Bellingham
 
Matthew Pickett's passion for music was legendary. In a single year, the avid heavy metal fan attended more concerts than most people would in a lifetime. He cultivated another generation of music lovers in his family by taking nephews and nieces to their first rock concerts. Pickett, 33, often set up recording equipment to capture a show, as he did before the Great White concert last Thursday.

"Matt collected concert recordings from shows all around the world and could probably tell you all of the songs a band would play at a concert before the band had a chance to perform them," Ben Moebes, a longtime friend, said of Matty, as Pickett was known to his wide circle of friends. Moebes fondly remembered a summer that he and Pickett spent playing around Echo Bridge in Newton Upper Falls, which became a special place for Pickett. It was there that he proposed to his fiancee, Wendy Weinberg, last year.The two had recently bought a home and were to be married in October.Members of Pickett's close-knit family spoke of his love for Weinberg and also how they treasured his warmth and sense of humor. The baby of the

family was described as "the consummate family man," who was always there to offer love and support.
"All my brothers looked out for me and loved me with all their hearts, but Matthew kept a special eye on me," said Dorothy Pickett, his only sister.
Pickett grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton South High School before going on to the University of Massachusetts-Boston. In addition to his love for music and sports, Pickett was well-traveled and spoke French and Spanish.
"I'll continue to live my life but from here on out I'll do it a little better, think a little harder, take one more step further and love with all of my heart," said Dorothy Pickett. "That's what Matthew would do."
RHONDA STEWART

Friday, February 28, 2003

Remembering Matt Pickett

Matt Pickett, a good friend to many Boston-area and DigiJAM Tapers, was at the tragic Great White show at The Station in Rhode Island on February 20th. Matt was one of the 97 people who perished in the fire.

Matt was a fan of Heavy Metal and taped shows since the late 1980s. Matt also taped some great Boston-area Pearl Jam shows. He was responsible for taping the 4/8/92 Axis Club show, the 8/7-8/92 Great Woods Lollapalooza shows, and the 4/12/94 Orpheum Theater show.

"All of us in "TEAZER" would like to express our deepest sympathy to the families, friends, & the band... for all those lost and injured in the horrific fire at "The Station" during the GREAT WHITE show in W. Warwick R.I. Our hearts are heavy & saddened during this horrible time for the injuries & the likely loss of friends close to members of our band that occurred. Our prayers go out to all involved in this tragedy. Rock N' Roll / Metal fans are all about positive energy, having fun, dedication to the music we love, & the Rock N' Roll party.....Why did this have to happen??!!

I wish my friend Joe Cristina a quick recovery from his 2nd & 3rd degree burns.My thoughts and prayers are with you & your family. Get well soon bud! May my friend Matt Pickett, whose life was tragically lost in the horrific fire at "The Station" last Thursday...- RIP My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his fiancé Wendy, Mattys family, & all his friends.

You will be greatly missed bud...but NEVER forgotten."

~Jean~

On February 20, 2003, a fire broke out at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, where metal act Great White were playing. Tragically, 100 people died in the fire, and the event made international headlines. Even more tragically for me, however, was that one of the concertgoers who didnt make it out was Matt Pickett, a longtime personal friend of mine and fellow Ian Moore fan. I first met Matty through Deep Purple tape trading circles. Matty was a total music-loving nut, and attended a hundred or more shows a year. Music was his passion and his escape. He personally recorded a good many shows of the shows he went to. In fact, if you get hold of a rock concert taped in the Massachusetts/New England area, there is a good chance it was one of Matt's recordings. I first turned Matty on to Ian in 1993, after the first album came out. Matt recorded the Boston Gardens show from 1993. A recording of that show was up here on the site for a good while. The mp3 links I hope will be active again real soon. Matt was hooked after that gig and was a big fan of Ian's, and helped spread the word up in the northeast. Matt developed a close friendship through the years with frequent tape trades and phone calls. Back in December 2002, I went to Cleveland to see Ian and Chris play a solo show. Three days later Ian was to play Somerville, Mass. I remembered to call Matt to tell him about it. He vowed he would not miss the show and would be taking Wendy Weinberg, his fiance, to see Ian. He went to the show and sent me this email about it: "We had a fine fine time. Ian was so funny. Chris Dye was great. One of the best shows that Wendy and I have ever seen. Classy night. I wish all shows were like this all the way around." Matt told me it was one of the best and most enjoyable shows he had ever seen. That is pretty high praise considering the huge number of shows Matt saw. Matt and Wendy met Ian and Chris after the show and posed for a picture. Wendy also became a huge fan. Sadly this was to be the last show that Matty and Wendy would see together. In February, Matt mailed me a DAT tape of this show that he recorded with a live mic. I received it the day after the incident. Not knowing what happened, I was already working on some cdrs to send him back, when I got the call. It struck me pretty hard, not only because Matty was a long time friend, but because I have been to a number of similar packed, small venues where something like that easily could have happened. But for the grace of God that could have been me, or any of us for that matter. I passed on the news to Ian, that a big fan of his from MASS was lost in that fire. Despite still dealing with his own grief, Ian was touched and rounded up some merch to send to Wendy (thanks to Sarah for her help in this). He signed a CD with a personal note to Wendy and I sent it along. Life is precious, Ian commented. I can think of no greater tribute to Matt, than to feature the show that he recorded here on www.mooremusic.net. Music was his life, so to celebrate his life, it is only fitting that we let everyone hear his tape. My condolences go to Wendy and Matt's family. I hope to fly up there and see Ian with you next time he is in town. Matt would like that. I will miss you Matty.

