On Wednesday, Novermber 14, Todd Bryan Eckhardt quietly passed away in his sleep at home. You probably won’t see his picture on the cover of Rolling Stone next week, but he was one of those talented, dedicated musicians who make the world turn.
Todd started off with The Pietasters as the stage-left guitarist, but quickly moved over to bass, and soon thereafter wrote many of the songs which became old standbys in The Pietasters’ live lineup. His inspiration was the work of Motown bassist James Jamerson, and his own work often paid tribute to Jamerson’s complex and beautiful compositions.
He lived fearlessly and well, cramming “eighty years of living into thirty,” as his friend and fellow band member Steve Jackson said on Saturday. He was also an absolutely hilarious guy, with an apparent direct link from the id to the voice box. I can think of no better final quote than his own words:
Keep flying, man.
Todd was my friend, and I will sorely miss him.