Matthew Sperry in Memoriam

dear stacia,

i only met your husband once, but it was recently, at his show, and i saw clearly what a special person he was, and what a sweet daughter you have.

i send my love to you both;

i’m so sorry to hear about your loss.

your friend ethan quatorze.

Dear Stacia-

We are very sorry and in very deep shock right now. Matt was a very good friend and we were just about to visit you all next month. Our thoughts go out to you and your daughter.

Yes, Matthew’s hugs were saturated in genuine affection, he was always glad to see his friends and his friendship was a luminous gift. My partner Jeff and I would like to think that after his family we were the first Matthew Sperry fan club. Over ten years ago, at the beginning of Jeff & I’s relationship we frequented criminally underattended improv/avant-jazz music and film events here in Seattle. Often we were the only ‘real’ audience since the other 5 or 6 people were other musicians. At every event was this lanky, long haired goateed bassist/multi-instrumentalist who just radiated this impish joy in what he was doing. After attending several performances he began to recognize us and introduced himself. While the other musicians and performers took our presence for granted, even if we were the entirety of the audience, Matthew did not. We found out in our first introduction that Matthew and I shared many friends in Florida and in that isn’t it a small world moment, our friendship set root.

I could be here all day, writing Matthew stories from the past ten years, even though we were not his closest friends. He seemed to have time for everybody, for all his friends. And it occurs to me it feels that way because even if you only saw him once a year, he was entirely present to you, the warmth of that goofy smile and oblique humor was all yours and you knew there was enough for everyone. Matthew was the most naturally generous person I knew. He gave of himself without reservations.

Matthew honored me with his friendship, he shared his life with me as he did with so many of us unselfishly. To say he will be missed can not begin to describe the dimensions of our personal and collective sorrow.

My thoughts are with all of you, especially Stacia & Lila. I hope I can tell Lila stories about her Daddy someday. I hope I can go with her to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and tell her her Daddy took me there for one of the best birthdays I ever had.

Love to you all, and a Matthew Sperry hug.

Rodney Pond

Glancing over his resume, it seems rather likely I saw Matthew perform a few times around the Seattle area, mostly with the Black Cat Orchestra but probably also with Gamelan Pacifica a few years earlier. One of the Black Cat performances was at a bookstore where I work.

In some ways, it seems like that really isn’t all that much, to have simply seen him perform without knowing anything about him, not even his name. But, since music is a gift (especially of the sort he played), perhaps that is enough.

Sorry to hear about the loss.

B.

As a member of the bay area musical family, of which Matthew was an essential element, I can only express the overwhelming experience of shock at the news of Matthew’s fatal accident. Matthew gave and meant so much to the music through his playing; and his great attitude toward music and life in general made it easy to meet him, to hang with him, to hear him and to love him. Although he lived here and was a part of our local community, his history and life as a musician spread to many places around the world.

I am grateful we had some time to work together, both in small groups and in the Pauline Oliveros Sounding the Margins Orchestra. I felt the greatest respect for Matthew and from Matthew when we worked together on last year’s “Music for Extraordinary Children” project, funded by the City of Oakland.

I want Stacia and Lila to know that this music community that Matthew was a special part of expresses our deepest sadness at this enormous loss, and that we are all here for you if you need us for anything. I plan to organize at least one benefit performance to help honor his life and to raise funds to help with any expenses you may have.

Thanks to Scot for organizing this page for Matthew and Stacia and Lila, which allows us all to help grieve and express our thoughts and feelings. Now that I am able to write some words, the tears are able to flow freely - again, I have so far been in shock and can’t quite believe it.

I am thankful to be here and thankful to have known Matthew and to have had the great pleasure of listening to him. The world is a better place having received all the gifts he gave us - gifts of friendship, of kindness, of compassion and humor, and gifts of love and music.

Peace.

It is not often I weep for people I have never met, but your post makes me feel like I have met him, so I weep.

Matthew sounds like an incredible person. Like Brook, I have also been touched through his music without knowing him or even his name. I will miss someone I never met.

