We have lost a fellow Rockpager, musician and friend...
Donald "Tood" Smith - "PanzerFaust" here on Rockpage - passed away on Saturday morning, February 7.
I first met Tood in the mid-1980s, when my WFBG-AM broadcast partner Jay Randyll was putting together the band that would eventually become Tommi-Gunn. It didn't take long for Tood's crazed sense of humor to surface, and that became a central thread in our friendship.
I'll remember the many Tommi-Gunn roadtrips and roadtrip highjinks involving Tood. Onstage capers, hotel room zaniness, wisecracks, "Spinal Tap" moments and more. The man had a wit and a gift for wisecracks, and could turn anything into instant humor. And that humor was prevalent with his contributions here on Rockpage; when you saw "PanzerFaust's" name surface on a thread, you knew he had something witty to add to the conversation.
I kept watching him perform as he joined the ranks of the fledgling Half Tempted, and we remained in touch over the years. Of course, recently, Tood was involved in the Born and the Beanstalk organization, and he used to come see my Backyard Rockers bandmates and me when we performed at the Penn State Altoona Farmers Markets (situated just feet away from his house). Still wisecracking and having fun through all of it.
He probably had a few choice one-liners for St. Peter at the gate...
Rest in peace, my friend. Thanks for the friendship and laughter!
PanzerFaust R.I.P.
-
whitedevilone
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 1072
- Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:27 pm
- Location: Watching and making lists.
-
onegunguitar
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 2080
- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:56 am
- Contact:
-
JeffLeeper
- Gold Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:30 pm
- Location: Tyrone Area
- Contact:
-
Pedro Mota
- Gold Member
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:53 pm
- Location: New Paris
-
Dragan Kalasa
- Gold Member
- Posts: 455
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:27 am
- Location: Between Hopewell and Everett...a rock and a hard place, PA