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What do you remember most about Mr. Butch?
Posted on July 21, 2007 by Valentina Zic
Filed Under AB people |
Share your Mr. Butch memories here. Click on the “Comments” button below.
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18 Responses to “What do you remember most about Mr. Butch?”
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Butch has family in Worcester. Brothers are Russell, Philipp and Jeffery.
This email just came in from Jake Wark of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office:
Regardless of his brushes with the law, Mr. Butch was a man of warmth, humor, and kindness. An iconic figure of rugged, sometimes tragic, individualism, he will be missed.
Neglected to say in last post that someone should contact Butch’s family. Found some phone #s
at Zabasearch. Also has a sister Sheila Madison, all still reside in Worcester. I think it would be better if someone on the Boston end tried to make contact. I knew Butch when we were teens, always made
people laugh. Once saw him hitchin a ride holding a cardboard sign that said OZ. Been years since
I last saw him but I’m saddened by this news. The world will some how never be the same without
Butch.
When I lived in Danielson Dorm at Boston University in 1987-1989, I would see Mr. Butch hanging around Kenmore Square most days on my way to class. He usually had a black electric guitar, and often seemed stoned. He would wander into the CVS and a record store (Strawberries, I think?) often, where everyone knew him and would humor him despite the fact they knew he wasn’t going to buy anything. I remember one time where I walked into the store and saw him standing there, facing a wall, his guitar strapped to his back, saying, “Oh, man! Oh, man!” while the store clerks said, “You alright, Mr. Butch?”
I heard stories about how he would show up at parties and sleep on people’s couches but was never present for one. My friends and I (they were big Ramones fans) coveted the black leather jacket he wore at the time.
Mr. Butch was the kindest, friendliest person - a true Allston neighbor. It was always a pleasure talking with him and a joy to be greeted by his warm and loving Hello and a Smile. He was a genuine personality with a Huge Heart and he will be sadly missed.
i love you
have for years
you were my photo subject many times
http://www.thenoiseboard.com/index.php?showtopic=169301
i cant cry
yet
luv
jimmy
During the year I lived in Allston, I saw Mr. Butch all the time.
I never actually spoke to him until last summer when I was doing at story at Regeneration Tattoo. He stopped by to have a cigarette wit the folks there and he got all excited when he found out my name is “Meghann” because he dated a woman with the same name once.
Allston will never be the same…
He was such a cheerful, nice guy.
Who else will stop traffic for the older folks trying to cross the intersection of Harvard and Comm?
I will miss his wonderful performances that bewildered commuters by the train and bus load.
How very sad for the whole community!
Upstairs at the Rat in the 80s was a great restaurant called the Hoodoo Barbecue, run by another great guy named James Ryan. Butch was a regular there, and often worked or did something in the kitchen. Then at night he’d be outside on the street, playing his guitar and smiling. He’d smile no matter what the weather was.
I was always shy to actually talk to Mr. Butch but I adored him from a distance. I’m really heartbroken that he died. There was just something about him…an inner light and sense of humor that shined through. I lived in Allston for years and to me it will never be the same.
this saddened me terribly when i read this. Butch was a legend, a good man, and a generous person. Mr Butch has even offered me money to buy beers when I was a broke college allston resident. They say only the good die young and this is certainly true for Mr. Butch.
I was just a college kid in Boston in 1990 or 1991, and I saw Mr. Butch in Kenmore every day. “Goddamn Motherfuckin’ Mr. Butch” is what his leather jacket said. That’s how I knew his name. One day some friends and I were walking around Kenmore Square, probably either going to or returning from the Deli Haus, and tall Mr. Butch approached us. Now, I was just a kid from the mountains of Southern California. Who was this guy and what did he want? But he wasn’t intimidating. He talked to us. Then he produced a magnificently-apportioned joint and invited us to smoke it with him. We rolled over to the median of Comm Ave in Kenmore, smoked this giant spliff, and shortly after Mr. Butch was on his way. Nothing more than a moment of companionship, no strings.
