R.I.P. David Williams...

[ihate100bees]

This evening, I learned of Davids passing in March, and I can't believe it. I haven't seen David since the late "80's, but only just a few months ago, I googled him and there he was... seemingly busy with new projects. I had hoped to contact Dave in the future. I worked with David as his personal guitar tech for countless sessions in "86 thru "87 for many artist sessions in Los Angeles, CA. One day he asked if I would "come along and take care of him" on Madonna's tour in "87. I said of coarse. I built a pedal board for him as well as handled endorsements for Dave and other guitarist James Harrah (another great guitar player/human being) on that tour. I can only say that I will miss David very much, his laugh... especially that I know that I'll never have the chance to share another one with him. He was a gifted musician with a great ear for composition and knew just the right thing to play. No more, no less. That's what he did best. He had great feel to his playing. David would always call me "Lil brother". I know that he loved his family very much, enjoyed life, and work at that time. Those years were very special to all of us. I remember the sessions with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson at Westlake, Michaels garage studio, Bryan Ferry at Studio One, etc.. etc... I'm not aware of his career path after those years. I moved to Nashville in "94. Dave was a great guy to me and valued my opinion regarding sound and gear. He was a genuine person and very professional.

This afternoon, I heard about the tragic loss of Michael Jackson, and I couldn't stop thinking of how David must feel, after losing such a friend. I knew how close they were as friends and professionals. Upon trying to locate Dave, I stumbled onto the articles surrounding Davids recent failed health, and untimely passing. I was very saddened to learn all this.

I will deeply miss those years working with David, the red Kramer, the "80's, and all the great people that were in his life at that time, and that became our friends.

Andy Gerome

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by cortisol

So name and shame the Hospital here. Name the people who made the decissions to cause the grief to Davids family and count his life and care not worth the money here. Do it!

So this go getter hospital is customer focused and wants your dollars huh. Lets give them the advertising they deserve.

I'm glad that David Williams talent got to shine and be recognised. I hope Davids family can get over the distress caused and be allowed to grieve normally.

RIP David Williams.

Cortisol

Sentara Hospital in Virginia Beach tortured my mother for a month last year, then they killed her. I'm sorry for David Williams and my heart goes out to his family

[AudioWonderland]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

Yesterday a legendary sound was silenced in the pop world. Famed guitarist David Williams died.
A friend of mine called me in the afternoon to tell me about it, but the papers are confirming it this morning.
If you have ever heard Michael Jackson's Bille Jean, then you've heard David Williams.

MADGE GUITARIST'S GRIM DEATH- New York Post

THE unsung hero behind Madonna and Michael Jackson died yesterday morning, and the grieving family of David Williams is furious over the disrespect shown to him by the music community and by what they say was neglect by the hospital where he spent his last days.

Williams, who was 58, was the guitarist for the pop superstars and toured with both of them as well as Jessica Simpson, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie and Van Halen for more than three decades, succumbed to complications from high blood pressure.

Williams collapsed and was taken to Sentara Hospital in Hampton, Va. where he slipped into a coma last week. While he lay dying in ICU, his family was urged to "pull the plug because he had no medical insurance," a family friend said. "The hospital was trying to force them to pull the plug. This man was a Vietnam veteran and gave his life to music and still had no benefits."

Jackson has announced a new tour and Madonna is still a top-grossing act. "But David, who supported them onstage all those years, has nothing," said the friend. "[His ex-wife] Deborah just wanted him to have some integrity, and instead the hospital was despicable at best over his lack of insurance."

On Thursday, the evening before Williams died, Deborah, who had four daughters with him, wrote us: "During this very difficult time where our focus should be on the nurturing and care of David, we are battling with hospital officials just to get and maintain the care he deserves, a hospital whose main interest lies in his ability to pay for his care." David, like many industry veterans, lived without adequate health insurance.

A music industry insider said, "What about NARAS [National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences]? What about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? They collect huge amounts of money every year to help musicians in David's situation - and they throw themselves parties instead. It's disgusting."

A rep for Sentara said she'd look into the situation but didn't return calls.

Van Halen? Dare I ask what his work with them was?

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by LARayGun

For all the socialists who would politicize a dying man's last moments, consider this. Doctors do basically two things: help us get better, help us die comfortably. They expect to get paid for both. It's not anonymous "companies" or "bastards". It's doctors. If you think doctors should work for free, go to a witch doctor.

F*CK YOU! I have been going through problem with the health system here in San Francisco, where we ALLEGEDLY have universal coverage, and I can tell you it's a big pile of B.S. If you don't have insurance or big bucks you're screwed. I was tossed off the health program here in spite of my heart condition because I have a small (very small by SF standards, where rent and food are more expensive than any other city in the nation) independent income. Now I can't pay for my heart meds.