Rest in Peace my friend. Bobby Gervais

Tearful farewell for Newton native
By Jennifer Pollack
Monday, March 3, 2003

NEWTON -- Sunlight scattered through the stained glass windows of St. Philip Neri Church Saturday, illuminating color on the somber faces of those Matthew Pickett left behind when he died in the Rhode Island nightclub fire.
The wooden pews were packed with people whose lives Pickett touched in his 33 years. The Rev. Charles McCoy said the gathering was not a funeral, but a celebration of Pickett's life.
Pickett's brother, David, spoke of Matthew as a person full of love for his friends, family and fiancee, Wendy Weinberg, of Bellingham, whom he was to marry on Oct. 19.
It was his love of music that brought Pickett to the Great White concert on Feb. 20 at The Station in West Warwick, R.I., video camera in hand. Pickett was a self-made rock historian and had videotaped countless shows.
"He would be honored to know that we all gathered to be part of his farewell concert," David said.
David called his brother a constant family man, a beacon of light to anyone in need and remembered fondly his ability to make people laugh.
"The scope of Matthew's influence on people was enormous," he said. "We must remember that we've all been blessed to come across such a kind and gentle soul."
Pickett, a Bellingham resident, was born in Newton and grew up in the village of Waban. A Newton South High School graduate, he was a member of the UMass-Boston Class of 1993. He worked as a customer service manager at the telecommunications company United Systems Access USA of Burlington.
David said his brother was an employer's dream and always able to put a smile on the face of customers who called with complaints. He said this dedication showed in Pickett's personal life as well. Pickett would often help people in the community with whatever they needed, such as mowing lawns and shoveling driveways.
"He would show up impromptu and do favors for family, friends and neighbors," David said.
Pickett was also quite worldly, David said, speaking English, Spanish and French and having traveled extensively in the U.S., Canada and Spain.
McCoy compared Pickett's death to an anecdote about an aircraft carrier headed for Naples, Italy. He said just as the fantail of the ship crossed the horizon, people on the ship could almost hear the people still on the dock say, "There she goes." But on the ship, people continued with their work.
As the ship reached Naples, the shipmates could hear people on the foreign dock say, "Here she comes."
McCoy said people Pickett knew who died before him will be waiting in heaven to greet him, saying, "Here he comes."
Pickett was the son of John and Mary Pickett. He had one sister, Dorothy Pickett, and three brothers, John, Joseph and David Pickett.

3.20.2003

Matthew J. Pickett, 33; music 'made his heart soar'

It took three years for Matt Pickett to ask Wendy Weinberg on a date and another three to propose marriage, but he was worth the wait, she says.
"He was my soul mate. He was the most fantastic person I have ever known in my entire life."
The two met seven years ago at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and had been dating for three years when they found a split-level house in Bellingham, Mass. Wendy said she didn't want to close the deal on the house until they were at least engaged.
He proposed last June 30, her 30th birthday, on the Echo Bridge over the Charles River in Newton, where they grew up. They closed on the Bellingham house the next day.
Wendy said her fiancé collected everything -- newspapers, tapes, CDs, records -- which he shared with his hundreds, if not thousands, of friends all over the world. "He had not one enemy, ever," she says.
He went to The Station with his friend Joe Cristina, who survived the fire but suffered second-degree burns, Wendy said.
Matt loved music; it "made his heart soar," she says.
Matt was a giver, she said, who would drop everything to help a friend.
"He gave so much of himself, even if he had nothing."
Wendy said her fiancé had just celebrated his seventh year of sobriety.
"He and I were each other's support systems. He gave me hope, he gave me strength, he told me about life."
Most of all, she said, "He was my best friend. My very best friend."
She already had her dress for their wedding. It was to be held Oct. 19.
-- Katherine Boas