Late Saved by the Bell Star Dustin Diamond’s Dying Wish Was to Meet Tool’s Justin Chancellor
The biggest story in pop culture yesterday was, of course, the allegations against Marilyn Manson.
The second biggest-story, though, was the untimely death of Dustin Diamond, the actor best known for playing the role of ‘Screech’ on Saved by the Bell, from stage four cancer. Diamond’s career didn’t exactly thrive after that show ended, and the following years were full of scandals for the actor, as is the case with so many child stars when they grow up. He eventually wrote a tell-all book, Behind the Bell, that alienated his former co-stars to such a degree that he wasn’t even invited to take part in the recently-relaunched Saved by the Bell. He was the only primary cast member not to be included in the reunion.
Still, for people of a certain age — this blogger included — Saved by the Bell was a tv cornerstone when we were kids. It’s not a good show, by any stretch of the imagination, and it has aged poorly. But then, the same can be said about The Brady Bunch. Point being, we let Screech into our living rooms and into our hearts, and there he shall forever remain, regardless of what Diamond did or did not go on to do later in his career.
That just makes it extra-sad to hear that one of Diamond’s two dying wishes was to speak with Tool bassist Justin Chancellor.
A close friend of Diamond’s, Dan Block, told The Sun shortly before the actor’s death:
“There are two things Dustin asked for….the ability to talk to Justin Chancellor about music and to be able to visit Disney World to see Star Wars Galaxy Edge.
“Dustin was learning to play several Tool songs and wanted to start a Tool tribute band.
“He was in the process of starting the band before being diagnosed with cancer.
“He would play the song and play along with his bass while watching YouTube videos.
“It would be amazing if Justin saw this article and could reach out – it would be granting one of Dustin’s dying wishes and we would greatly appreciate it.
“He’s also a huge Star Wars fan – so we’re hoping we can find a way to arrange that.”
Obviously, unless something happened behind-the-scenes that we don’t know about, Diamond never got to speak to Chancellor before he died.
So that’s depressing. The only part of it that even kinda-sorta cheers us up is imagining what a Screech-led Tool tribute band might have been like.
Okay I’m gonna go cry now.
[via Metal Insider]