The health care "system" in this country is a disgrace. I wish I lived in Europe, where things are more civilized.

Here the doctors drive Mercedes and Porsches.....

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

To all in this thread: I think there's a place and time to talk about the Health Care System in America.
But I started this thread to honor David with our words, thoughts and prayers.

Yes, my apologies. So many great musicians gone recently......

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by FeatheredSerpent

I don't want to derail the thread but I'm not advocating genocide or any other atrocity.
I'm just taking a step back and looking at the state of play without letting myself get emotionally involved in the details.
This earth can only sustain so much, is all I'm saying, and death is a natural and vital part of the cycle of the universe, without it we'd all be ****ed.

My mother will die, sure, just like everyone else's mother. She's special to me but she is no more special to the universe than the plant that is dying in my living room.
I don't have absolute control over how and when she will die, and I don't want that control, it is not my place to have that control.
Things have to be allowed to run their natural course, yres we can provide comfort, and we can ease pain, and we can show dignity, but the obsession with prolonging everyone's life for as long as possible under unnatural circumstances is a purely human obsession and an unhealthy one, imo.

I accept death, we all should. Embracing death and seeing it as an 'ally' is an old teaching and one that actually frees you to live a fuller life, not vice-versa.

Yes, but doesn't the life of a great artist who makes things better for the rest of us on this earth have more value than some unskilled denizen of a 3rd world slum? Or some crackhead in one of our own major cities? Right now in SF the crackheads can get better health care than I can. Something's wrong.

We need to cherish and nurture our artists.

RIP David.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

Yesterday a legendary sound was silenced in the pop world. Famed guitarist David Williams died.
A friend of mine called me in the afternoon to tell me about it, but the papers are confirming it this morning.
If you have ever heard Michael Jackson's Bille Jean, then you've heard David Williams.

MADGE GUITARIST'S GRIM DEATH- New York Post

THE unsung hero behind Madonna and Michael Jackson died yesterday morning, and the grieving family of David Williams is furious over the disrespect shown to him by the music community and by what they say was neglect by the hospital where he spent his last days.

Williams, who was 58, was the guitarist for the pop superstars and toured with both of them as well as Jessica Simpson, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie and Van Halen for more than three decades, succumbed to complications from high blood pressure.

Williams collapsed and was taken to Sentara Hospital in Hampton, Va. where he slipped into a coma last week. While he lay dying in ICU, his family was urged to "pull the plug because he had no medical insurance," a family friend said. "The hospital was trying to force them to pull the plug. This man was a Vietnam veteran and gave his life to music and still had no benefits."

Jackson has announced a new tour and Madonna is still a top-grossing act. "But David, who supported them onstage all those years, has nothing," said the friend. "[His ex-wife] Deborah just wanted him to have some integrity, and instead the hospital was despicable at best over his lack of insurance."

On Thursday, the evening before Williams died, Deborah, who had four daughters with him, wrote us: "During this very difficult time where our focus should be on the nurturing and care of David, we are battling with hospital officials just to get and maintain the care he deserves, a hospital whose main interest lies in his ability to pay for his care." David, like many industry veterans, lived without adequate health insurance.

A music industry insider said, "What about NARAS [National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences]? What about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? They collect huge amounts of money every year to help musicians in David's situation - and they throw themselves parties instead. It's disgusting."

A rep for Sentara said she'd look into the situation but didn't return calls.

I'm the healthcare professional who "pulls the plug". I assure you, TWO brain death studies are done by the critical care intensivist and a neurologist before the physician order is written to discontinue life support.

The dude had a major stroke which rendered him brain dead. Both his parents died from stroke younger than him. Sometimes families can't come to grips with sudden death and look to place blame. I assure you, health insurance was NOT a factor - the hospitals write it off as charitable good will which they welcome for their "non-profit status".

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

F*CK YOU! I have been going through problem with the health system here in San Francisco, where we ALLEGEDLY have universal coverage, and I can tell you it's a big pile of B.S. If you don't have insurance or big bucks you're screwed. I was tossed off the health program here in spite of my heart condition because I have a small (very small by SF standards, where rent and food are more expensive than any other city in the nation) independent income. Now I can't pay for my heart meds.

The health care "system" in this country is a disgrace. I wish I lived in Europe, where things are more civilized.

Here the doctors drive Mercedes and Porsches.....

Then move to Europe. These American politicians are selling you a bill of goods if you think universal health care will guarantee coverage. I'm going to give you a big f'ing heads up: I live here in Detroit and thanks to the universal health care in Canada, we have Canadians pouring over here in droves getting open heart surgeries and other procedures because Health Care is rationed in Canada. In fact, some die before their number turns up to get their procedures.

