Bill Pettijohn, circa mid-1980's Credit: Anastasia Pantsios

Moonlight Drive's Bill Pettijohn, circa mid-1980s

Cleveland lost one of its most high-profile veteran musicians on April 8 when Bill Pettijohn succumbed to cancer. Pettijohn immersed himself in a Jim Morrison alter ego when he founded the Doors tribute band Moonlight Drive and hoped to star as the famed singer in film someday. He never did, but Pettijohn lived more than twice as long as his hero and packed several lifetimes of debauchery into his 62 years.

Pettijohn was a notorious hedonist with a love of mind-altering substances. Not surprisingly, the stories his friends told at his wake Sunday had as much to do with his enthusiastic pursuit of the rock-star lifestyle as with his genuine sweetness and good-heartedness.

The latter was epitomized by a legendary ad that Pettijohn placed in Scene in October, 1995.

This article appears in Apr 13-19, 2011.

6 replies on “When The Music’s Over”

  3. Such a bad boy and yet still had a sweet innocence about him. Glad to have known him so many years ago! See ya in a bit, Bill.

  4. Having been a close friend and music collaborator with Bill since 1968, I can confirm that the Scene had written an acurate obit on Bill. He would have loved it. Having formed two bands with Bill, Dragonwyck, 1969 to 1975, and the original Moonlight Drive, 1981 to 1985, I knew him as a creative songwriter and lyricist, in addition to his ability to captivate a crowd. Although, much has been made of his drug and alchol use, and this is true, I feel that the record has to be set straight that in the end, Bill died of natural causes, and not to drugs. In the last 3 years of his life, he never complained of his illness, he had a deep faith in God and prayer, and was writing music and lyrics with me for a new Dragonwyck album. He never lost faith. He showed me a strenth that I did’nt know he had. I don’t think anybody is going to miss him more than me. I played guitar behind Bill on his very first performance in 1968, and at his last show at The House of Blues, in 2008. I was at his side when he drew his last breath. After having a front row seat to Bills debauchery for 40 years, all I can say is, “Great show, Bill!” Tom Brehm.

  5. Having known Bill since 1961, I know that he would have loved the obit that The Scene had given him. I formed two bands with Bill, Dragonwyck, 1969 to 1975, and the original Moonlight Drive, 1981 to 1985. Bill was more than a great performer, he was also a talented lyricist and poet. Much has been said about his drug and alchol use, which is true, but I must set the record straight that in the end, Bill died of natual causes. In the last 3 years of his life, he never complained about his illness. He had a strong faith in God and prayer, and he showed me a strenth that I did’nt know he had. We spent the last of his years writting music for a new Dragonwyck album. I played guitar behind Bill at his first performance in 1968, and at his last show at The House of Blues in 2008. I was by his side when he drew his last breath. Nobody is going to miss him more than me. And after having a front row seat to his debauchery for 40 years, all I can say is, “Great show, Bill” Tom Brehm

  6. Just stumbled on this through some accident of memory. Saw these guys at the Agora back in the day at an MMS coffee break concert. A good time was had by all.

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