John Bradley, author of xv, has died

John Bradley, the longtime member of this community who was the founder, producer, and lead guitarist of Booster Patrol, died on March 20. He was 61.

I couldn’t think of a better way to pay tribute to the man who was both a bandmate and a friend than to write a song for him in the style of which he was a master. You can hear the first mix of the song here; when I finish it properly, I’ll put it up on Unauthorized in the Booster Patrol section.

Johnny B laid down his burden late on a Friday nightWith the music of his band still ringing in the fading lightSaint Peter met him at the gate, said Son, we heard you playLeo Fender built this gold guitar and he saved it for this dayThe choir’s been singing acapella ever since the world was newThey need someone who knows the sad notes, they say that man is you

He wrapped his hands around that neck, felt the weight of holy goldEvery fret a year of sorrow, every string a story toldHe hit a chord that shook the heavens, the angels stopped to hearA tone so long and lonesome that Saint Matthew shed a tearPeter said “We don’t need pretty, son, we’ve got harps here by the scoreWe want to hear that swampy sound that kept ’em coming back for more

Now every night in Heaven there’s a sound they never hadA solid gold Fender wailing every note both beautiful and sadThe choir hits the chorus, the Almighty taps His feetAnd Johnny B is boosting live up on that golden streetHe played the broken-hearted blues from Beale Street to MonsignorNow he’s jamming up in Heaven and he couldn’t ask for more.

Lay it down, Johnny BMake that sound, Johnny BHit that chordLay it down, Johnny BMake that sound, Johnny BFor the Lord