Only Brian!: Bro Hymn Tribute

Only Brian!: Bro Hymn Tribute

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR THE SONG HERE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcVjCBk7oYs

Bro Hymn Tribute

Jason Thirsk of Pennywise originally wrote "Bro Hymn" in 1990 in honor of the lives of three fallen friends. Now, 19 years later, following the passing of Jason in 1996, the song has evolved and taken a life all it's own. The song that Jason wrote so long ago is now sung in celebration of his life. The Pennywise anthem has transcended beyond its original content, becoming a creed, a philosophy, a rock mantra. To this day, Pennywise still ends every set with "bro Hymn" mto commemorate not only the life and influence of Jason Matthew Thirsk, but to celebrate the lives of all their friends and loved ones, and the indelible mark they made on this world.

I still listen to this song religiously and now Brian is forever connected to the feeling I get whenever I hear it. My favorite verse is the first and it reads like this:

"To all my friends, present, past, and beyond
Especially those who weren't with us too long
Life is the most precious thing you can lose
While you were here the fun was never ending
Laugh a minute was only beginning
Brian Dargin McCormick this one's for you!"

Brian The Battler

Brian and his brother Matt would sometimes act Irish and get into altercations. Matt was more traditional in his approach to these and would most often simply duke it out with whomever he decided needed it. Brian, being younger was a different story. His fight career had him deciding on his strategy first and only then going "All In" (before the poker term was coined).

The first instance was when Brian was probably a sophmore in high school. He got into a heated argument with a jock at school and was called out to settle it after school. He called Matt at Xavier and was worried. The other guy would have his friends with him and Brian would not. Matt took on the role of counselor. Told him that these things ususally began with verbal back and forths, leading to shoving and finally wrestling on the ground. His advice to Brian was to understand that getting in the first punch had terrific advantages. He told him to arrive late, walk right up to the guy and blast him and keep on blasting him until it was over.
Brian's mom and I were camly sitting in our kitchen later that day and Brian walked in, went right to the phone and called Matt. He said "Matt, it worked just like you said it would."

Another time Matt was into it with a UC giant at a NCAA tournament game and was losing (when you are getting choked, you're losing!). Brian decided that jumping him from behind seemed like a really good idea. Once again, the other guy was ejected and Brian and Matt stayed.

The really typical episode of Brian thinking about his strategy came in a Hong Kong bar. A group of Brits, Americans, and a Frenchman were drinking shortly after 911. The Frenchman insulted some American girls and, among other things, told them that "America got what it deserved in 911!" Everyone was aghast, but Brian camly spoke to his Brit friend standing next to him and asked him to hold his ($6.00) pint of beer, passed it to him and then and then smoked the guy! Everyone cheered Brian, the manager of the bar kicked the French guy out and praised Brian. Brian was outraged, but didn't want to spill his beer!

The Irish sometimes call someone with strong charm and uncoventionally surprising ways a "darlin' man." We usually don't meet more than one-half a dozen of these people in a lifetime, but, in my book, Brian was one!

Brian's Dad.

When Brian and I were in Iceland the cool thing to do for everyone after hours was to eat at this one hotdog stand by the harbor and the flea market. You'd think by the size of the line of people waiting to buy their hotdogs that it was the most amazing tasting thing on Earth. The guy in front of us told me this hotdog is one of Iceland's national foods. We waited about 45 minutes until we finally made it to the counter to place our order. We ordered 4 dogs prepared "Clinton" style - named directly after Bill Clinton in honor of his visitation during his Presidency. Brian grumbled about it, but still was happy to feast on the hotdog with ketchup, some weird yellow colored mustard, and fried onions. After we both inhaled our late-night snack we knew exactly what the wait was all about. That was the best damn hotdog ever!

When we got back from the trip I visited Brian in Cincinnati about 5 months later and he surprised me by whipping up a batch of those exact same hotdogs. He found the stand online and ordered the whole kit! Brian was really cool and funny like that.

A year and half and the Nobel Peace Prize

Today it has been 18 months since we found Brian. Still does not seem real and it feels like a bad dream. I really want a "do over."

Susan and I were talking about Brian last night and discussed how we would love to have just five minutes more with him. We talked about all the crazy things he pulled off and how humor was such a big part of his personality. Making people laugh was clearly one of Brian's gifts.

Today, the Nobel Peace Prize went to our President Barack Obama. I wondered how Brian would react. Most know Brian was a world traveler and a staunch conservative. He did not care for Obama or his policies.

Back in 1990, my parents took us to Ireland, London, and France for their 25th wedding anniversary. During a bus tour of London we saw some graffiti spray painted on monument in Trafalgar square. It was simple and elegant in its message. It said: "I hate Norwegians". Brian and I howled with laughter and loved it. We wondered “what has Norway ever done to make people hate them?”

Today, Brian would not be happy about the Nobel Prize. He would tell anyone with a cell phone about this injustice and how "he hated the Norwegians".

Then, either my Dad or I would tell him the Nobel Prize is from Sweden. After a couple of seconds of silence, Brian would then say "well, you know what I meant. I guess I now hate the Swedes too."

Miss you Brian and know you are always with us.

Love, your brother.

* Note: The Swedes handle four prizes while Norway picks the peace prize. Technically, Brian would have been correct. But, it does not help my punch line so it stays as is.

