R.I.P. JERRY FUCHS, MASERATI DRUMMER
Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 9:12am by Vince NeilsteinUpon returning back to the Mansion from a bike ride on an unseasonably warm day here in Brooklyn, I was greeted with the following bit of very sad news: drummer Jerry Fuchs is dead at 34. Fuchs was the drummer for Maserati (as well as Turing Machine, !!! and others), a band I’ve written about several times over the past few months whose shows were positively mesmerizing. Fuchs was the backbone and focal-point of the band, his rock-solid skin-pounding the unquestionable propulsive force behind this rock/psych/groove outfit. Though Maserati aren’t metal, their hard-driving grooves and intricate musicality appealed to a lot of metalheads (including this one). I fully credit Kip W. and burger maestro The Rev with having turned me on to this excellent band at SXSW this past Spring; both raved of Fuchs’ skills behind the kit as a highlight of the band’s performance. I had the pleasure of seeing them again this past September here in Brooklyn; the show was stellar, and the band not only impressed MetalGF but blew headlining act Mono off the stage.
Now about his death… it’s even more bizarre than the band’s music. Apparently Fuchs died early Sunday morning when he fell down an elevator shaft. Talk about scary ways to end it all… wow. Reports Spinner:
Fuchs and a friend were in an elevator in a converted factory used as loft space when the elevator stopped “somewhere above the fifth floor,” the Buildings Department spokesman told the New York Post. The pair opened the elevator door and attempted to jump a few feet down to the fifth floor. The friend made the jump, but a piece of Fuchs’ clothing was caught on the elevator, “sending him swinging back into the crevice separating the elevator from the fifth floor,” the Post writes. Fuchs fell five stories to the bottom of the elevator shaft, where he lay “unconscious and unresponsive,” reports Gothamist. The musician was taken to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition and died early this morning surrounded by “an entire waiting room of friends,” according to Chunklet, to which Fuchs was a contributor.
Crikee! One can only hope Fuchs fired off one last passion-filled drum fill in his head before meeting his ultimate demise. Watch the above video for just a small sample of what the man could do behind the kit. And listen to some Maserati tunes on MySpace today, wouldja?
R.I.P. Jerry (Gerhardt) Fuchs.
-VN
MASERATI: “Untitled” – Live at Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta GA, March 16, 2009 from Cassavetes Band on Vimeo.
One handed! sounds pretty good, im gonna check this boys out. RIP fuck i mean fuch
RIP
That’s really too bad. Passages was a great release
wow what a awful way to go.
you only hear of people dying in elevator shafts in movies like die hard.
Well, the band may not be metal but that is a pretty metal way to go out. I’ve always fancied myself burning alive on a flaming bus full of half starved rabid badgers. RIP dude.
No, it’s a fucking horrible way to go out. Christ, have a little more respect.
I saw Maserati 2 months ago opening up for Mono at the Bowery Ballroom and you were right on the money, they were positively mesmerizing. Everyone just bounced off each other and Jerry was so tight on drums. So sad to hear the he passed away.
RIP Jerry. You made some terrific music.
Thanks Jerry. May you jam with the best forever.
Wow, I was really interested in seeing this band when they were on tour with Mono. Unluckily I missed it, RIP.
RIP Jerry. You were amazing and were taken away too soon. I hope Maserati can find it in themselves to keep going. They are awesome, and those shoes are going to be tough to fill.
Holy God, this is devastating! I just saw Maserati with Mono last month and Jerry Fuchs was definitely the highlight of an all-around unbelievable performance. My heart goes out to Fuchs, his family, and Maserati for your great loss.
If you’re interested in the recap I put together of the show (along with two quality videos and a pristine full audio bootleg demonstrating Fuchs mad talent) check it here
That’s really really shitty, RIP dude.. at least it was epic.
Wow. I don’t even know what to say about that.
That’s lack of elevation, homes.
why can’t people in shitty metal bands die?
You sure? Is it a hoax? No? Did you verify your facts three times? Yes? Then RIP Jerry Fuchs
Damn we lost a really awesome drummer. That really sucks because this guy is fucking great.
That’s um… .weird. But really unfortunate.
WTF; this band has had 2 out of 3 drummers that have died.(the other guy was hit by a car while riding his bike)
I feel sorry for the next guy…