Matt and I played together in a group called Grecian Formula 69 in Tallahassee in 1988-89. We lived in the same house for a period, where one thing Matt found fun was chasing my cat Ivan around the house with a nylon-string guitar, strumming it wildly while the cat skittered on the wooden floors. Another fond memory I have is of eating with Matt at a wonderful Thai restaurant called Bahn Thai, where at the ordinary conclusion of the meal (empty plate), Matt picked his up, wiped the rest of the gravy off with his finger and licked it clean, leaving not a drop for the dishwasher.

We got to spend some time with Matt, Stacia and Lila when they visited here in March. Ironically, I made Matt a copy of the album by Magic Juan, featuring the late beloved drummer Will Ryan.

I think Matt was a genuine sweetheart, and I will miss him always.

The link below is a Grecian Formula song, where Mattís overdubbed bowed upright supplementing his fleet-fingered electric work makes the piece soar.

Damnit, damnit, damnit Matt, whyíd you have to go? See you on the other side, bro. Say hi to Will and Ivan for me.

-bs

I am still in shock that someone so full of life, love, and creativity could be gone. Stacia, don’t hesitate to call if you need anything, any time- I’m in the neighborhood.

There are photos of Matt in his Hedwig getup here:

http://www.hedwigsf.com/amoeba.htm

=-Seth

I’ve always thought Matt the most warmhearted, kind, gentle person. Every time you met him, no matter how long it was since you last did, the way he was made you feel like you were meeting your oldest and closest friend. He was a rare, beautiful, light-radiating soul. Going to any gig here in Seattle where Matt Sperry was playing, you were guaranteed the pleasure of warm greetings, Matt’s radiant presence, and of course his expansive music. A lovely man, and a huge loss.

I have know Matthew for about 3 years. It is so funny how we met. Matthew was looking for a Klezmer band for Stacia and his wedding and had called me. We were looking for a new bass player. ( A match made in heaven) Matthew and Stacia hired us but before we even played he came to a rehearsal and checked us out. When we first spoke I felt connected to him immediately. The first time I met Matthew it was so easy, the whole band felt so connected. Matthew’s warm, genuine heart felt energy was immediate. We all loved him right away. When I heard about this horrible thing, I was in total shock, I’m still pretty numb but as I lay in bed last night, I kept flashing on all the times we have played together and rehearsed, and hung out. I can see Matthew and hear his voice. I see his enthusiasm everytime we were together, showing me pictures of Lilah, having Stacia at our gigs, laughing, making great music together. There aren’t really words to express the deep sadness that I and everyone who knew Matthew feels. He effected everyone around him with joy and love. I will deeply miss him. Julie Egger

It’s important (for me) to remember that Matthew was, first, a family man. His devotion to and palpable delight in Stacia and Lila radiated from him and brightened every room he entered. The last time I saw him was a couple of weeks ago at the Emeryville Public Market. I sat with him and his family as he and Stacia had lunch and Lila played in the ball room, stopping occasionally to grab a string bean from his plate. We talked a little about work and music, but it was his family, their future together and his evident joy in being a participant in their lives that dominated the conversation, as it dominated his life.

Matt and I went to high school together - N.Miami Beach and PAVAC - School of the Arts. In March or so of ‘86, he and I drove to FSU to audition for the School of Music. We stayed in contact while in college and made it a point to hang out every so often. We didn’t perform together for some years till he joined me in the Salsa Band. He had such an ear and a great feel for picking up new music ! … I hadn’t seen Matt since 91 or so - but since I live in LA was planning a visit to the Bay area to see him soon. Matt taught me how to be a lil more patient and open minded to different stuff like KING CRIMSON and ZEPPELIN. My musical growth wouldn’t have been the same without him. His mom could cook too ! My love goes out to the family. He’ll be missed

Matt was a man who had enough kharmic credit to his name to avoid such a tragic fate a dozen times over.

In the puzzle of life, Matt and Stacia and then Lila fit together like nobody I know. His memory will live long beyond his time with us.

I know that what I’m about to say is absurd, since death can come to any of us at any time. But I think the shock of this news is so doubly great because Matthew seemed the least likely candidate — it’s hard to imagine someone more open, loving and alive.

