Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by beavdog151 on May 12, 2014 17:29:03 GMT -5
What an individual. The impact he made on everybody's life is incomparable. A truly special person that I feel very lucky to have gotten to know, even if for a short moment in time. I knew we'd hit it off from his first PM which read "tequila shots?". Such a kind and giving person that could make you smile without trying. Not many people have made such an impact on my life in such a short amount of time. Even though I know that Mike wouldn't want anybody to be sad I can't help feeling very emotional. I'll cherish the moments we shared forever and will never forget you my friend.
I remember when I first came to inforoo, Mike was one of those mythic figures on the board. I always tried to get in on his jokes, hoped he approved of mine, he was what I saw as the gatekeeper for humor here. For someone I've never physically met, I learned a great deal from following his thoughts and travels through this board. His timing was impeccable, his comedic brilliance was in his subtlety and he never failed to diffuse a situation with one of his patented one-liners. A unifying being if there ever was one, this board and all of us are better for having him be part of our insane little family. It's truly sad that this board and this world lost someone like Mike and I'll always be grateful I had the chance to interact with him here. I will never forget and always admire the way he faced his illness, and pray that I can summon positivity and strength like that if I ever need it.
And LLL, Mike was truly blessed to have you in his life and if there is ever anything you need, you have a friend in NYC that you can call on. Bless you and you have all my thoughts and prayers.
one of the worst things about someone dying that you don't see all the time, is that you can sort of pretend that they are just "away" for a while. that maybe we will just see him at the next fest.
i was so impressed with the way whore dealt with what he was going through and the smiles i saw from LLL and himself during the past year. i know there were tears and heartache behind closed doors, as their joy was always tempered by sorrow. my thoughts and heart are with the ones he loved.
Then a woman said, Speak to us of joy and Sorrow. And he answered: Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater." But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed .
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty you standing still and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy and your sorrow rise or fall. Kahlil Gibran
Well, goddamn. Sometimes life just really isn't fair.
Sorry this had to happen, Mike. You were a smart, funny, sarcastic son of a bitch, and one of the finest people in this zoo. If there was ever a single person around here who could knock me back with a witty rejoinder, it was you. Godspeed. You will be missed.
Post by Dave Maynar on May 12, 2014 22:23:57 GMT -5
For many of us, music transcends just being music. It becomes an integral part of our lives. When you find others who share this outlook, it makes all your musical experiences that much more beautiful. I have been lucky in life to find a family of people who share this common interest and have enriched my life over the last five years in ways I could not have imagined at the beginning of my journey with them. They have really taken festivals from being an opportunity to see a bunch of bands to a full blown family reunion where the music somehow fades to second place behind all the new memories I am able to make with people that I never get to see enough. Sunday evening, we lost an important member of our family when Mike Betts passed away. He was a wonderful guy who seemed to so easily exude the kindness that I have to work at endlessly to put out into the world. As much as people argue, I have never heard a single person say a word against him, and as many nervous new people come into the fold, I have never heard anyone say that he was anything less one of the most welcoming people they have met in their life. As I write this, it has been about 24 hours since I have heard the news, and I can already feel the lack of him in this world. Bonnaroo 2014 and every festival after will have an empty space where Mike is supposed to be. I miss you already, Mike, and I look forward to seeing you again in whatever adventure comes after this life.
These words brought me comfort when my friend Rick died, and I hope they do the same for folks on the board. What an amazing guy Mike must have been to have such an outpouring of love. My heart and prayers are with his family and friends.
We stand at the edge of the Ocean, on a dock next to a great ship. And he casts off his lines and he begins to sail away. We feel a great loss, because he is a great ship. And he grows smaller and smaller against the horizon. Until, someone says "There! He is gone" But, in the same instant, on the other side of the horizon Someone is saying, "There! He comes!"
I admire you for your strength. I applaud you for your bravery. Mike we only met briefly and have only shared a few words, but like many others, you have had a large impact on my life. I am sorry you are no longer in our world. My prayers and positive thoughts and all good vibes are being sent to your family. As far as I can tell you lived life to the fullest, you lived for the Dash. In my work, I have met many people who wished to live life like that, but never did. Your star shined bright! You will be missed greatly. We will see you on the other side.
