In Loving Memory of a Great Friend and Inspiration
1978 - 2012
Rest In Power
2000
It goes without saying that it’s been a tough week or so for the Plug 4 family. The impermanence and self examination that comes with this kind of loss is heavy. In this case it came in form of a rush of memories that seemed distant, but after a bit of eye wiping and hand wringing, began to coalesce into inspiration, and a desire to celebrate the life of this incredible person.
Here are some thoughts, memories and a few photos and videos that struck us, told from the perspective of Solomon’s place in the Plug 4 Family, and as would be consistent with what we always wanted Plug 4 to be, please please contribute a story or some thoughts that you have about Solomon Kahn, and we’ll post them up here:
One pretty Thursday afternoon on the playa in 1999 a kid from the bay came strolling into The Plug from over at 2:30 and Pluto, talking about last night’s game, tryin to remember someone’s name, and going on about how much he dug hearing hip hop and soul music on the playa. Of course he explained, as many did, that he was a DJ, and that he would love to play the party one night. He quickly admitted that he hadn’t brought much vinyl to the desert and he didn’t have much hip hop as people didn’t play hip hop on the playa. To this I nodded. We talked about records for a while and about the inspiration for Plug 4, and in addition to being charming, humble and smart, the kid seemed to know what was up and was clearly a super positive spirit. We invited him to come by that night, with records, to play an early slot.
As was the the case with everything that Solomon did, he showed up passionate and prepared. He turned heads, and murdered that first set. It was clear by the end of that night that Sol didn’t only get the musical mission of the place, he understood that it was a family thing, and built for orphans and like minds. Over the following nights we all became friends and Sol destroyed several late night crowds.
In the winter and spring of 2000, we all grew a little closer in the bay and he visited LA a couple times. We met and knew Sol’s mother Tamam and recognized her musical, artistic and peaceful influence in his life. Hell, Tamam had been building art on the playa years before any of us had even gone. By BM that summer, Solomon was in the desert early, helping work on the Plug when and where he could. He would come by during the day to see if he could fix anything or help out, and when the rain poured through the crack in the roof that fateful Thursday night, Solomon was there taking turns holding the umbrella over the turntables. Solomon was a part of the family.
In the coming years Sol would come hang out when ever we were in town and would always volunteer to play in Dino and Parts’ basement, and at any fundraisers we were doing for the camp. Here’s an old flyer:
Solomon’s deft ability to play music for anyone was always on display and Sol’s uncanny savvy for slipping in, shall we say, slightly more main stream bits (that the ladies dug), was a talent that was put to good use on the playa, even when he knew it would be met with sour looks and browbeating by grumpy old purists. Sol wanted to push and blend styles and push and blend crowds. Solomon wanted to vibrate at the widest and highest possible frequency. It was hard to argue with that.
This video, shot by T-Chad at Decompression 2002, illustrates the kind of hold that Sol could put on a crowd. “Let it be known that when I come to rock a crowd, better act like you know, not now but RIGHT NOW”
After this video was shot, and as seen the grainy photo below, Solomon did a brutal 2X3 set (we could only fit 3 turntables in the SOW) with mutual buddy and a sometime DJ partner, DJ Zeph. I bring this up as it highlights Solomon’s constant desire to bridge the gap between his dazzling OG turntable fundamentals and a march toward adding new elements and technology into DJ performances. Mind you, this was 2002. (shout to Rocket John and August, lurking in this photo.)
Solflower on the 4080
Here’s another flyer, designed by Parts, from a slightly later era
As time passed Sol always stayed close and we’d see him at shows, and the bay area crew got to watch him play at larger and larger spots around town as his talent and name continued to grow, yet his ego never did.
One tries to steer clear of regrets in moments like this, but I do have one. Solomon invited me more than once to come play music with him at a Golden State Warriors game. I never had a chance to go do it. It would have been an honor to stand next to him on that amazing perch of a DJ booth that he both helped design and had built specifically for him. Solomon was proud of that job and even more proud that he could turn people on to music in that environment, but of course he was always super understated and humble about it. I went to a game with a friend once and went up to say hi. Sol gave me a big hug as usual and when I went back to my seat, he effortlessly worked a Plug 4 mini-set into his pre-game ritual.
I remember that sometime in 2005 Sol had me over to his studio to check out some music he was working on. I was impressed with his work as usual. Something folks should know is that Solomon was a great bass player, producer and remixer. The first Golden Sol electro-house 12” was really dope, and Farlos and I tried to help him distribute it that year.
Lastly is a video of Gabe Shaughnessy doing a mural on the 2008 Plug while Solomon was building a set of lore in the background that night.
A lot of great DJ’s played that week but everyone always talked about that Wednesday night, no-boundaries set that Solomon did. These sets are downloadable here:
While we’ve all been thinking about these flashbacks, we’ve also been sending love and healing energy to Nicole, and both of their families. I have a super vivid memory of sitting in the dirt, leaning up against the Plug, trying to hide in the 3’ of shade offered from the mid afternoon sun, having cold beverages and just catching up on life with Sol, Nicole and the Ferret. We all can’t wait to give her a hug again somewhere soon.
So, Parts called the other day and we talked about sadness and inspiration. We’d been talking for a few months about whether to build a Plug 4 this year. Kind of a hit it and quit it thing, one last time. Parts told me that he’s decided he wants to design a big one, on the open playa, to be adorned with the artwork and music of members of this family, created in honor of Solomon, that would be lit on fire just before dawn on Sunday night. We’ll all step back for a minute and light that fucker up, and watch it burn hot and bright, in the name and likeness of the lives of DJ Solomon, and Don Giacomazzi.
I don’t know how to wrap these memories together, and it’s been bugging me for a few days, then a noticed something in last night’s game: Steph Curry, as Solomon was, is a young, gifted, humble and inspirational man. After coming back from multiple ankle injuries recently, one thought to be career threatening, Steph showed up a few days after Sol’s passing and dropped 36 on the Nuggets in a big team road win. An inspirational family moment for the Warriors. Solomon, who probably knew Steph, would be happy with that effort and passion. And I’m sure the team misses Sol and his bright light, and we’ll all be using it, and a fire on the playa, as guidance.
Rest in Power friend.
The beat is over and so is the night
The sun is risen and the shine is bright
We all say peace and go our separate ways
Youth is fading as we gain our days
Expedition for the song is simp'
The hours creep, excuse me, I mean limp
As we go you hear a gasp of laugh
As we start up our rhythmic path
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Send your thoughts and memories to kicksnarehat@earthlink.net
