Wednesday, May 13, 2009
'There would be no Grog Shop without him'
Posted by Frank Lewis on Wed, May 13, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Grog Shop co-founder Matt Mugridge died Thursday, May 7. He would have turned 42 on May 13.
Well-liked and well-rounded, Mugridge played hockey at Saint Ignatius, then got the music bug at the University of Cincinnati. He lived and died as a larger-than-life, infectiously fun-loving presence on the Cleveland music scene. The talkative Mugridge was one of the Grog’s initial three partners who established the venue in 1992. He remained with the concert club for three-and-a-half years. He helped lure acts like Oasis, the Offspring and the Flaming Lips early in their career.
“The music was all him,” says Grog co-founder and current owner Kathy Simkoff. “He’s the one that knew the bands and loved the bands. It was totally his passion and vision when we started. There would be no Grog Shop without him.”
After leaving the Grog, Mugridge opened the Comet Club on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights and ran a Columbus reggae bar. He briefly lived in Las Vegas and England, then returned to Cleveland. Mugridge established Flash Films in 1999. He traveled regionally, shooting concerts by national stars like Neko Case and local bands big and small from the Black Keys to the Very Knees. His video archive is at youtube.com/mattmug13.
Even after Mugridge retreated from the bar business, he remained active in local music, pouring his paychecks into different projects. The fiercely loyal Mugridge was a champion of the ClePunk community, the Cleveland collection of old-guard lifers. Mugridge sang and played guitar in bands like the Sellouts, the Skipped and, most recently, the Drexels. Reviewing the Skipped’s 2004 Revved Up, former Scene music editor Jason Bracelin wrote, “Singer-guitarist Matt Mugridge slurs and slobbers … His guitar playing [brightens] the band’s mostly mid-paced numbers with frothing solos — instant anthems that are all curled lips and clenched fists.”
Mugridge’s family will receive friends Thursday, May 14, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the DeJohn-Flynn-Mylott Funeral Home (4600 Mayfield Rd.), with a tribute service following at 1. The Beachland (15711 Waterloo) will host a memorial benefit from 4-7:30 p.m. Friday. Visitors are welcome to bring a dish to the potluck dinner.
Mugridge hanged himself in the attic of his North Collinwood home. The sudden suicide surprised even those who knew him best. “He was a true rock-and-roller, a true punk rocker, always bucking the establishment,” says a close friend. “In the end, he went out with a flash. He didn’t just roll over and die. He made a statement: ‘Fuck you’ to the world.” — D.X. Ferris
Comments (34)
Showing 1-34 of 34
Really inappropriate. Its bad enough that Matt told all of us "Fuck You" but every Tom, Dick and Harry doesn't need to know how he went out. Did you even think about his family?
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Totally tasteless...do people outside of his inner loop really need to know the gory details?
Let's remember Matt for what he was..not how he died.
Well the article was good till the end. Really who wants to think or be reminded of the horrible tragedy when there is so much good to remember instead? The last paragraph really sickens me how you are trying to make what happen sound cool or something. You are one sick mother…. Remember Karma is a bitch….. I think you need to write an apology to his family and close friends!!!!!!!!
I wasn't familiar with who Matt was but found out about him from a Clevo friend of mine. And I also agree that the last paragraph was completely unnecessary...
It is just tasteless and wrong (last paragraph) without respect for Matt or his family. No close friend (and I am one of his very old friends) would say that. Matt was a complex man and a true inspiration for many rockers in Cleveland.
Matt's tragic passing is to be dealt with using sensitivity which was not shown here in the end.
This guy "DX" should be fired for irresponsible journalism.
And then, in true punk rock MAtt fashion, this dude should be slapped across the face.
Suicide is not cool, romantic (dumb ass). It is TRAGIC and unknown. How can anyone know what Matt wanted to say to the world in that one act?
An apology to the family is needed. I hope Matt's mom does not see this.
A punk rocker hanged himself. The last part of this article was entirely appropriate.
The last paragraph lacks compassion for the Matt's life, his family, his friends and all of his achievements. "fuck you to the world"?Matt did more in 41 years then most people will do in 80. Matt had a good spirit and would give you the shirt off his back. you found a way to ruin a good article about an good person with a piece of crap cliche ending and thanks for all the detail -well done ASSHOLE
Spilly
The last paragraph is extremely insensitive and irresponsible in its presentation. This is not 1977 and this is not a British tabloid sensationalizing Sid Vicious, this is a local music paper writing about a 40+ year old man in a bad economy. The use of an anonymous quotation/ comment is also highly inappropriate. Show some respect for the family and friends. I also hope that no young, troubled kids decide that suicide is "cool" because of your irresponsible journalism.
