# RIP Col. Bruce Hampton

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-col-bruce-hampton/785763>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 3, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-col-bruce-hampton/785763 "2017-05-03T03:34:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-col-bruce-hampton/785763/1 "2017-05-03T03:34:52Z")

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Collapsed on stage during a performance/gathering for his 70th birthday.

Story [here](http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/05/02/526538126/colonel-bruce-hampton-dies-after-collapsing-on-stage-during-his-own-birthday-con).

(Wasn’t a huge fan of his but did manage to see him twice…looks like more than one comment mentions he went out doing what he loved)

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-col-bruce-hampton/785763/2 "2017-05-03T03:40:08Z")

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Holy shit, the Aquarium Rescue Unit?

I was listening to a podcast just yesterday, and one of the hosts made an offhand comment about seeing them when he was in college. First time I’d ever heard the name. And today is the second.

Weird.

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-col-bruce-hampton/785763/3 "2017-05-03T05:14:04Z")

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One of my buddies is a huge jam band fan; he was watching the live webcast when this happened.

I saw him once, way back in like 1990. It was an awesome live show.

RIP Colonel; you done good.

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**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-col-bruce-hampton/785763/4 "2017-05-04T03:04:30Z")

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Sad news, but not a bad way to go.

I’ve been a fan since the band started. I went to a music school with an amazing guitarist who, after graduation, became the guitarist for the Aquarium Rescue Unit. He would always put me on the guest list when they were in town.

The band was a stepping stone for many incredible musicians, and the Col. was a mentor in the art of of improvisation and expecting the unexpected. That’s why nobody noticed at first when he laid down on stage, figuring he was just up to his antics. This time it was real.

RIP Col.