Myles Smiles

Myles Smiles

A celebration of Myles Kennedy and the smiles he shares with his innumerable fans, dedicated to one of Alter Bridge's greatest fans and promoters, Erin Freriks, who left us unexpectedly at age 30 on January 10, 2011. Set to "Life Must Go On" from Alter Bridge's album AB III.

Erin would have been 31 today.


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In Memory of Erin Freriks, 1/22/1980-1/10/2011

Mark Tremonti (AB guitarist), Erin Freriks, and Myles Kennedy (AB vocalist)

[I am sorry, Erin, that you have to be my first obituary. I'd probably be asking you how to write it.--Nancy]

I knew Erin as most people did--through her intense love of music. She and I are both from Madison, so we ran into each other at numerous Alter Bridge shows in the Midwest. I soon learned it was she who started the first website for Alter Bridge, and was instrumental in jump-starting their fan base. Pretty damn impressive for a woman who was just 24 at the time.

Though I knew her casually for many years, only recently did we start talking on Twitter and via text. I am a hard-core follower of my musicians, and also a woman of strong opinions, and we found we had both those things in common. I admired her conviction and ability to preservere when things got tough for her--her strength is very much worth admiring.

Most recently, we talked a lot about Alter Bridge's last show (of this tour leg) in Houston. I had a rare opportunity to attend, and she was having a very hard time making it work. She ended up staying home, but encouraged me all day Saturday as I struggled to find and make flights to get there in time. She "followed" me in as I took my position on the rail, and even scolded me for twittering during one of the opening bands. "Don't waste your battery! Wait for AB!" I laughed out loud because it was so Erin.

I watched her posts with concern as she grew ill on Sunday. It seemed like a bad flu bug, but kept getting worse. Her last post Monday indicated that the "shooting, stabbing stomach pains" had stopped, and left her with only a dull ache. I am not, by nature, an optimist, and was very concerned about how much this sounded like a ruptured appendix. It was with extreme shock and horror that I read of her passing the next morning. I do not know what caused her death, but it grieves me that she was in so much pain this weekend. I know she has battled other illnesses in the past, and I think she is just so damn stoic that she figured it was just another obstacle to ride out. I am truly in shock that whatever it was took her from us.

UPDATE: Cause of death was a pulmonary embolism. By the time symptoms became apparent it was too late.

Her death sent the very tight-knit Alter Bridge community into a tailspin today. I had to stop working so I could be "with" her friends from around the world--both those who had met her and those who knew of her. I live and work alone at home and those friends helped me make it through the day. The support from and for the whole community was extremely strong, particularly the website/forum The Alter Bridge Nation.

I am sure I am not the only one, but I contacted the band as soon as I saw her brother's post this morning to let them know. Within a few hours, they posted their deep regrets both as a band, and individually. That is the kind of men they are, and why she was so dedicated to them. They really underlined how we all felt when they said, "Our shows won't be the same without you."

Erin lived a short life but touched many people and made a very large impact for one person. I honor her strength, determination, devotion, and mostly, her undying love for her favorite music and musicians.

Though I have not been able to listen to Alter Bridge since I heard the news, it is only fitting to post the one song that comes to mind with this tragic loss. It is "Blackbird," recorded live in Amsterdam in 2009. I have posted the lyrics after the jump.

Rest in peace, Erin. You will be sorely missed.



"Blackbird"

The willow it weeps today
A breeze from the distance is calling your name
Unfurl your black wings and wait
Across the horizon it's coming to sweep you away
It's coming to sweep you away

[Chorus:]
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again

The fragile cannot endure
The wrecked and the jaded a place so impure
The static of this cruel world
Cause some birds to fly long before they've seen their day
Long before they've seen their day

[Chorus:]
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again

Beyond the suffering you've known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again

Ascend may you find no resistance
Know that you made such a difference
All you leave behind will live to the end
The cycle of suffering goes on
But memories of you stay strong
Someday I too will fly and find you again

[Chorus:]
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again

Beyond the suffering you've known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again
May you never be broken again
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