All the writers at Scene should be fired. They all hate Cleveland and dislike everything that most people like, just to be argumentative. I wish they would just go away and get some writers who actually care and like to review the good things about Cleveland and it's talented arts/music scene.
Once again, Scene proves what a rag it is. Mentioning the suicide is debateable--making it sound like a glorious act of rebellion is unconscionable. I didn't know Matt, but I can bet he wasn't thinking he was giving the world the finger when he took his own life. What a sick thing to write.
I was deeply hurt by the last paragraph of this article. It's bad enough that Matt's family and friends are dealing with the shock and pain of the loss. Why exacerbate the situation by including the details of his suicide? Matt was a sweet and complex person -- and a rocker. But how can you assume what his last sentiments were as he was exiting this world? I'm ashamed for you DX
Way to ruin the memory of a really great guy. The author and editor should be fired. Did you think that reporting the details of Matt's death and then glorifying it, as if it were some kind heroic, final act was gonna get you a Pulitzer? You're pathetic, and I hope I never see another article with your name on it again. I will encourage my boss to cancel his subscription for the bar, and I hope that every club owner in the city refuses to advertize with Scene anymore. As much as I hate the Plain Dealer, I would gladly pay for one of those before picking up your filthy rag again.
this is total hack journalism. i've never liked any article by this d.x. ferris clown. he's got sh*tty taste in music and a horrible writing style. matt was a good guy and was always affable and ready to rock. he deserves better. i know he loved the music above all and i'll always remember the old grog shop's jukebox and how it was the best in town. period. farewell matt.
I would have expected nothing less from a hack writer for a hack weekly! Truly bad taste!!
Firstly, you need to write an apology in not only this "magazine", but also in the Plain Dealer for your irresponsible and tastless ramblings. I did not know this man but can only imagine the grief his family must feel after reading such an insensitive, pathetically exploitive, unbelievably trivializing attempt to caputre the life of someone who was ovbiously quite loved and respected.
Secondly, you need to resign. Step down before you make a bigger fool of yourself and take it like the man you were not when you decided to pen this "statement".
Lastly, leave town. Cleveland is full of great people. The last thing anybody needs anymore is lack of depth of character and compassion. Go and don't look back.
Firstly, you need to write an apology in not only this "magazine", but also in the Plain Dealer for your irresponsible and tastless ramblings. I did not know this man but can only imagine the grief his family must feel after reading such an insensitive, pathetically exploitive, unbelievably trivializing attempt to caputre the life of someone who was ovbiously quite loved and respected.
Secondly, you need to resign. Step down before you make a bigger fool of yourself and take it like the man you were not when you decided to pen this "statement".
Lastly, leave town. Cleveland is full of great people. The last thing anybody needs anymore is lack of depth of character and compassion. Go and don't look back.
I am a long time friend of Matt and Mike's since high school and was there for the inception of the Grog Shop with Kathy and Sean. I am away from now so it was quite the shock to hear of Matt's passing through Michael this morning in a FB message.
I am also a former editor (Call-Post) and reporter (Indy Star) and I can safely say that the last paragraph is ridiculous. How can this writer be so prescient as to know Matt's motivations for taking his life. For all we know he could have found out he had terminal cancer.
I am deeply saddened by this loss.
-Christopher King
PS: And why haven't you guys followed up with me on the Tattoo regulations litigation and legislation I shared with you months ago when the merger took place?
Forgot to say, I also worked for the Cleveland Edition and I just called Editor Frank Lewis and left him a good piece of my mind about the tail end of this story.
A story like this never would have seen the light of day in the Edition or the Free Times.
Like one of Matt's bands.... the Sellout.
-Christopher King, J.D.
I can't believe the last paragraph of this "obit" has been posted now for two days, has received a slew of negative comments on this and other internet forums, plus god knows how many calls to the editor (more than one as I've heard about several of them from people) and still the paragraph has not been taken down and no apology from the editor or this Ferris creep, who I sincerely hope I never meet at a show or anywhere else. Scene, I am appalled. As the kid on Bill Cosby's cartoon used to say, "N.C. - NO CLASS".
I'm just glad we have Myspace and websites so I will never have to rely on you to get a bar ad or a show listing ever again.
