As reported in the Boston Pheonix, legendary Boston music promoter and scenester Billy Ruane passed away this evening. He would have been 53 in November.
Boston Phoenix story: Billy Ruane, R.I.P.; Middle East holds 11 pm vigil
He was a supporter of the Boston music scene for over three decades. The story "Still Rockin' (Boston Phoenix, Nov 2007)" describes how he helped bring live music to The Middle East club: "Ruane threw himself a 30th-birthday bash at T.T. the Bear’s Place, booked too many bands, and got the family-run Lebanese restaurant next door to pick up the slack."
In recent years, he's been a fixture and impromptu emcee for a series of benefit concerts for Stephen Fredette at The Plough, Toad and others venues. Usually with a drink in hand...
I was at Billy's "Fuzzy Christmas" show at the Plough last December. The music was great of course, but it was really more about the community coming together to help one of it's own. Jim Sullivan (jimsullivanink.com) wrote this article on the show: Another Round of Fine Music for Stephen Fredette at the Plough.
I was at Billy's "Fuzzy Christmas" show at the Plough last December. The music was great of course, but it was really more about the community coming together to help one of it's own. Jim Sullivan (jimsullivanink.com) wrote this article on the show: Another Round of Fine Music for Stephen Fredette at the Plough.
Any good music scene is a community. Boston lost a member of our community tonight.
From the song "Billy Ruane" by Varsity Drag (listen above): "The place just ain't the same without Billy Ruane".
From the song "Billy Ruane" by Varsity Drag (listen above): "The place just ain't the same without Billy Ruane".