I jumped at every chance I ever had to play with him, knowing that the music he would bring would be clear, exciting, and full of the good humor that he always radiated throughout his life. He had the kind of skill that never looked like mere skill, that disappeared in a larger musicianship that reflected who he was, that made everyone sound good, and, just as in even the briefest conversation with him, would leave you feeling happy and alive.

I had missed seeing and working with Matthew recently as his Hedwig gig took his time, and was happy to be playing with him again, a couple times in the last month or so. I was also looking forward to the first meeting this weekend of a new project with him and Harris Eisenstadt.

This is such a huge loss. My love to Stacia and Leila.

I only new Matt for less than a year and played a couple of gigs with him. Playing with him was a treat, but just as wonderful was his way of being in the world. I felt we were friends instantly. My deepest condolences to the family.

Gerry Tenney

My hear hurts, I am pissed, moved, awed but not suprised at the immense amount of love that Matthew generated through his presence.

I was just beginning to know you, Matt, and your family. I will treasure the memory of your spirit.

I can only hope that the grief of all those who knew him is tempered by knowledge of the great gift he was to us all.

Love to Stacia and Lila

Sad, sad news

Marcie just called me with some very sad news. Mathew Sperry, the husband of Stacia (whom Marcie attended Massage school with) and father of a 2 year old daughter, was killed while riding his bicycle. The first link above really…

There are no words, but I feel I want to try to say something anyway.

All I can really say is I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten to share every moment I did with Matthew and I feel profoundly saddened that I will not again, and that I ever missed an opportunity or didn’t try harder to see him whenever I could have.

I will never get to hear him laugh when I call him The Sparrow again.

I cannot believe this is real.

My deepest sympathies go out to you, Stacia and Lila.

i met matthew through our music in the 90’s in seattle, and i have been fortunate enough to get to share a house with him and his family the last three years. with him i have shared music, laughter, so many standing-on-the-porch conversations i can’t count, bits of leftovers from korean restaurants, and all the oddments, joys, and frustrations of everyday life.

the backyard is in full bloom now, and we had all just started talking about having dinner together outside sometime. Not a big dinner party, just two families and a bowl of pasta or something. holly and i returned from a trip on Monday and matthew and lila came out back to say hi while we were watering the garden. I told matt all about the crazy great food we had in LA — the korean handmade noodles (he told me where to find them in berkeley), the oaxacan asiento-smeared tostadas, the reuben sandwich at canter’s. he got so excited, and kept pointing his fork at me, giving me another bite of his cucumber ginger salad he was eating (and sharing) out in the backyard.

i am so proud of the life he led, the kindness and love that he gave to his friends and the world. i miss him so much. stacia, lila, you have all our love and support, and as much chicken soup as you can stand.

to all the music we made, the bread we broke, and sitting on the porch talking, ever and ever.

–patrick

Matt, goodbye. we miss you.

to you, and Stacia and Lila too, all my love.

Brent

I met Matthew last year on my first trip to Oakland from London, to check out the lovely and welcoming community of musicians you have there, at the invite of Gino Robair. We recorded over at Myles Boisen’s studio along with Gino, John Shuirba and Tim Perkis - we became ‘Supermodel Supermodel’ and the quintet enjoyed some great recording days and some great gigs. Matthew made me laugh so much (one such moment is caught on tape and can’t be repeated here - but as I’m sure you’ll gather, it made me howl with laughter) and pulled me in to the music in a compelling and creative way. The CD we made is wonderful and I hope it can be out there for all to hear very soon. On the couple of occasions that we hung out, Matthew, Stacia and Lila made me feel so welcome (as all you guys do) and I observed their family dynamic with fondness and a wish that I could be that happy. I send my love, compassion and deepest thoughts of support to you, Stacia and Lila and all of Matthew’s family and friends at this time. His loss can’t and won’t ever make any sense to me and I feel sad to be so far away from you all and the community of Bay Area musicians at this time.

I wish you love and offer the notion that music will speak volumes at this time..so let’s play. My next gig will be dedicated to his memory.