For all of you who feel that this story is incredibly offensive and are dissatisfied with the lack of action from Scene magazine, I recommmend you escalate your complaint to their parent company: http://www.timesshamrockcommunications.com…
And I need to be clear that even though it was apparently quoted material, it smacks of yellow journalism and is generally repugnant to the senses because in the overall scheme it paints Matt as a one-dimensional, knee-jerk reactionary sorta' guy, and I can tell you having spent countless hours with him back at Club I, That Place, Grog, Comet, Undergrad in Cincinnati..... that is exactly the sorta' guy he recoils against.
If his service would have been tomorrow night I would have caught a flight from Boston at the drop of a hat. That dude means so much to Cleveland and to the spirit of alternative music and living, holy shit.
Matt I'm going to fire up the bike now, and I'll ride around and stop at some Boston punker bar and think of you.
-Chris
The last paragraph of this article should be removed. It is absolutely painful and a "fuck you" to Matt's family and friends. Thanks, Scene.
Scenereader:
You can take your ad hominem bullshit and shove it where the sun don't shine.
That's from Matt and Mike will back me up on this if you want to throw down, fool.
If you have something substantive to say, I'm all ears, until then piss off.
Are we clear?
Good.
My letter to the following:
Letters@timesshamrock.com,
lifestyles@timesshamrock.com,
TBaird@timesshamrock.com,
KSchwartz@timesshamrock.com,
RE: The tasteless ending to the Matt Mugridge story
Dear Editors and all concerned:
As someone with a lot of journalism in my immediate background and in my extended family (internationally known journalists) I'm going to say this quickly and be done with it:
Please review the article involving the death of Matt Mugridge:
http://www.clevescene.com/c-notes/archives…
....and remove the last paragraph for the reasons noted in this quoted paragraph that I wrote, as well as for all of the reasons noted by others:
"And I need to be clear that even though it was apparently quoted material, it smacks of yellow journalism and is generally repugnant to the senses because in the overall scheme it paints Matt as a one-dimensional, knee-jerk reactionary sorta' guy, and I can tell you having spent countless hours with him back at Club I, That Place, Grog, Comet, Undergrad in Cincinnati..... that is exactly the sorta' guy he recoils against.
If his service would have been tomorrow night I would have caught a flight from Boston at the drop of a hat. That dude means so much to Cleveland and to the spirit of alternative music and living, holy shit.
Matt I'm going to fire up the bike now, and I'll ride around and stop at some Boston punker bar and think of you."
Thank you for your earnest consideration on this matter.
Very truly yours,
Christopher King, J.D.
KingCast -- thank you for taking action. I, too, have written letters to the editors of Scene (to which I did not receive any response) and have also sent emails to their parent company.
I urge the rest of you who share our outrage to do the same.
Love and miss you, Matt.
ATTENTION: Matt DID NOT say f*** you to anyone!!! How does this close friend know that's what Matt was saying? For anyone to assume his state of mind, no matter how "close friend" they were, it ludicrous! Only Matt and God know that. Those closest to him know him as a caring, loving, sensitive compassionate man. I am (and many, many others) devestated by the loss of Matt.
Matt's act of taking his life doesn't mean he was sending anyone a message, f*** you or anything else. It can only be seen as a deserpate act by a desperate man. My heart breaks every time I think about him - how alone, how much pain he must have been feeling to do what he did. They gruesomely misconsonstrued his deep seated sadness. Its a shame that you people have no idea of the complexity of his deep rooted life issues that brought him to this point in his life to make a decsion. as drasatic as this
Yes, Matt was a true punk rocker, however he was also much more than that. He loved Mom dearly.He loved to joke and play with his neices and nephews. He was a little brother to two great guys. He was a best friend. Matt also had 2 degrees from college and was extremely intelligent. He loved words and the English language. He liked to golf.
Matt was in enough pain already - let him finally rest in peace without this disgusting insult to his name and our memories of him. Have the decency to show some respect for his human dignity. If anything good can come out of this, it should be to reach out to those who are suffering from immense pain to avoiding making this decsion.
I, as well, do not understand the last paragraph. It was unneccessary and disrespectful to his family and friends.
I am sure that Matt was thinking only of ending whatever was causing his pain and wasn't thinking about saying f-you to anyone. I hope Matt has found some peace.
I, as well, agree that the last comment was completely unnecessary and insensitive to his family and close friends. I doubt that Matt was saying f-you to anyone and only wanted to end his pain. I hope that Matt has found some peace.
If your humanity compels you to write such horrible detail about another human being, you are very fucked up my friend. The universe works in mysterious ways and you will pay pack your sin to humanity for this one dude.
