Abbey found out a couple days ago that the lead singer from a band she really liked while she was an undergrad at Santa Cruz died recently. Abbey tells me Cassidy Meijer was the lead singer of a band called Sin in Space from around 1998-2002. From what I understand, he had been a heroin addict on and off for over 13 years. In one article from 2009, he was quoted as saying, "I believe that opiate withdrawals are absolutely a form of torture, and I believe that torture is something that just about no one can withstand for too long." He died of a heart attack on Valentine's Day, during an attempted detox. He was 33.
Cassidy was an acquaintance of Abbey's about 10 years ago. Abbey was close friends with Cassidy's girlfriend at the time. Abbey would go to his band's shows frequently. Abbey told me that Cassidy was a really sweet, nice, soft-spoken person. Very sensitive. He clearly had a hard life, but a good heart. It seems from the comments at the bottom of the obituary below, he was loved by many in Santa Cruz and in the other places he lived.
I encourage you to listen to this song called "My Freaky She" by Sin in Space. It's a beautiful song. I hope it serves as a reminder that we need to care for people suffering from addiction, not incarcerate and demonize them.
My Freaky She
so much love to Cassidy, who I never knew, and to his friends and family,
Anthony
http://www.santacruz.com/news/2012/02/21/cassidy_meijer_1978_2012
Great song. Thanks for sharing. RIP
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