Gail Brand, trombonist, London, UK

Dear Stacia, Lila, and all Matt’s friends and family:

I last saw Matt shortly after Lila was born. It was such a joyous moment to share with you all. I remember sleeping in your little guest room and talking with you both about Lila’s birth. Matt was so excited to have been a part of it. He was very animated when telling the stories.

I saw Matt go through many transformations since I first met him in aroun 1995 in Seattle. He was my friend and collaborator. His music grew deeper and wilder as his commitment to it grew. He was a true artist, interested in music in all realmsó dance, theater, streets, clubs, concert halls. By the time he left for California, his new focus on his relationship with Stacia seemed to focus his music even more.

I’m very sad. I send my love to Matt and to you all.

Sheri

PS: I’m sorry not to make it to California to be with you all for Matt’s funeral. I plan to go to Volunteer Park in Seattle at 9:30 PM on Tuesday, June 10 to remember Matt. I invite all who would like to join me to meet at the ‘donut’ and we can go off to a quiet place together. Please contact me if you need better directions.

Dear Stacia,

Even though Matthew and I worked together at Leap Frog, I didn’t get to know him very well. When I heard the news, I remembered the last time we had a conversation. It was a job interview, and I remember not just liking Matthew, but I had the immediate sense that he was a sincere, gentle and loving person who was one of those rare people who lived life from the heart. I imagined him to be not just a talented musician, but a devoted husband and father as well. Judging from the other posts, I was right, and itís comforting to hear that he was obviously loved and appreciated by many other people.

-Brian Walker

My heart is breaking for you Stacia and Lila, and for a world without Matthew Sperry. He was one of the sweetest and best people I ever met, and I felt privileged to play music with him. He radiated an incredible spirit of life and love. There are no words for such a loss. I know that spirit remains with all of us who knew him, and will continue to inspire us all to create more joy and laughter and music. Goodbye, Matt.

I’m not able to write my feelings about Matthew at this moment. I’m Matthew’s cousin and friend, and am devistated.

I live in NYC, and I’m wondering how many of you are here? I’d like for all of us who love Matthew but are unable to get to the West Coast, to gather together and share out thoughts and our memories. I know Matthew would love to have us all meet. Perhaps this Sunday?

I’d like to plan a memorial service later in the summer, with music and performances…and perhaps Lila and Stacia could join us…

If you’re a New Yorker, or live in the vicinity, will you contact me??

marna_schoen@yahoo.com

(917)502-4697

With love,

marna

Knowing Matt for just a short time from hearing about him from harris, coming up to the bay area to play treatise with Gino and then the Pauline Oliveros concerts I considered myself lucky to have met him from the getgo. His warmth and openness permeated the atmosphere before he even said a word. Just his smile alone made me feel like he will be and infact already is a good friend. The first time we met and played he wrote a note for me to take back down to Harris in LA with a sign off of

XOXO, Matthew.

I thought to myself then, as Harris and I were saying to eachother today, that on a short list of the sweetest and truest people that I know he is at the top.

I will miss his inventive musicianship and miss him as a warm and open being.

I cant believe it.

To Stacia and Lila my strongest and most heartfelt condolences and thoughts got out to you.

xoxo

sara schoenbeck

To the Sperry Family,

Indeed this is a sad day for all of us. Matthew was a dear, sweet soul who will be truly missed by his family and friends. All of us here at Virage enjoyed working with him. For me, I will miss his encouragement and his smile. When I started studying to be a midwife, Matthew and his wife encouraged me by sharing their experiences with me (along with the video) of the birth of their beautiful daughter. I will never forget his kindness.

Our prayers are with you Matthew and your family.

Sincerely,

Mosella Harris

Virage, Office Manager

I have never met, nor heard about Matthew. But reading your post and the comments, I know he was a very good person who left this world to early and I cannot help feeling sad for his wife and daughter. I present to them my sincere sympathy.

i haven’t seen matt for years but i was so excited for him and stacia when i heard he was a father. i have always felt deeply indebted to matt for introducing me to so much new music and ways of approaching that music. he gave so much encouragement. matt was the first person to invite me to play in an improvised music festival anywhere (this was in seattle) now here i am organizing my own festival nine years in a row. stacia i only met you once- i was stuck in oakland on my own and just by accident ran into matt in front of amoeba and he let me ride with him all the way back up to seattle. I think it was one of the last trips he made down before he had decided to move down permanently to be with you. we had a long drive and spoke of many things, he was so excited to make the move to be with you, clearly a man in love and perfectly clear about it.

