Michael and Spider filmed The Smoking Caterpillar the evening of Monday, May 18th. Spider is on guitar, Jeff Giese is on bass, and Ryan Hingorani is on keyboards.
This is Michael’s all time favorite piece that he and Spider composed. It’s titled “The Smoking Caterpillar”, and is from their “White Roses Painted Red” CD.
This is the most laid back recording of Spider playing guitar in his entire life. No playing like the musically possessed on this one, no crazily complex chords, or mind-bending riffs. He simply plays the most soulful, beautiful, and haunting psychedelic surf guitar that’s ever been played.
Please take note he was very weak here, had very little muscle left in his arms, and very little feeling left in his fingers, yet he was able to play through sheer willpower.
Michael filmed the trio performing the piece three times before Spider was ‘done’. He just couldn’t physically play any longer, and a great sadness filled Michael’s heart as he suddenly somehow ‘knew’ that he’d never see Spider play, or be able to perform with him again.
On Thursday May 21st, just before the sun painted the sky with its first light, Spider passed away.