As for "Live for the Dash", that message has been part of my signature for long time and a philosophy I have lived by for longer. If anyone is wondering what it means, here goes: On everyone's tombstone will be four large numbers, followed by a small dash and then that dash will be followed by four more large numbers. The first 4 numbers, represent the time your were born and the last four numbers represent the time you passed on. The little dash between the large numbers represents the life you lived. Life is not about the big numbers, but rather about the little dash. Live for the Dash!
I would also like to take this time to say something personal to everyone here at Inforoo and mostly to everyone who participated in Whoring for Whoreshack. Not sure if this is the right place or time, but here goes. QSAROO posted earlier that you, Inforoo, have raised over $7,000! That is huge, you all helped Mike have an amazing final run and that is some powerful sh!t. Mike, I will forever tell your story in my practice. I see people face this almost every week. Family's making choices just like the ones Mike and Angie have had to make this past year. Tough choices about life, choices no one ever wants to make. Mike, I believe your story can help some in their decisions. Yes, I speak to you because I know you can still read this. Out of this sadness, Inforoo I want you to know, tell you again, in the end, you made life easier for Mike. I have talked to many patients, people, who have faced the decisions Mike faced. They choose a different path, a path that may have helped their life last longer, but a path that led to a life in the hospital. In short, I have talked to many people and they would all have dreamed about having the run like Mike had. You all have helped with that. Inforoo, maybe you know, maybe not, but I am hear to tell you. Last year, Mike was given an end date. Not really a date, but with his diagnosis, it was not good, the end was near. No doubt about it, that quacking sucks! Quacking sucks indeed, but that is what happened. The hand was dealt, but Inforoo, you should know that you allowed Mike to live the end of his life in a way many of us could only dream of. I know this is a sad time, but Inforoo you need to know you gave a person the best end to a quacking shitty situation. Along with you, I have no idea how much you all have done, but I do know it is pretty damn powerful. You all are quacking amazing! I want to give you all a big hug, right now. ::BIG HUG::
I'm at a loss for words. I met Mike and Angie at Voodoo a few years back...some wonderful people. My thoughts and prayers are with all those hurting. As some have said, I didn't know Mike that well, but when I read the news I shed some tears. He touched so many lives, on and off the boards, and I feel truly blessed to have met him!
RIP...you will be missed! See you on that big ol' farm in the sky!!!
Post by blueslikehail on May 14, 2014 0:30:56 GMT -5
so sorry to hear this...i don't understand this world. when hardcore lurking i sometimes just scan through threads for usernames. a whoreshack post was a must read. always quality. he made it difficult by changing his name up that's for sure! rip
Post by LoveLuckLaughter on May 14, 2014 2:10:37 GMT -5
I posted this on Mike's FB page, but I wanted to share it with you all on here too. It is the story of Mike's last days here.
On Sunday, May 11th, as the sun set on his shoulder and a lightening storm rode in, Mike left us for the finest festival of all. Mike was the type of person who wanted everything to be perfect-every trip, every date, every festival. Although he was battling cancer, his last year of life has been no different. Through all of the struggle and pain, he danced, and sang, and loved and laughed and traveled and married and continued to burn bright.
His last days were spent at his family's cottage on Harper Lake in Indiana. Those days were nothing short of perfect. Some of his fondest memories in life were of his time there, and I know many of you share those same memories. Memories of bonfires and turtle hunting, and laughing and the never ending cycle of swimming/napping/eating. For two days he looked out upon that lake with us, and those sunrises and sunsets and was blanketed in memories and the peace and comfort of "home".
On Sunday evening, we brought him out to the deck to enjoy the dusk and hear the laughter of Robin and Tim's children as they enjoyed Harper Lake the same way he had for all of his years. My Morning Jacket and Wilco and Dan Auerbach played in the background. Then his parents and brother and friends and myself circled around him, reminding him of how much he was loved by so many, telling him that it was alright and we would all take care of Elouise and one another. I held his hand and stroked his hair. Jesus Etc played on the radio. A hummingbird danced over him and in an otherworldly way he looked up at it, and they somehow connected and both flew away together.
