Through various methods, fans find ways to maintain passion for their favorite celebrities who have passed.
A loss that was particularly difficult for band director Adam Tucker was when musician George Harrison died in 2001.
“I was really into the Beatles when I started working and when George Harrison died I was teaching elementary school,” Tucker said. “I stopped the whole day and gave the kids a history lesson on him and his life.”
According to Tucker, it is difficult for musicians to hear of other musicians’ deaths. He believes that there is an “unspoken bond” between fans and artists.
“From a musician stand point, we get really emotional about celebrity deaths,” Tucker said. “We as musicians share that unspoken bond. We feel like we have that really personal connection.”
Senior Nolan Berry feels this sort of a connection to guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Being a long-time fan, Berry was saddened by the news of his passing.
“When I heard about Eddie’s passing, I was really bummed out. I was not expecting it, and I was really sad that the world had just lost one of the greatest guitar heroes ever,” Berry said.
Berry derives inspiration from Van Halen when it comes to his own playing. He is “amazed” by Van Halen’s expertise.
“Listening to Eddie play continues to inspire me as a musician,” Berry said. “I am always amazed at the level of his talent and his unique stylistic techniques.”
Junior Alanna Hilton was deeply impacted by the loss of actor Cameron Boyce.
“He was a big part of my childhood, especially since he was on ‘Jessie,’” Hilton said. “Growing up, Disney Channel shows were always such an important part of my life. He really shaped my youth.”
According to Hilton, Boyce was an impactful figure for much of her generation. She feels as though, along with his acting accomplishments, Boyce’s activism work “spoke to her age group.”
“When you’re on a show on Disney, you grow up with everyone watching you,” Hilton said. “Not only was he impactful on the screen, he also participated in a lot of activism and spoke on topics that he was passionate about, which really spoke to my generation and left an impact.”
When it comes to remembering and honoring celebrities, there are many different ways to do so. For Tucker, one way is to learn more about what they accomplished in their lifetime and research a bit about them.
“Learning a little bit more about them helps me cope and helps me honor their legacy,” Tucker said. “I looked [Harrison] up, and I started researching. He converted to Buddhism, really got into the sitar and held this massive benefit concert [to fund relief for refugees from East Pakistan.]”
To pay tribute to Van Halen, the SAHS Rock Band has decided to perform Valen Halen’s cover of “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks. Berry will be playing Van Halen’s various guitar solos throughout the song.
“Getting to play ‘You Really Got Me’ in the SAHS Rock Band is pretty awesome, especially the solo, which is my favorite part,” Berry said. “It’s a great feeling to be able to play his music for others to enjoy.”
Hilton is hopeful that others will continue to take in the messages that Boyce was able to share with the world and learn from what he had to say. She wants people to remember him for more than just his most popular roles.
“I think that people should take his words into consideration and look into the organizations he was supporting and speaking out about. For how young he was, he was very wise and very genuine,” Hilton said. “I just hope that people see him more as an activist and someone with ideas and passion instead of just a child star.”