“We were all obviously devastated for Ben, but we learned a lot of lessons that last summer. He’d already been diagnosed, and check this out. The doctor says you got three or four months, and we’re not knowing what to say, let alone how to ask the question, and finally it’s kind of like, ‘well…’ Before we could say anything, Ben said, ‘Well, start booking as many gigs as possible. I’m going out the way I came in, doing what I love.’ And it was so inspirational.” — Jeff Carlisi, guitarist for 38 Special and Ben’s Big People bandmate; interview with Craig Garber and Everyone Loves Guitar, November 26, 2020 (at about 14:10)
sweetpurplejune 
Love him.
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Ben was such a unique person. As the saying goes, they don’t make them like they used to.
Rare is what I would call him.
He was born with multiple gifts, unlike most people.
Immense Beauty and physical perfection, rhythm, timing, long fingers perfect for his bass, a singing voice, an ear for music, perfect pitch. I mean who gets these many gifts to work with? Thanks to his parents he was able to learn how to use them.
He was blessed with these, then he was responsible for using his gifts for good.
The ones he developed on his own. Dedication, perseverance, a charming light hearted personality. determination, loyalty, whit, generosity, a desire to make others happy and feel good.
He may not have written Magic Pants, but that was his mission statement.
From all accounts he really was a good person…this reaction of his to the worst news a person could ever hear was “Let’s Go”!! Brave and fierce!! No ambiguity – I want to go out doing what I love.
I think this video below sums up how much Ben loved what he was doing…this was prior to the need for the Cars to become a cohesive marketed band so they didn’t starve. It was the road to success and he played his role so very well. Cool and composed not too overtly overplaying his part.. and we love that too.
But here (and I realize music was not “actually” live…it is apparent that this was gone over with the official “recording”) but seeing the sweaty and very bright smiling Ben here just warms my heart and makes me feel so happy. I feel happy for him watching this, unlike how happy I feel for me when I watch him. 🙂
I hope this makes sense, as sometimes I am so overcome with emotion that I just spill whatever comes to mind at the time.
I don’t know how to make the video link live like you do it, Donna.
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I always love your comments, my friend, and I’m sure it has to do with feeling the same way you do! It seems like no matter what else was swirling around him in his life, performing was his constant, single-minded focus. I imagine that even in those years when he sort of disappeared he knew he would get back to the stage eventually. ❤
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I don’t think Ben’s vocals could have been any cleaner, crisper or just plain perfect than with this performance. God, I love that voice!!! I miss him.
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What a fantastic interview. Thanks for sharing it!
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