I want you all to know that Mike was so happy to be at Beale St Music Fest that weekend, he truly lived a life that burned bright up until the end. We were able to exchange vows on the 4th, thanks to token07 officiating, beavdog151 and his wife, and SilentEyedStorm. His last week was spent with me singing (badly) to him, holding him, comforting him while he told me over and over how much he loved me and I him. His last coherent words to me on the day he left me were assuring me that we would someday have beautiful hippie babies together. Until the end, his life was for living.
I put up this playlist of songs that were playing on a random spotify radio station while he was sitting outside that day. It is perfect, as though he and the Universe created it to convey the right messages to us, and to provide him comfort- to say what he couldn't in loving, and mournful, and playful ways. What sticks out most are the songs "Goin' Home", "Movin' Away", "Wonderful" and "Jesus Etc". Wonderful was a song that our friends were learning to play in the car on the way to visit him that day, planning on playing for us that evening. I had been singing it to him all week in the hospital. He passed about 10 minutes after they got there, as though he was waiting on them to complete the circle.
Dan Auerbach was told by a friend of ours about Mike's passing and "Goin' Home" playing that day for him. He said "Wow, that's heavy. Thank you for sharing that with me" Mike would be tickled that Dan knows of him and will forever think of Mike Betts when he plays that song.
Thank you all for supporting both of us, and for loving Mike so. We will have services to spread his energy and ashes in the places he loved most- his family cottage, Red River Gorge and Bonnaroo. The Love Tour has taken on new meaning, but it continues on.
Dan Auerbach--Goin' Home Johnny Flynn--The Wrote and the Writ Deer Tick---Main Street My Morning Jacket---Movin' Away The Shins---We Will Become Silhouettes My Morning Jacket---Wonderful (The Way I Feel) M. Ward---Never Had Nobody Like You My Morning Jacket---Slow Slow Tune Wilco---Jesus, Etc.
We're all a mess of paradoxes. Believing in things we know can't be true. We walk around carrying feelings too complicated and contradictory to express. But when it all becomes too big, and words aren't enough to help get it all out, there's always music.
I haven't been able to stop thinking about him since I heard the news. My heart breaks for Angela and the rest of Mike's family. Angela, that was gorgeous.
After having known each other through the boards for a few years, I was finally lucky enough to hang out with Mike at Bonnaroo 2012. I remember being so struck by his warmth, and how he just had this aura about him that let him command a room without ever saying a word. There was a sweetness and an honesty to him that belied his devilish sense of humour.
When I got home from Bonnaroo, I started thinking about all my friends (new and old), and when I might see them each again. Mike was one of the first to come to mind - and if you were fortunate enough to cross paths with Mike in his lifetime, you'll know he was not someone you forget easily. If only there had been a Solid Sound that year, or if only I could afford Forecastle - but at the very least, there would always be next year's Bonnaroo. We hit it off well enough that I knew it was only a matter of when, not if.
Except that it wasn't. Seven months later I moved back to Australia, and four months after that, he announced he had cancer. I never saw him again. And even though this was something we were able to see coming, it still managed to stun me when I heard the news. Mike was just such a larger-than-life spirit that it's particularly difficult to think I'll never see that smile again, or get to know the man behind it a bit better. I already miss everything we never got to share with each other.
It was Monday afternoon here when I found out. I was a complete wreck for the rest of the day, just going through the motions of an especially busy afternoon. I finally got a chance to sit down in front of a computer around midnight, and I hopped on over to Mike's Facebook page. I started going through some photos he was tagged in, and it wasn't long before I got to a particularly hilarious one and burst out into bittersweet laughter. Naturally, the first person to make me so much as crack a smile all day would have to be Mike himself.
I can't stress how much I admire his courage and tenacity right until the end. It took a lot of guts and willpower to keep going out to shows, seeing friends, and doing the things he loved even in his final weeks. I couldn't have imagined a more beautiful way to leave this Earth than as Angela described. Just writing this has reminded me how much I already miss you, Mike. I'll see you on the other side.
