Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFriends of John Pike, supporters of Ra Ra Riot remember band's former drummer
By Heath D. Williams
Posted: 6/5/07, 1:16 PM EST Section: News
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To Jeff Irvine, a very talented drummer.
To Style Band Aid, a client.
To Kacie Barton, a close friend.
To all of them, John Pike was a bright, skilled young man whose time came too soon.
Pike, drummer of Ra Ra Riot, a band made up of Syracuse residents and Syracuse University alumni, was found dead in seven feet of water in Southern Massachusetts' Buzzards Bay Sunday afternoon. He had been reported missing late Friday night after attending a house party in Fairhaven, Mass.
Pike, a 2006 SU graduate, was 23.
Since the news of Pike's death broke Sunday, there has been an outpouring of support for the band from its fans, mainly in the form of messages on the band's MySpace Web page and on Facebook fan groups for the band.
They are messages of hope, messages of sorrow, messages of remembrance. Messages from fans across the nation, across the globe.
The band's MySpace - which, instead of the entire band as its profile picture now features one of just Pike - has been bombarded with messages of condolences since Sunday afternoon.
"I love you all," wrote user NewCliché at 7:20 p.m. Sunday. "He will be sorely, sorely missed."
NewCliché's profile picture, along with many users that have left comments, has been changed to a picture of Pike.
Style Band Aid, a Japanese graphic design operation geared toward indie rock bands, left a message in broken English, saying, "Japanese 'Ra Ra Riot' Fan hopes that there is john safely."
In an e-mail, a representative of Style Band Aid said the group was shocked to hear the news of Pike's death.
"The loss of John Pike is a great sorrow to us too," the representative wrote. "Also, I was making a flyer for the band's summer tour. Just as it was completed and sent to them, I heard of John's death. We, Japanese Ra Ra Riot fans, are groping for something we can do for the band, especially now, after this sorrowful event."
Ryan Hickey, a sophomore wildlife sciences major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, also left a message on MySpace.
"Words can't even describe how sad I am," Hickey wrote. "I am so so so sorry for your loss."
Hickey said he had the opportunity to speak to Pike a couple of times after attending Ra Ra Riot shows.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 5
Jason
posted 6/05/07 @ 2:21 PM EST
I can see how this is big news for the SU community, but 4 breaking news alerts in the last two days?
soulinstilettos
Jillian
posted 6/10/07 @ 1:35 PM EST
You are ignorant & cold-hearted.
A little fact to start bringing you out of your dark hole: I moved to NYC a little while ago and when I wore my Ra Ra Riot shirt the day after John's death, I had strangers stopping me on the street to comment on the tragedy. (Continued…)
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