Bold back in the 90s. I can’t find any graphic on the Internet of a cover of this album, so instead you get a photo of DJ Lebowitz taken from his own on website (the Bruce Latimer Show, photo by Hali McGrath).

But my impaired memory of the album cover was that it was a hand-drawn illustration of a suburban house and yard (maybe my deranged imagination is making this up, but there might’ve been a menacing upright piano stalking along the curb and I think there were also curly vine tendrils creeping along the fence or something). The light greenish tint and hand-drawn illustration brought to mind the illustration for Wally Pleasant’s Houses of the Holy Moly. I seem to remember a story possibly taken from the liner notes about how DJ Lebowitz got into rockin’ the piano. It goes something like this: He always wanted to play a badass instrument like guitar or drums, but his mom made him take piano lessons instead. But he still had the rockin’ desire and got his revenge by reinterpreting punk rock classics into piano songs. That punk.

DJ Lebowitz - Judy is a Punk

My two favorite songs off of this LP are the covers of Judy Is a Punk (The Ramones) and Holiday in Cambodia (The Dead Kennedys). I don’t have much else to say about these songs except they are criminally fun-- oh and the way DJ Lebowitz reproduces the ending of “Pol Pot!” at the end of Holiday in Cambodia is especially delightful.

Vu kindly edited the out-of-print songs from a digitized source (PVC’s radio shows where DJ Lebowitz was a guest) because my computer is shit and I have no time to fanny around until April 14th.

UPDATE 5/1/10 10:11am: Clearly the sudden death of Melinda had affected Morrissey on a personal level.  Below is an excerpt from the official statement from Morrissey regarding Melinda:

true-to-you.net:

The only way to deal with Mel's death is to accept it. There is no other way. We all have a certain unbreakable appointment and we are all helpless targets in that regard. Life's only promise is its final deadline. When Mel, and others who are dear to us, depart, we should at least realize as we shuffle along living our small and persecuted lives, how absolutely ridiculous it is to be afraid of anything or anyone on this unhappy planet. Most people are standardized and unoriginal, which is useful, because it makes the Mels of the world stand out even more. Rich in ideas, her self-made calendars and t-shirts were always very funny. You will catch up with her in the afterlife, where I'm sure she will be as creative and busy and as Mel Torment as ever.

 04/29/2010 22:23:44 ♥ vu () ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com