arrington de dionyso

Matthew is truly one of my heroes, a dear friend though I haven’t seen him in several years. What a beautiful human being, a huge inspiration, a peer who regularly went far beyond the boundaries of what seemed possible in my world at that time, who continues to challenge me. He rocked my world. What a sweet wonderful strong guy. I can’t believe we don’t get to hang and play with him again, realize more potential…

I remember clearly seeing him for the first time— Matt was at the Penny University Cafe in Seattle, probably in 1994, playing with Aitsi (Christian Asplund, Rob Reigle…). Matt reminded me of a spider–hunched, crouched around his bass, dancing with it, contorting it and himself into all kinds of shapes and sounds. I hadn’t seen anyone be so physical and childlike in this way with a bass and I was surprised how good he sounded. I immediately knew this was a musician I had to play with, and over the next years in Seattle in various gigs, recordings, seders, parties, potlucks, Wayne Horvitz’s basement, eating Chinese veggie duck in Olympia, looking at a stars on an extraordinarily clear mountain night with Wally Shoup after a bizarre gig near Yakima, midnight skinny dips in Lake Washington, he expanded my world–musically, politically, culinarily…

After some time of no contact with him after I moved to NYC and he to Oakland, I chanced to write him an email the day Lila was born, telling him that my wife Alissa was pregnant. He wrote back full of enthusiasm, love, and joy, recommended to me several books on the birth process, including one called Spiritual Midwifery which became very important in shaping my sense of what it was meaning to become a father and create life. In a way Matthew was a spiritual midwife to me and I’m sure many others lucky enough to hang with him…

thank you Matthew, I love you….

The wind was knocked out of me when I read the terrible news this morning. I’m still very much in a state of shock, and I am not looking forward to this sinking in.

My partner Rodney, posted earlier about our first meeting Matthew. What he didn’t mention is that our first conversation happened in a theater lobby when Matt introduced himself to us and said that I had interviewed him for a job and not hired him. In what I came to know as a typical Matthew response, he laughed it off and said it really did turn out for the best and that was the start of our friendship.

When I talked about Matthew, I almost always prefaced it with ‘The NICEST person I have ever met…’ One hears phrases like that at terrible times like these, but in this case it was certainly the truth. As others have mentioned, even if you saw him only rarely, he always made you feel like you were THE person he most wanted to see and spend time with.

He was also one hell of a musician. In my mind I have a vivid history of him stroking, plucking, banging, caressing, and becoming one with that bass that was often his voice. He was always as wonderful to watch as he was to hear, and he was always full of gratitude for folks who enjoyed his talents.

I’m not much of a wedding person, but when he married Stacia, it was one of the most beautiful events I have ever experienced. Everything about it was beautiful - the love that was contagious that filled the hall, the music, the friends, the food, the smiles. Matthew and Stacia glowed. Love won. When we received news that they were parents, I remember that Rodney and I were thrilled that the world would be getting two amazing parents. We thought Lila must be a most fortunate girl indeed.

And right now, none of this makes sense - and I send my warmest thoughts to Stacia, Lila, and all of Matthew’s family and friends. This is just very, very sad.

There was something very full circle, that night when Matthew was on TV playing with Tom Waits - this person I had idolized for decades on stage with this person I actually KNEW who was ‘the nicest person I have ever met’ - I think I emailed everyone I ever met to tell them how exciting it all was…I must have watched that tape 100 times, it was all just so very unreal, and it just made me smile and smile and smile. I cherish that memory.

I had the pleasure — and it was indeed a wonderful rush — of writing about Matt’s music while he was an anchor in the Seattle improvised music scene. His excitement at being heard was palpable, as was his warmth. I can’t claim great personal closeness, but Matt was always, always so excited to spend even a minute at a gig or anywhere just hanging out and catching up. And he had such a joy on stage when playing that you couldn’t help feeling intense joy watching and listening. Now it’s intense sadness at his loss –but still joy at having known and heard him.

i am honored to have known and loved matthew. his life is an inspiration, his laugh intoxicating, his love for life catching, and his adoration of stacia and lila beautiful and humbling…

i miss him. all my love matthew.

