Morning

Some of you may know that pre-Sky Diving Penguins, I worked with the Russian band, Blast (later Blast Unit Moscow). It was through Blast that I got to know Gia (Sky Diving Penguins), Nash (Nash Albert) and ‘Khlup’, Alexander Yarchevskiy (Blast's guitarist).

Sadly, I found out that Khlup died yesterday. 

What a fucking guitarist he were. So good, that even the mighty Iggy Pop wanted him for his touring band when Khlup was in the USA in the years before Blast formed.

More than that, Khlup was a genuinely humble, decent man. Never arrogant, never flashy. Just a good all round fella. He didn't speak any English, so I had to rely on my patchy Russian to enjoy his company, his cigarettes and his vodka.

For so many reasons, I'm not going to be able to pay him my last respects. So this is my small offering towards the man.

Tonight I raise a roast. A vodka. As it should be. Neat.

нас здоровье

Mark