One Of Brian Farmer’s Best Friends Shares Stirring Tribute

It’s now been three days since we learned the shocking news that longtime Warren Haynes/Gov’t Mule guitar tech Brian Farmer died on Sunday at his home near Nashville at the age of 53. Tributes have poured in from all corners of the rock world to Farmer, which shows what a huge impact he made on so many of the musicians, crew members and fans he came in contact with over the years.

While we compiled dozens of the tributes to Farmer that were posted on the web, Twitter and Facebook, there’s one we missed until today that is among the most touching. Zachariah Nagy, guitar tech for Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and one of Brian Farmer’s best friends, penned a tribute to his pal that was posted on Jett’s website. He reveals Farmer was pardoned of his record by Al Gore & Bill Clinton (we’d love to hear more about that) and gets to the heart of what made Brian so special.

Here’s the full text of Nagy’s tribute via JoanJett.com:

We lost an amazing guitar tech and one of my best friends last night. Brian Farmer has been Warren Haynes guitar tech for almost as long as I’ve been alive. He was as popular with fans as the band was, and just the “rock star!!!” He teched for the great Johnny Cash until his death and was even pardoned of his record by Al Gore and Bill Clinton!!! No joke!!!!!! He always called me when the Mule or the Allman Bros would come to NYC and let me play Warrens rig or show me the newest signature prototypes, years before coming out. I loved Brian Farmer.

And he loved Joan Jett. Promised me for years that he had a Red Rhodes velvet hammer pickup somewhere and he wanted Joan to have it; as this was the rare pickup in her legendary melody maker guitar. One day he showed up at SIR 25 in NYC and said I have something for you…..that pickup has been in her #2 guitar years later!! He even kept a Joan Jett Barbie doll in his guitar vault!!!

Brian left me a message at 4:16am Aug 23, less than 24 hours before he died in his sleep. It’s a fragile, cruel, beautiful, poetic thing called rock n roll. He died 14 years to the day of his childhood friend and original Govt Mule bass player, Alan Woody.

Just take a moment to tell those close to you that you love them. Even the glorious life of touring rock and roll is subject to great sadness. He had the biggest impact on my guitar tech life and respected me and treated me like an equal and a friend. I’ve cried countless times today talking to his crew and girlfriend but leave you with what his luggage bag tag said…”it is what it is, so fuck it”

Zachariah Nagy, Guitar Tech, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

[Hat Tip –@MikeHamad]