I saw him many, many times after that. A few times we drank beers, smoked more spliffs…
I last saw him at Junkyard Dogs in Allston. Wearing a grey three-piece suit and ordering a hot dog. He was looking good. God Damn Motherfucking Mr. Butch, RIP! Boston won’t be the same without you. Another establishment gone…
I saw Butch just the day before, drinking a PBR, and telling stories at a friend’s place. Butch, that place I had for you to stay, when the weather got cold? It’s still there, and will always be there for the wayward guest, in your honor. Glad you liked the red suitcase, Brother.
Those of us who knew Butch very well knew he was pushing the envelope when he bought his scooter. But we didn’t try to stop him - Butch being Butch, once he made his mind up, there was no stopping him. He died doing what he loved best - roaming around, seeing his friends, partying, enjoying life. Always with a smile and song.
Goodbye, Butchster. We love you.
Your old friends, T., M., J., Clicker, Stupid
I knew Mr. Butch since the very early 70s when I partied in Worcester. I moved to Boston, forgot about Mr. B, and one day decades ago while in Kenmore Sq I heard someone saying, “hey home” and looked up to see Mr. B. Since then, during all my relationships etc, he was a steady presence. Good guy. Eventually I met Michael who is now my husband; he also knew Mr. B. He called us Mom and Dad cuz he knew we tried to take care of him in a way we could. We’d attempt to give him money and 1/2 the time he’d refuse, open his arms and say, “safe”. What a good guy. He’ll be missed.
Michael and nancy, Allston
I used to live on Linden st. and worked at the Sunset Grille and Tap. I’d see Mr. Butch almost every day carrying about his business, drinking, standing on newspaper dispensers, playing instuments (found, acquired and air variety), and generally livening up the already crazed streets of Allston. In a town known for its college age population and rampant alcoholism, Mr. Butch seemed to be a cultural piece de resistance. He wasn’t out of place or bothersome, he was an icon. I’d say mascot, but it almost seems demeaning. My best memory of Butch happened on a whim. I was walking down Harvard ave. towards the T stop and was in the process of changing my recorded voicemail greeting when I happened upon Butch. I offered him 5$ to record a greeting for me. He was familiar with me because I often gave him dollars and change and food and whatnot. Anyway, I came up with a quick verbal script for him and he repeated it back to me, i cued up my phone and it was game time. Mr. Butch completely ignored our script and improv’ed something far better. Highlights were “Hellooo?…. oh yeah, Russell’s not here now, he’s off with.. you gotta give him some time…oh yeah, he’s off with his guitar” I do not play the guitar “but you give him a message and he’ll, did i say this was Mr. Butch?…” Anyway, I was severely satisfied and kept the message for the better part of a year. The finale to the story is when I took my phone back and took out my wallet to pay the man, I inadvertantly grabbed a 5 and a single. I handed him the 6$ and Butch immediately noticed the overpayment that i had not. He looked at his payment and said “oh man…” then he looked up and finished ” I must’ve done GOOOOD!”
I just saw his “Mr. Butch playing his shark guitar” on U-tube and his documentary stuff, what a personality, he could be a movie just like the key player in the movie: “Lawrence of Arabia” a sad tragic death, i knew him about 1 1/2 hours ago but he will be missed. Thanks for the videos, i just rated him a 5 star. - NZ
funeral
A Memorial/Celebration of Mr. Butch will be held Sunday July 22 2007.
A New Orleans style memorial procession will start from Harvard and
Commonwealth Ave in Allston at 7PM. People who wish to walk in the
procession should arrive 6:30 PM or later.
The Procession will end at the International Community Church at 557
Cambridge St in Allston where services will be held at 8PM.
It is recommended that people take public transportation as there is
no parking at the church and limited parking in the area.
For more info contact:
Toni / Ritual Arts
617-787-4157
I remember passing Mr. Butch while on my way to the airport on a recent trip to China. It was 7am and he was out wandering down Harvard Ave smiling, enjoying the sunrise. I remember thinking that he was one of the things that I was going to miss about home while I was gone. Its really sad to think that we won’t all have him waiting for us when we get back to Allston.