On October 21 Aaron Beamish, A.K.A. Aaron Arsenic, drummer with Toronto punk band Slow Motion Victory died when he was struck by a truck while he was skateboarding in the early morning and he died at the scene. He was only 25 but had already played with a number bands including Five Minutes to Glory, Sweet Lips and The Famous Monsters. But Slow Motion Victory were the most recent band, and the one most likely to actually be a success, having already gotten some buzz on CFNY after winning some sort of fan contest on Much Music. They're a basic pop punk band and not really on my radar, however they do have a cool version of the only Bryan Adams song that didn't suck.
Slow Motion Victory ~ "Run to you";
I knew him from his earlier bands like the hardcore Five Minutes To Glory and The Misfits influenced Famous Monsters, who I booked a few times back in 2007.
The Famous Monsters ~ "Saturday Night" (live with dodgy sound);
Aaron was always a fun, upbeat, cheerful, friendly down-to-earth guy. And a great drummer too with a distinctive flailing but rock-solid style. We weren't really close but I remember running into him back in 2009 right after those lying scumbags at CKLN fucked me over and I was in a bitter and foul mood, he ran over and gave me a hug and offered to get me drunk. I don't drink but the gesture was sweet.
If he actually had lived to become the actual rockstar he clearly wanted to be I doubt it would have changed him. He still left behind a whole lot of friends, all of whom he deserved, and all of who already miss him.
A video someone put together of Aaron, (for some reason the music is from Blink 182);
