John Laubach (aka Johnny Ether) R.I.P.
December 1st, 2008 by Chad Radford in Music news
Creative Loafing was saddened to learn that long-time Atlanta music fixture and one-time Eastside Lounge co-owner Johnny Ether (Johnny Laubach) has passed away.
Details regarding the cause of his death are still not available. A Lunar Magazine thread addresses some vague details concerning the accidental nature of his death, but there aren’t any substantial details to report at this time.
A post from his close friend Joe Cruz states:
Johnny Ether Laubach. Joe Cruz here. I am johnny’s friend and roommate. Thank you all for your well wishes. The Laubach family thanks you all. I have no word on a service yet. I know Johnny requested creamation. Sorry for the delay. We just got word that Johnny died from blunt force trama to the head, a freak accident. We will miss you dearly, Johnny Ether.
All I can say is that I will let you all know when and where the service will be held asap. There will be a gathering at the Albert in Inman park in his honor. Time and day TBD
Laubach was performing music in Atlanta during the city’s so-called “Destroy All Music” era in the early to mid-’80s. He performed in the electro/industrial act PVC Precinct as well as several other like minded groups before he went by the name Johnny Ether. He later emerged onto Atlanta’s drum and bass scene as a musician, DJ and promoter.
Local goth rockers the Changelings even wrote an ethereal number about him, titled “Johnny Ether’s Great Escape.”
More details will be posted on Crib Notes as soon as they become available.
In the meantime e-mails are pouring in offering insight and testimonials about Johnny Ether’s passions as a musician and friend.
Bay area musician Josh Brown writes:
In the mid-90’s Johnny approached me to collaborate with him mixing traditional Indian ragas on Sitar with his digital music… Johnny was a VERY astute student of Indian Classical music. I point this out because Indian Raga is EXTREMELY detailed and almost impossible to learn in the west. Johnny researched, went to performances, studied with my Guru-Ustad Rafi Akbar Zada and talked endlessly with me about this majestic music which he loved so much.
Through his understanding of this difficult music, he was able to really incorporate it into his music which set him above other music makers that used Sitar as a gimmick… I think his understanding and love of Raga really made him stand out…
(Photo courtesy of Johnny Ether’s Myspace.)
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 am
I am shaking as I write this! I rarely get emotional, but right now I am crying like a child lost in the night.
Johnny was one of the first people who befriended me upon moving to Atlanta in 1996. He, to me, was the ultimate in cool! A slick speedster lighting the way through the starry disco night.
I knew the moment my eyes fell upon his tattoo of Eddie Sedgwick we were going to be friends. That friendship is one of my most cherished memories locked in this black, bleeding heart.
Johnny took me under his wing and introduced me to a wonderful world of colorful people and places, dj’s and drag queens, celebrities and celebutants!
I think back to nights at Kaya. Candles burning in Toniets palm. A world around me constructed out of cardboard and creativity… all the while Mr. Ether kept it together with a steady sitar beat.
MJQ, where we entertained the masses on a Wednesday night. Dizzy, from the whirling around as Morrissey proclaimed us to be two of the last of the famous international playboys….
East Side Lounge, where he was able to let himself be a real diamond in the night. A futureclubkid guru. We all came to worship at his tabernacle of style….
There was always a comfortable ease when it came to being around him. He was the person I always knew I could go to when I needed a shoulder to lean on, or an ear to bend.
I am remembering a day he first asked me what I thought about a set of photographs he had just taken…Colorful blurs and sparkles of light that reminded me of foggy spirits dancing in the dark.
They were beautiful.
So was he…
There is a new star in the heavens tonight winking down at me.
XOXO JE
- Warholboy
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 am
….it is as if warlhol boy took the words and memories straight from my mind….i also met johnny in 96 while working at Kaya. He was to me the coolest person i had met in my 21yrs at that time. And I of course had the biggest crush. Those were wild, wonderful, creative times in my life and Johnny was one of the most creative. Its a sadd day for many many people.
bobby blair.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I am a very close friend of Johnny’s cousin Mike Knox. I never had the pleasure of meeting Johnny, but as I understand there will be a memorial service on Monday, Dec. 8th at The Albert at 3:00. R.I.P. M.Martin
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Johnny was a man of many talents, exquisite taste and a generous spirit. He and the wonderful Transient Nights he put on at Kaya will always live fondly in my memories.
Nick Pagan
The Changelings
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I second that Nick, there really wasn’t anything else quite like it in Atlanta. What an amazing group of folks brought together because of Johnny, like Meissa the Senegalese guy and kick ass drummers and those dancing girls. Also Johnny was DJing all kinds of international stuff that I had never heard in clubs and haven’t since.
December 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am
that’s too bad. johnny was one of the good guys.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Johnny,
You gave our old band ODK one of its early breaks, inviting us to perform at your Transient night at Club Kaya. This was such an inspirational turning point in my life. You always managed to gather such a magical mix of uniquely creative souls. I am still friends with a few of these people today.
To me, you were one of the last hopes of the Atlanta Music and Art scene, one of the last surviving creative Jedi’s. Your leaving this world could almost signify a conclusive ending to an era of raw, experimental, artistic diversity in this spooked-out, conformist-rewarding town. I hate to portray such pessimism, but I think you would probably feel the same way if you were left here in our positions. But you would instead channel this pessimism into beautiful bursts of creative stimulus. And that’s what we all must do now. We must carry on, acknowledging your contributions and inspiration. Perhaps some of us can even pick up where you’ve left off, if we can only be as bold…
- Joe Sikes / The Fabric / ODK
December 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I am John’s cousin and was deeply saddened to hear of his untimely death. I have not had contact with him in years, but as a child he was a gentle soul. I always had a fondess for him and remember him “performing” in back yard productions that his sister and I created in the summers. I am pleased to know from the posts that he found comfort and peace in his music. Love to you John!!