Post by monkybunney on May 19, 2014 2:25:47 GMT -5
I just wanted to post some pics. The first time I met Mike was at Bonnaroo 2012. I'd just left the Mariachi el Bronx set and wandered over to camp Inforoo to see if I could meet some of y'all. The camp was mostly deserted but the first person I ran into was a guy with long sandy blondish hair. I said "Hi, are you a board member?" He said "Yeah I'm Whoreshack on the board." easymorningrebel was there. And I told them how a member of Los Lobos had sat in for a few songs and it was amazing.
Later that year Mike mentioned Boomslang here and that he'd be hosting folks at his place, I took him up on his offer and had one of the most amazing weekends of my life. Page 3, Post Sep 22, 2012 at 12:09pm PROOF!
I got to hang out with him and Angie at Bonnaroo 2013 and Boomslang 2013 again where he hosted me at his house. I didn't take pics in 2012 but here are some from 2013.
This has to be the saddest and most beautiful things I've ever read. It is obvious how loved this man is.
Mike, I don't know if I've ever shed tears for a stranger, but the people that loved you and wrote of you here brought tears to my eyes. I wish I had known you, but I know that I will meet you in the company of others you knew this year at Bonnaroo.
If there is some kind of open ceremony that is taking place, I would be honored to be there. If not, no worries. My prayers, condolences, and love are with you all.
Last Edit: May 27, 2014 21:31:23 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Post by tealeyedangel on May 26, 2014 16:38:04 GMT -5
I have held off on saying much of anything on this thread, simply because I needed to process things for a moment before I put my words out there. I don't want to say I am sorry, because sorry doesn't help, and sorry is what is said when you did something wrong. All I can offer you, is my love, light and prayers.
I was actually out shopping on the 11th, and just wandering through a store and found a painting that just called out to me to buy it. it's of three sunflowers with the words "Welcome home" written across it...it now hangs in my office along with all of my other roo stuff.... This year, I dedicate my roo to Mike....and to live life to the fullest because that's exactly what he did.
So, with that, you will be missed, you are loved by so so many and you inspired so many of us to look past the "bad days" and work on living life fuller and stronger and always fight back when the cards don't fall in your favor...
I have held off on saying much of anything on this thread, simply because I needed to process things for a moment before I put my words out there. I don't want to say I am sorry, because sorry doesn't help, and sorry is what is said when you did something wrong. All I can offer you, is my love, light and prayers.
I was actually out shopping on the 11th, and just wandering through a store and found a painting that just called out to me to buy it. it's of three sunflowers with the words "Welcome home" written across it...it now hangs in my office along with all of my other roo stuff.... This year, I dedicate my roo to Mike....and to live life to the fullest because that's exactly what he did.
So, with that, you will be missed, you are loved by so so many and you inspired so many of us to look past the "bad days" and work on living life fuller and stronger and always fight back when the cards don't fall in your favor...
Tealeyedangel, your signature is a quote that I found on a sign that I, ahem, borrowed from the wall of a restaurant for Mike last year. It hung on his wall since, and it now hangs on mine. :-)
We're all a mess of paradoxes. Believing in things we know can't be true. We walk around carrying feelings too complicated and contradictory to express. But when it all becomes too big, and words aren't enough to help get it all out, there's always music.
I have held off on saying much of anything on this thread, simply because I needed to process things for a moment before I put my words out there. I don't want to say I am sorry, because sorry doesn't help, and sorry is what is said when you did something wrong. All I can offer you, is my love, light and prayers.
I was actually out shopping on the 11th, and just wandering through a store and found a painting that just called out to me to buy it. it's of three sunflowers with the words "Welcome home" written across it...it now hangs in my office along with all of my other roo stuff.... This year, I dedicate my roo to Mike....and to live life to the fullest because that's exactly what he did.
So, with that, you will be missed, you are loved by so so many and you inspired so many of us to look past the "bad days" and work on living life fuller and stronger and always fight back when the cards don't fall in your favor...
Tealeyedangel, your signature is a quote that I found on a sign that I, ahem, borrowed from the wall of a restaurant for Mike last year. It hung on his wall since, and it now hangs on mine. :-)
It has been one I have used for a long time- found it years ago and it has stuck in my head forever. It's an amazing quote and says it all in so few words. <3