The first email I read today 6-6-03 was that announcing this horrible accident. Matt was one of the “good ones”. I had recorded him many times in many different situations and I remembered him as an outstanding bass player. We used to call him “studio ace”. He the first bass player to tell me why bass is difficult to record. He siomply said that most bass players play flat. He also told me that knowing this gave him an edge because he would purposly sharpen his playing when reecording. That’s why the recordings I did with him were steller. A true master of his instrument. I can’t believe he’s gone.

Walking down the Ave today in Seattle’s University District, I spied the Himalayan Sherpa restaurant that opened while Matthew still lived here. I tried to make Christian Asplund guess who first told me about it. It took him just a couple of guesses to name Matthew, who was always on the look out for a unique experience, a way to find out about other people in the world and what they do. It was particularly poignant when Christian and I came back to my house and got the phone call with that terrible, terrible news, not only because we’d just been remembering Matt’s genuineness and contagioius excitement, but because the CD we all recorded together a few years ago, about to be released, was fresh on our minds. Matthew tried to come up for the event, but his busy life in the Bay Area made it impossible. If he’d been able to come, would things be different? No one can say. But we would have gotten to see him again for the first time in a few years, gotten one of those unfeigned hugs and greetings, something we can’t do again now. All we can do is try to save that legacy by being as loving to other people as Matthew was to all of us.

It is Matt’s presence in my everyday that I will miss most sorely. Patrick and I have lived above Matt and Stacia, and then Lila too, since just after they moved into their house. They helped make this new city home to me, and broadened our world with stories of this place or that where good things were to be had or seen or heard. And Matt, as he moved about the place, inside and out, was a constant earnest and cheering presence. He took on the challenges of homeownership with confidence that if he persevered he’d figure it out–and he did. I know that in the dark times since September 11 it has made the world feel more solid and hopeful to have Matt and Stacia and Lila in my life.

Many of my memories of Matt are from an angle, since we exchanged all sorts of information with me poking out from the window above the street, and him craning his neck upward. I remember one morning especially, back when Lila was newly born, and the head of our bed was by the window. I was awake early, and peered down from the window to see Matt emerge from the house in the gray half light of dawn. He crossed the street with a small bundle of Lila in his arms and began pacing the block, up and down, up and down, talking softly and singing to Lila, giving his tired wife a chance to sleep a little longer. He glanced up at some point and saw my face in the window, and broke into that full-faced smile of his, and called out softly, hello!

Hello Matthew. There is so much left to say and do. I am not ready to say goodbye.

To his family and friends, I wish you strength, and urge you to be so careful of yourselves in these hard times. I am so so sorry for our loss.

Stacia, Lila. I have no words big enough. We are here.

Holly McGuire

I heard of Matthew’s death after getting off of work (not really a good thing to hear or feel after getting off work since work is no fun, either). It was pretty strange. Matthew’s last ever performance was in my orchestra, the

Moe!kestra! on the 3rd of June, 2003 playing my Piece No. 7. His presence was always warm, accompanied with a smile and great playing. My girlfriend, Vicky Grossi, was watching him throughout most of the performance, saying that she sensed that he was “in the zone”, a good place for true musicians to be in. He was, as always, in fine form.

I always loved how he ended his emails to me, with his XOXO, MATTHEW SPERRY. I found it homourous in a cute, flirtacious, innocent way, though I know it just was his way of ending a message in a happy, warm way.

With the passing of so many other people this past month (Rob Berger’s wife in a white rafting accident and the former guitarist from Ubzub, Brian Platt), we’re reminded that life is precious and we need to take each day to its fullest.

He had so much. I wish I could trade places and keep him here. He’ll be missed by everyone who adored him.

XOXO

-Moe! Staiano

Stacia, Lila, Matthew’s extended family and family of friends,

I would like to offer my deepest condolences.

Matthew was a warm, compassionate, funny, talented, sincere and inspirational person and will be missed dearly by all who have crossed paths with his life here including myself.