Maryland and Nicky Smith's Graduation Party

Brian, Ted, Adam and I were out and about in Mt. Adams on a Thursday night back in the summer of 1998 and were kicking around the idea of driving to Baltimore for Nicky Smith's XU graduation party. We all wanted to go on a road-trip, but we'd already been overserved and nobody wanted to be the one to wake up early, motivate Team Khaki, and make the drive to friggin' Maryland. Brian was the first up that morning and he managed to get everybody in the shower by threatening beatings. I'm guessing his neverending love for Nicky somehow manipulated his mind and body-clock because Brian was always the last one up and the last one in the shower. Flash forward to the ultimate game of paper, rock, sciccors between the four of us to decide who would drive. My usually undefeated rock was no match and for the hard fought efforts of my equally hung-over friends and I was deemed driver.

Long story short, we make it in one piece to Baltimore and even get to Nicky's graduation party on time! Later that night the party moves to a cool, historic, waterfront community called Fells Point that you have to ferry over to. We end up at a bar called Terrapin Station (Grateful Dead meets love for University of Maryland Terps) and Brian has command over the juke-box. Brian selects his five songs and its back to business. We're all having the time of our lives, drinking yard-stick beers, and Brian is rocking his infamous Vanilla Ice t-shirt with a smile. After two song selections pass, "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind comes on and we all cheer Brian for the great song choice, although the bar in unison boos the tune, which sends Brian back to the juke-box. I approach him to see what's up and he shows me a crisp $10 bill and I watch as the machine sucks it up. He flips to Third Eye Blind and plays "Jumper" (which is about teen suicide) a straight 20 times in a row!

Ever since then whenever we'd hear Jumper we'd call to say the song was on and laugh about Fells Point. That's not even the best part of the story, Nicky and her friends were so embarrassed of us that she quietly left the bar leaving us alone in a city we'd never been to without any idea of how to get back to our hotels. Did that slow us down? Not in the least. Team Khaki aka Cash Money Brothers went on bar-hopping and eventually managed to make it back to the hotel in one piece.

On Friday, October 2nd, I booked Third Eye Blind to play my club and I thought of Brian the whole time. I miss him so much.

The photo is of me and the lead singer of Third Eye Blind, Stephen Jenkins, that Brian would have loved.

40/40, Brian, and the Imperial March

I received a “40 under 40” award today from the Cincinnati Business Courier. It was a great event and I was honored to be included with many impressive people.

The organizers asked each honoree “what song inspires you?” They told us the song would play in the background as you walked up to receive your award. I immediately knew the song I wanted, but thought the audience might not respond to my unique tastes. I asked Susan, my Dad, and my Mom separately “which song should I use?” ALL of them said “Darth Vader’s theme" without any prompting. Susan clinched it and said; “what would Brian do? You know Brian would totally tell you to do it!”

“The Imperial March” by John Williams played when I walked up to the podium to get my award.

It killed.

The audience of about 400 people loved it. I had a smile on my face and thought of Brian sitting next to my parents and Susan around the table. He was smiling at me and doing the patented “McCormick head nod.”

Click the link below and feel how Brian was with us today in spirit (force?) through Darth Vader:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

Love you and miss you Brian.

St. Patty's Day in Chicago

Obviously, one of Brian's favorite holidays is St. Patty's Day and we never missed the opportunity to get out of town and take our show on the road. This particular year (I think it's '99 0r '00) Brian and I drove to Chicago to stay the holiday weekend with Johnny Personette and his family in Barrington, IL. I'll spare you the gross details of the weekend, but share with you this terrific picture of the three friends with the Chicago skyline and green river.

Brian helps a future "Teacher of the Year"

Dear Mr. McCormick and family:

I am writing to you because I am the beneficiary of some of the money from the scholarship fund that you have set up at Xavier University. I am writing to thank you for your incredible generosity, and to tell you a little bit about myself.

I am currently a senior at Xavier, double majoring in Early Childhood Education and Spanish. I am working to pay my way through school and supplemented my tuition with loans and grants. This semester, I am a student teaching full time, so I have been unable to work as much as in semesters past. This leaves me short when it comes to paying my tuition.

Through the help of Mr. Schiess in the Office of Student Success, I was granted funds from your memorial scholarship fund and the money was matched by the University.

I want you to know what a tremendous help this money is to me. Thank you, again, for your generosity in memory of you son. With your help, I am able to successfully complete my last year at Xavier. I promise you that I will work diligently for these last two semesters.

My Xavier education is a gift that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Thank you for being a part of my experience.

Very truly yours,

Name Withheld

Class of 2010
Xavier University

You are welcome and we know you will be a great teacher! MM

Introducing Brian Dargin Gunnoe!

Brian Dargin Gunnoe was born on August 27, 2009 to proud parents (and our cousins) AJ and Gary Gunnoe. “Dargin” was 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20 inches long. Everyone is healthy.

Though they are in Kansas City, they (and all of the Gunnoe’s) are very close to our hearts. We had no idea Gary and AJ would name their son after Brian. All of the McCormick’s were amazed by this wonderful and loving gift! I told Gary that Brian is stunned, proud, and celebrating by doing the “McCormick head nod.” We all know Brian will be a great guardian angel to young Dargin.

Unfortunately for Dargin, he will be forever looking for his lost keys, sunglasses, cell phone, and wallet!

Look out world, here comes Brian Dargin Gunnoe!