Tuba Man
There are connections in life that are built,
and people treasure them.
And that's what Ed was.
You were attending something fun,
and he made it more fun.
photo: Rod Mar, Seattle Times
For those who don't attend sports or arts events in Seattle, you might not get the white-hot gash some of us are experiencing with the murder of Tuba Man.
What makes this loss so aggravating is that Tuba Man was a harmless character who put himself in places where he made a good thing a little better. Whether at KeyArena, McCaw Hall, the Kingdome or its two successors, Tuba Man was by the event, not of the event, an independent dealer of mirth in an entertainment world increasingly organized and corporatized.
It is often said that those who live by the street die by the street. That wasn't meant for this guy. What little he did have he gave in the sweat equity of his ungainly music. He could have taken up guitar, piccolo or harmonica, but he picked the absurd instrument and made Seattle's streets a little less homogenous and a little more amusing.
~ Art Thiel
photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle PI
Tuba Man for years played outside sporting events around the city,
blowing dirges when the home team lost and cheerful tunes to follow victories,
just for the joy of meeting the crowd. "That's what I value most," he said. "People."
Tuba Man: A real Seattle team player
Violence takes iconic Tuba Man
Tuba Man was a grin set to music
Ed the Tuba Man, You Will Be Missed
Sound send-off for Tuba Man
Remembering Seattle's 'Tuba Man'
Seattle Bids Tuba Man a Sad Goodbye
1,500 honor slain Tuba Man
Local musicians sound final note for 'Tuba Man'
Louise Hohbach, of Seattle, gives a tributary thumbs-up for slain Edward McMichael,
aka Tuba Man, during a memorial service Wednesday.
photo: Mike Urban, Seattle PI
and people treasure them.
And that's what Ed was.
You were attending something fun,
and he made it more fun.
photo: Rod Mar, Seattle Times
For those who don't attend sports or arts events in Seattle, you might not get the white-hot gash some of us are experiencing with the murder of Tuba Man.
What makes this loss so aggravating is that Tuba Man was a harmless character who put himself in places where he made a good thing a little better. Whether at KeyArena, McCaw Hall, the Kingdome or its two successors, Tuba Man was by the event, not of the event, an independent dealer of mirth in an entertainment world increasingly organized and corporatized.
It is often said that those who live by the street die by the street. That wasn't meant for this guy. What little he did have he gave in the sweat equity of his ungainly music. He could have taken up guitar, piccolo or harmonica, but he picked the absurd instrument and made Seattle's streets a little less homogenous and a little more amusing.
~ Art Thiel
photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle PI
Tuba Man for years played outside sporting events around the city,
blowing dirges when the home team lost and cheerful tunes to follow victories,
just for the joy of meeting the crowd. "That's what I value most," he said. "People."
Click to viewTuba Man: A real Seattle team player
Violence takes iconic Tuba Man
Tuba Man was a grin set to music
Ed the Tuba Man, You Will Be Missed
Sound send-off for Tuba Man
Remembering Seattle's 'Tuba Man'
Seattle Bids Tuba Man a Sad Goodbye
1,500 honor slain Tuba Man
Local musicians sound final note for 'Tuba Man'
Louise Hohbach, of Seattle, gives a tributary thumbs-up for slain Edward McMichael,
aka Tuba Man, during a memorial service Wednesday.
photo: Mike Urban, Seattle PI