I wish you the very best in this enormously challenging time,

Aaron

I heard a Tom Waites track playing somewhere here in Fremont, Seattle today and thought of Mathew. I was thinking about how he introduced me to Ethiopian food one lunchtime in between doing whatever while at encoding.com in Madrona and got to wondering how he managed to be such a nice guy while all around was chaos and craziness. And then I get home and read the email. How very very sad.

I’m stunned and feel great sorrow to hear of Matthew’s sudden passing…my heart goes out to Stacia and Lila. It seems so unreal, like it can’t be true. I’m reminded that we must never take life for granted or allow ourselves to be numbed by the day to day…every day is a treasure, and every friend a blessing. We’re all fortunate to have known Matthew and to have been touched by his wonderful spirit and musical creativity. He will be missed by many, and my prayers and love go to his family and his spirit.

To your next journey, Matthew. We all love you.

Karen

I was lucky enough to work with Matthew. And I am lucky enough to have had him as a friend. He had an open mind, an open heart, and a great passion for the things that mattered - his family, his friends, his music, and food.

His loss is huge, but it is extraordinary how he has touched so many people. I am glad to know that someday Lila will be able to read about what kind of a man her father was, and how he affected so many people with his love of life.

My heart goes out to you Stacia and Lila. You are in my thoughts.

How can you describe on Angel? This was Matthew Sperry to me. He was clearly my largest musical and social influence when I started school at North Miami Beach Sr. High. He opened my headspace to an infinite world of music with room for everyone’s expression. The kind of person that made every musical situation pure delight with his warm smile and relentless effort to make great music. We could be playing at the high school talent show (he would shrug at this point) in diapers (he would smile and say “oh god”at this point) with Wooden Diaper , or down in Coconut Grove playing jazz and Phoebe Snow tunes at the Peacock Cafe…it didn’t matter…the music would always be sincere and heartfelt coming from him. We could be playing the strings inside of the piano with only the exit light on, eating at the A & W’s between Wiz rehearsals at P.A.V.A.C., or dancing (ala Greatful Dead style) in circles around Sharon Jarnigan (supermodel type) at the 163rd St Mall in full Float Commitee gear and holding a boom box blasting Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls”…it didn’t matter…it would always be sincere and heartfelt.

There are so many great stories with Matt, but the greatest is when I saw him for the first time with Stacia. His life seemed filled with love like I had never see him before. After Lilah was born, the love cup rannith over. His voice sang with joy and happiness. He carried his family in his heart and it showed through every pore in his skin. I’m a comp;ete heel for not keeping in better touch with him and his family the past few years, but I never stopped loving my big brother. ..

Of course he would be annoyed by me, reminicing like this; but I would expect nothing less from Matt. He is truly an Angel that I’ve been honored to share part of my life with. I miss you Matt. Keep your star shining so I can find you again when it’s my time.

With love, Splash

(Jason and Brenda, Momma Hann, Captain Harry, Stasia)

The news of Matt’s passing is so dishearteningly sad. My heart goes out to his wonderful Stacia and Lila. I hired Matt to play bass for Hedwig back in Oct. I remember he came into the audition with some rather humorous face make-up and a really strange “glam-punk” stage outfit. Looking at him initially, I had to hold back a laugh. But once he started playing, it was evident he was going to be the bass player in the Angry Inch. He thought the get-up would give him an edge in getting the gig, I told him later he didnt need it. The coming months really showed what a trouper he was. I have great memories of him scarfing down his dinner between songs at soundcheck, usually some Chinese food he had just grabbed across the street from the Victoria or some wonderful smelling Middle Eastern food from home. I remember him patiently letting the makeup and clothing designers have their way with him, trying one outrageous costume on after another and finally settling on the canary yellow leather pants and the shocked out white fur vest. He performed some of the silly stage choreography in the show but didn’t care how silly he may have looked doing it as long as it benefitted the show. The priceless look on his face at soundcheck when the guitarist and I would break out some ridiculous Van Halen, AC/DC or Journey song that he didnt know but would still make a valiant stab at it and then getting razzed by us for his avant-garde background and not having his arena rock chops. No matter what the situation, Matt’s smile would clue you in as to how he really felt about something, either incredulous, amused or just plain happy. His take on things was always rooted in reality. I am honored to have played with him and to have known him. Til we meet again……..

