Happy Birthday Speed

“Southern boys never die or give up, they just get busy gettn reborn”-Speed

Speed aka Scott Hall was an artist that I befriended in my early twenties. Our unique friendship began circa 1999 after I ordered a poster from his website. The poster was called Less Than Jake Fez Monkey. Back then I was a huge LTJ fan (I have seen them live in concert at least 15 times, always tons of energy). I always shared community space in apartments/houses during my SDSU days, my bedroom was the only place I felt comfortable decorating. I literally wallpapered entire walls with large graphics and album cover art that I had color copied from Kinko’s.

I eventually ordered more posters from Speed and we established an email friendship. Speed was always really stoked or really depressed. He mentioned that he had some mental issues but I didn’t know him on a personal level so I never knew what to make of it. Speed lived in Redondo Beach and we tried to meet up for coffee when I made my monthly visits from San Diego to San Pedro but never could coordinate our schedules.

In 2002, Speed moved to Hollywood and was crashing on people’s couches after a fire had burned down his pad in Redondo. Apparently his cat had knocked over a candle while Speed was sleeping. A majority of his personal possessions and artwork materials were lost in the fire. He set up a donation option on his website to help replace the items lost.

Speed invited me to the opening night of New Found Glory’s Sticks and Stones tour. I was a huge NFG fan at the time. Speed designed all the backdrop artwork for the tour so he promised VIP status and said that he ordered a limo to take us to the show. It sounded too good to be true.I arrived at Speed’s Hollywood apartment to find the door unlocked and all the lights turned off. We had never met in person so I was a little nervous going into the situation. Speed yelled from the darkness that he couldn’t get out of bed. He said he couldn’t go to the show and that he was sorry. I thought he was just kidding so I made myself a drink and sat down on the couch.

Moments later some dude came charging through the front door rambling nonsense and Speed yelled at him from the bedroom. The guy started going off about how he was waiting for a container being shipped from China but the Port of LA was closed due to the ILWU Lockout of 2002. I naturally offered a different point a view being that I was born into a pro union family/town. The conversation quickly turned heated and suddenly Speed emerged from the bedroom. He backed me up with pro union talk and made the guy leave. I was a bit confused and wondered what was going on, chaos. Speed quickly changed his mind about going to the show and he we took his truck to the House of Blues on Sunset. I never brought up the limo.

We grabbed our VIP wristbands and talked with Chad and Ian by their tour bus. They were really down to earth normal guys. We strolled inside the venue and bumped into LTJ at the bar; yes the whole band. LTJ were recording their Anthem record at a house in Malibu so they came out to support their fellow Floridian rockers. I felt pretty nervous talking with the guys at first. I told Vinny that I was a street team member for Fueled By Ramen (his former record label) and he was stoked so I felt pretty cool. Speed worked on several art projects with LTJ over the years. He didn’t speak with Chris because they brawled one time so it was a little awkward.

After the show we went backstage to hangout with the cool kids. Jordan was the only band member who drank so I asked him to take a shot with me at the bar. He wanted a chocolate cake shot and yeah he was serious. The night got a little foggy after that but I had a disposable camera so I captured part of the debauchery.

Our email chats were about weekly life experiences as well as future work opportunities. I was enrolled in several advertising and marketing courses so we often shared business ideas. Speed worked for Saatchi & Saatchi in the early part of his career so he understood how the game was played. Around this time, Speed started printing his art on tee shirts and Squaresville Clothing was born. The seeds of creating my own clothing line were planted but not fully actualized.

We agreed to meet up for the second time at the final show of the Sticks and Stones tour. I brought my friend, Dave along for the ride. Speed lived in a different part of Hollywood now and was neighbors with Beck. This vibe was completely positive when we entered the pad. Speed was super stoked to show Dave and I all his new concert posters and tee shirts. We saw the final draft of this poster before it was printed. Rad.

No limo and no car this time. We walked a couple blocks to the Palladium but barely arriving in time to see NFG. We watched most of the show up on the stage. Dave and I ran down into the pit for a couple anthems. The after party scene was rather foggy, Dave had to fill in quite a few parts but apparently I chatted with Travis Barker and made quite a drunken ass out of myself in front of everyone. Jack Daniels was never my friend. We ended up back at Speed’s pad and took turns ramming our heads into the coffee table with a motorcycle helmet. Madness indeed but sadly the last time we shared.

In 2003, Speed’s medical condition became worse and he moved back to his hometown in Florida to be with his family. I rarely heard from him after that. I would still send lengthy emails about what was going on in my life but he never responded. Somewhere in my mind I hoped that he was still reading even if he wasn’t replying.

In January 2004, I received a call from someone notifying Speed’s cell phone contacts that he had passed away. I was shocked and even more bummed that the call back number faded out with the reception. I never spoke with anyone to find out how he passed but from what I read it was said to be a natural death. My assumption is that it was an accidental overdose and hopefully not intentional.

I often wonder what our relationship would be like at this point in my life. Our friendship after all was pre college grad, pre Cavotu, pre wife, and pre kids. I can't even imagine the possibilities. Despite his battle with his disease, Speed was a cool guy. I am grateful for our memories. Today would have been his 40th birthday, which he shares with Tom Petty (60) who was also born in Gainesville, FL. Speed was always proud to share today with Mr. Petty. Rest in peace brother, today is your day to shine.

Side note: I am fortunate to own a majority of the concert posters that I included in the text above. Someday they will be framed and given a proper place in my future home.