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From: MorTone & TPP
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 1999 00:28:09 -0700
Subject: Re: William Clarke (was: Popper - chest pains)

At 12:36 PM 7/4/99 , Iceman63~ol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 99-07-04 10:05:10 EDT, you write:
>
><< Blues Traveler has canceled weekend concerts in
> Colorado after singer and harmonica wizard John Popper was hospitalized
> with chest pains. >>
>
>
>Is this another case of "livin' the life" that took away William Clark?

For what it's worth, and contrary to popular belief...
I feel a little clarification should be made on this.

William Clarke was "taken away" because the staff
at the hospital didn't know he was taking blood thinner
medication...before they put him under the knife.
He bled to death on the operating table as a direct result
of the staffs negligence. Of course, this has yet to proved,
and a malpractice lawsuit is still pending. (almost 3 years later)

I think it's only fair to say, that Bill had been clean & sober
for the last 6 months of his life....and did NOT go out with a
bottle in his hand. He was feeling the best he'd felt in years,
was performing better then ever, and was finally in control of
his life...and loving it. His career was on a tremendous upswing,
and he had just released what he thought was the strongest CD
he'd ever made, "The Hard Way" (Alligator Records).

He was seriously considering the idea of eventually opening a restaurant...
as he was a Very Good southern cook....(his Gumbo is legendary!)

I guess what I'm trying to convey is that William Clarke was taken
from us....and I would not want anyone to get the idea that he
threw his life away. Far from it. His becoming sober, sharing that
part of his life with so many, became a big part of he who he was.

His sobriety was a true inspiration for many....myself included.
As a matter of fact, I can honestly say that my ~remaining~ sober
for the past 4 years has ALOT to do with the courage I found from
Bill in the last few months of his life.

Sure....if he wouldn't have been drinkin' so hard in the past,
his liver wouldn't have ruptured in the first place....
yet, this is not what actually killed him.

Hey....it's all a matter of RESPECT and perception....

~Donnie~