PASSINGS Gig Michaels of Swamp da Wamp The first time I ever heard of Gig Michaels
was in 2007. It was right around the time of the Jam 4 George (McCorkle) here in Spar- tanburg, and videographer and friend Rick Broyles was telling me all about them. As I re- call, he presented me with both a t-shirt and a cap bearing their early logo. Even today, I still wear the army green embodiered baseball cap. Soon, I would find myself speaking with
lead singer Gig via the land line, and I imme- diately took a liking to this fellow “big man.” And this was before I had heard a lick of his music. After our first (of many) interviews and conversations, Gig sent me a handful of CD’s and I was sold. I was a fan. Still am, even though nowadays he is singing with the angel band. I have a lot of memories of Gig, including
the amazing Swamp shows onboard the sec- ond Rock Legends Cruise; and the weekend of our second GRITZ Fest in Huntsville, Ala- bama in 2010, Gig and his road manager drove from Charlotte to pick me up (I had just had eye surgery and wasn’t allowed to drive). We went a day ahead, because Gig had some business in Nashville. I will never forget Gig hooking me up at Hotel Preston, where he had created quite a reputation for himself, especially with the chef at the restaurant there. Gig had told him to give me “the Gig Special,” a whopper of a steak with all the trimmings, and a few shots of Crown Royal on the side! The next day, GRITZ Fest came off pretty well, up until the very end when Wet Willie were playing and the recently cau- terized veins in my eyes broke open because of the smoke and rubbing them, and blood filled my eyes. I went blind (which ended up
lasting ten months!) but Gig made sure I was okay, and the guys got me back home safe and sound. A year later my health was still a problem,
and some friends put together a benefit show in Greenville, SC. Gig was invited to do a few songs solo on his acoustic. Wellsir, he brought the entire band, and rocked the walls, going that extra mile, as usual. I loved every conversation, every interview,
every concert, and feel blessed to have called him my friend. Gig died at 8:03 p.m., on January 3, 2016
just hours before his 52nd birthday. He had been treated for Bronchitis since October, 2015. He had suffered from pneumonia and later diagnosed with advanced COPD. After fighting for 12 days in ICU, Gig left us. His music will live on, as will his memory. Godspeed brother Gig, we’ll see you in the
light. -Michael Buffalo Smith (Photo Courtesy
swampdawamp.com)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79