My deepest condolences go to Stacia, Lila, and his family.

I met Matt through music, sometime in 1993 or 94, soon after I moved to Seattle. He was immediately one of my favorite people. He gave me so much encouragement and support. To me, he was like a caring brother, who was frank and straightforward, but warm and caring all at the same time. I looked up to him and often wished that I could be like him - so grounded and so comfortable with himself. It is rare to meet a person like him. I feel incredibly lucky to have known him. He will always live within me.

I came to Matt’s website to confirm its URL so I could brag to a friend I was e-mailing about My Friend the Famous Musician. Now I find that he was killed yesterday and am trying to hold it together since I am still at work and there is no one to relieve me. Matthew, you wonderful warm generous man…I can’t believe you are gone. I first met you in Seattle in 1991 and I loved your friendly spirit immediately. It was like we were longtime friends. We hung out for awhile and I lost touch with you, but then you were next-door neighbor to the woman I married who was also friends with Stacia and we became friends again. I moved to Alaska and you moved to San Francisco. We stopped in briefly to see you in December and spoke of Cherri’s plans to visit you in May and you insisted I visit, too. I’m so glad I did because I got to spend seven happy days with you and your family and now I’ll never get to see you again. Now I’ll never forget how happy you were that Cherri and I cooked for you, I’ll never forget you kissing your wife and daughter with the greatest contentment, and I’ll never forget your boyish glee when we went to go see a late-night showing of X-Men 2 together, just us boys. I have so many more wonderful memories of you too. Rest in peace, my friend, I love you. Stacia and Lila, we love you and are here for you.

Brad and I knew Matthew best through his excellent playing, but we were both impressed by his easy-going, gentle personality. When we heard the news, we both said, “what a shame. Such a nice guy.” I hope I am remembered as being as nice and kind person as Matt when my time comes.

Brad Fischer and Katherine Setar

I will miss Matt very much. The news of his accident has me stunned. I had the good fortune to work with him musically as a member of iv bricouleurs, and also to have him as a great friend. My thoughts are with all who are suffering this loss.

Jeff Muller

I talked to and played with Matt on just a few occasions in Berkeley. He was one of the most genuine, positive people I have ever met. And a fantastic musician.

I just received this news and am deeply saddened . I had the honor and joy of playing music with Matt . As a person he was like his music ; honest , sincere and positive . My heart goes out to all . CF

Weeping impotently at one in the morning, having just read Amy Denio’s email. All of my familiar surroundings now seem so hostile for their failure to share a world with Matt. Just reading his name on the personnel lists of Dan Plonsey’s gig announcements would have such a comforting effect. It was great just to know that he was out there sharing his music and uplifting everyone to whom he spoke. Someone said that happiness is having something to look forward to, and I must say that it is disorienting and somewhat nauseating not to be able to look forward to my next encounter with Matt. Seeing him always had that sense of relief and arrival as if I’d been looking forward to it for weeks, even if I just saw him randomly at the supermarket.

Before subbing for him in Hedwig, I hadn’t seen or talked to Matt for a few years. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to reconnect with him before this happened.

Stacia, you are in my heart and my thoughts. Lila, I know that the relentless positivity gene that you inherited from your father will help you and your mother through this.

Still in shock, and words fail. It is good to read what has been posted previously, obviously many people have felt what I have in knowing Matt. When I joined the Angry Inch in January, I was treated to an experience I’ll never forget with a person I’ll never forget, a swift kick in the musical arse and a smile that always assured that no matter how brutally honest a comment was, there was a healthy dose of love along with it. I sat next to Matt almost every night for over four months, applying ludicrous makeup and trading good-natured jabs, never quite able to keep up with his hilarious wit. I’m proud and very fortunate to have had the opportunity to rock alongside such an exemplary musician, who made that cheap-ass ibanez bass sound impossibly wide and fat. No matter how hard I tried to keep frowning onstage while we