We have the best health care system in the world. No, it's not perfect, but if you have an emergency, you will be seen - some hospitals are going to the 30 minutes or less - with or without insurance.

Medications are another issue - and given the knowledge of biochemistry today, there's NO EXCUSE for medications costing $50 per pill. NONE. Our understanding of the receptors in the human body are so good, that usually animal testing is no longer required. I'm in agreement Uncle Sam has to tackle the Pharmaceutical industry - and while I'm piling on, the medical equipment manufacturers as well. Those two industries and lack of medicare/medicaid reimbursement are driving many hospitals to the brink of bankruptcy.

Like it or not, we have the best health care system in the world - and noone is turned away from Emergency Rooms.

[mingustoo]

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

Yes, but doesn't the life of a great artist who makes things better for the rest of us on this earth have more value than some unskilled denizen of a 3rd world slum? Or some crackhead in one of our own major cities? Right now in SF the crackheads can get better health care than I can. Something's wrong.

We need to cherish and nurture our artists.

RIP David.

"...but doesn't the life of a great artist who makes things better for the rest of us on this earth have more value than some unskilled denizen of a 3rd world slum?..."
-NO! What's wrong with dfegadyou

[Johnny Favorite]

I`m so sorry to hear this, I`m a huge fan, rest in peace.

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by DamnYankee

Then move to Europe. These American politicians are selling you a bill of goods if you think universal health care will guarantee coverage. I'm going to give you a big f'ing heads up: I live here in Detroit and thanks to the universal health care in Canada, we have Canadians pouring over here in droves getting open heart surgeries and other procedures because Health Care is rationed in Canada. In fact, some die before their number turns up to get their procedures.

We have the best health care system in the world. No, it's not perfect, but if you have an emergency, you will be seen - some hospitals are going to the 30 minutes or less - with or without insurance.

Medications are another issue - and given the knowledge of biochemistry today, there's NO EXCUSE for medications costing $50 per pill. NONE. Our understanding of the receptors in the human body are so good, that usually animal testing is no longer required. I'm in agreement Uncle Sam has to tackle the Pharmaceutical industry - and while I'm piling on, the medical equipment manufacturers as well. Those two industries and lack of medicare/medicaid reimbursement are driving many hospitals to the brink of bankruptcy.

Like it or not, we have the best health care system in the world - and noone is turned away from Emergency Rooms.

Well, I'm not arguing about your experience in Detroit, but here in SF it's atrocious. I injured my hand last year and was taken to the emergency room in excruciating pain. In spit of the fact that I was taken in early in the day - before noon - and they were not at all busy - they forced me to wait until after 8:00 at night before I even saw a doctor - or a nurse other than the one in admissions. It is my understanding from talking to people who work at the hospital that this is standard practice in their "triage" procedure since I was not brought in in an ambulance - they wanted to see if I was serious, or just faking to try to get some pain pills. Finally I got to see a doctor and they gave me something for the pain and a temporary brace for my arm. The x-ray was "inconclusive", apparently partly due to the fact that I have calcium loss in my bones. They gave me two follow up appointments, one after a week (when they gave me a more permanent brace), the second after two more months. Each time they X-rayed, each time a different doctor or intern looked at the x-ray, and each time they came up with a different guess what iwas wrong. The "physical therapy" they prescribed consisted of wiggling my fingers as much as possible, which wasn't much. I told the doctors and therapists that I'm a guitar player and needed to regain use of the hand - they didn't care. I also told them that I was on Beta Blockers and Alpha Inhibitors that the pharmaceutical fact sheet stated could inhibit healing. They ignored me. When several months had gone by with ZERO improvement (the wrist was still noticably swollen) a friend with limited experience in sports medicine told be to temporarily get off the beta blockers ans Alpha Inhibitors and to do massage excercises to force the swelling down. It did so and it finally started to improve, but a full year later I still don't have full mobility of the hand, and I can't even easily fret an open position C chord on the guitar. Fortunately a lot of what I do is open tuning slide, which is relatively unaffected. Also, about 6 months after the accident they kicked me off the medical program, citing something about "new rules" In fairnes, a couple of months ago they sent me a letter stating that they had "revised their policies" and that I MIGHT be qualified under the new guidelines - but the care I recieved fr0m them was so poor I haven't bothered. Being in the music biz I can't get an employee medical plan that would actually give me decent coverage.

To make matters worse, when I was hassling with them over coverage the interviewer said that I had "already hit (her exact word) them for over $50,000 in hospital fees" the previous year when I was hospitalized for a week with congestive heart failure and that I was lucky they didn't sue me to recover that. As if I WANTED to be laid up in a hospital ro0om for a week eating their crappy food and being used as a teaching exhibit! I couldn't even get them to give me a decent cup of Jello (and what good is it being in a hospital if you can't get Jello?)

Maybe you have good health care in Detroit, but we sure don't here.......

And as for the best in the world? I know for a fact that it's better in the UK and the Czech Republic.

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by mingustoo

"...but doesn't the life of a great artist who makes things better for the rest of us on this earth have more value than some unskilled denizen of a 3rd world slum?..."
-NO! What's wrong with dfegadyou

What's wrong with YOU?

And we're hijacking this thread. I, for one, am not going to say more about that subject, I've said more than I intended, or should.

The world has lost a great guitarist, we should mourn him and meditate on his loss.

[CarmenC]

Originally Posted by FeatheredSerpent

I'm sorry to bring an edge of realism to this sorry affair, and I in no way associate this comment with the man in question in this thread, but in general terms, people have to die, to give this earth a fighting chance.

There is an outer limit for what the planet is capable fo sustaining.
All those who think it would be a 'good' thing for everyone to live until they are 100 is living in some ego fantasy fueled by a childish fear of death.

War. What is is good for?

Well, global population control for one.

I know this is not going to be a well-received view but keeping everyone alive for as long as possible is just a typically selfish human viewpoint.

We don't want to find a cure for cancer. We need as many things in the world as possible to remain, that contribute to human death.
This is the way of the world, of nature, if you haven't got used to it yet, it's about time to start.

But this:


is obviously disturbing because it implies that someone somewhere gets to play God and decide who and who is not 'worthy', and that is always an extremely dangerous position to be in.

As I said, this is not aimed at the man this thread is dedicated to, and I add my condolences to the family.

There it is... the DUMBEST thing I have ever read.

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by CarmenC

There it is... the DUMBEST thing I have ever read.

.

how so?...it's an opinion that was fairly well articulated, was it not? he's making a point.

besides - it's hardly the dumbest thing, by a long stretch - read any post by "big country"...

.

[jamwerks]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

... a hospital whose main interest lies in his ability to pay for his care."...

That's why America needs a major healthcare reform. Health can't be just a business!

[Deborah Williams]

Originally Posted by Yesitis

As a friend of David's, I am saddened by his death but also saddened by the story the Post printed. The problem is it is biased and skewed--The family isn't angry at the hospital. He had insurance. The ex-wife made these statements to the Post, presumably, for money, and without consulting the family members who were by his bedside during his hospitalization. The rest of the family and friends are not happy with her actions, they're the ones who were with David during his last days. They haven't even had the funeral and it is turning into a circus. David had experienced difficulties that were both financial and personal but he did have friends in the music industry working to put his life back on track, and he had a lot of great projects that were in the planning stages. I spoke with him a few weeks ago. The man I knew was not a pathetic victim of the industry or washed up, he was excited about film and music projects on the horizon and he was just taking a little time to relax before doing it all over. There were issues that needed to be dealt with but he had support and management that was dealing with what he needed. He had no lack of opportunities, only a lack of opportunists. And this one story has been quoted over and over without any one bothering to check anything. One website even re-printed the Post story with some picture of a white guitar player--David is an African-American. Hopefully we will hear more of the real story coming out, soon. I would hate to see David's legacy tarnished.

I was the wife of 18 years you mentioned and we continued to live together after the divorce as a family for several years, there was a great deal of love. I want to clarify some of the speculations in your correspondence. The writer at the Post was a close friend of David's and realized what was happening based on David's lack of sufficient insurance, his daughter Kimberly approved the article after it was written. Once his sister disclosed to the hospital that he had some medical issues, as documented in hospital docs, that we have in our possession and also disclosed that he was working sporatically, they insisted that my daughters and I "pull the plug." That was not our intention, ever, it was in GOD's hands and we would do whatever we could to bring him home with us. We realized that David always kept me as his POWER OF ATTORNEY and we presented it to the Hospital and stopped any endeavor to end his life by not using best efforts to keep him alive. My daughter and I brought in additional practioners to assist; we wanted him whole, we loved him with all our being. The family members were consulted and involved every step of the way even though I held the medical proxy per David's request. There was much treachery and family members spread rumous to the children and to the Hospital that I wanted to end his life and sue the hospital. Anyone who was there and who knew me and David knows it is the furthest thing from the Truth. We wanted to be sure that David received the best care possible, despite the constant harassment from the Hospital Administration because of the lack of SUFFICIENT insurance. By the way, my daughters and I were alone with David when he died. It was difficult enough loosing David, but to have individuals like you misrepresent the circumstances has been extremely painful for David's children, what a sad and contenscious legacy you have created. Only individuals like you are tarnishing his legacy.We had a wonderful Family life with amazing things to show for it, who are you to suppose things and hurt innocent people in the name of honoring David. If you truly want to honor him, respect his immediate family, his children and stop hurting them.
If you would like any documentation to support my claim, contact me.
Deborah Williams