Billy Underdog, In Memoriam

[Zzzptm]

We've received the news today of the passing of Billy Underdog, back in November.

To say that he'll be greatly missed here would be an understatement, but words fail us at times like these, so I'll say that he'll be greatly missed.

Billy had a great humanity about him that shone through his comments. He had a compassion for others and a warmth about him that came across even in the cold of an Internet forum.

I'll remember him not just as a friend, but as someone who encouraged me to give music I thought I didn't like another try. That gave me some sweet moments in my own life, and I am always thankful for them.

Feel free to share good memories and good thoughts about Billy here. It's a testament to his character that we feel the need to remember him and perhaps shed a few tears with those memories.

[Thelemech]

I am still in shock and I really do not know what to say. You will always be a dear friend Billy -Godspeed my friend and brother.

[Charger]

This is tragic beyond words...

First of all I need to say that this place right here wouldn't even exist if it weren't for Billy. He came to me with an idea of a forum that we could put together that would work parallel to the other place as it slowly began to die out and we were worried that it would be shut down and we wanted to stay in contact not only with each other but with other people that we had gotten close to over there over the years...well things didn't quite work out like we planned in the beginning but with some help from other friends (you know who you are guys!) we got this place going non the less and it got off to a great start.

I remember when Billy first joined the other place...we couldn't see eye to eye on anything and were at each others proverbial throats...but somewhere along the way it actually became funny and we began to connect more and more because of it actually. And before we knew it we were just exchanging good humored jabs and what nots. And it was a beginning of a beautiful (albeit turbulent) friendship that lasted many many years...and got even tighter (and occationally more turbulent but in a good way!) with this place.

It is kind of strange just how much you can care about a person you have never met, but that is the beauty of the internet. You can really closely connect with people even at a distance.
Billy and I didn't see eye to eye on many things but when we did it most certainly was bit more special. But you don't always need to see eye to eye with a person to connect or to form a strong friendship. Billy was such a great character and he had such a great quirky dark sense of humor which is one of those things that connected us. And even if we had a fight we always ended it with a laugh and there was never any resentment one way or another.

Well Billy...you made my life better and on several occations you gave me the chuckle I needed to get by a rough patch in my life. I can honestly say being able to call you a friend was my honor.

Hope you are having a great ride where ever you are among the stars...

Miss you brother, this one goes out to you:

[Zzzptm]

Yeah, not seeing eye to eye... that was me and Billy regarding Mr. Ronnie James Dio... and Paul Di'Anno...

But he always had a great sense of humor and we could always kid around with him. Such a great heart, our Billy.

[Jack the Stripper]

Some wonderful thoughts & memories of Billy so far. I will post mine later. I’ve been walking around in a daze at work this morning. Finding it very hard to concentrate and be motivated. I’m very shocked and saddened at what we’ve learnt today.  Thank you Vyn for your slueth work and alerting us. I know Billy posted some videos of his band somewhere, can’t remember if it was here or elsewhere. Maybe we can follow up some more info on what happened through his band channels. Don’t think it was posted via a YouTube link.

[Vyn]

Billy. Man, I just don't even know. Z and Charger have mentioned your warmth and how strange it is to develop ties with someone you've never met, respectively. And it is strange, but no less true - your authenticity came through, and you were the type of person who understood the difference between passionately arguing a topic and attacking a person. And you always had that warmth and compassion for others.

I've "known" you for years, and I'm shedding tears for your departure. I meant it when I said that my wife and I were going to be travelling to Iceland and we'd come over and have a visit. Fuck.

I have respect for you because you were working through life while maintaining your integrity and honesty. You never tried to portray yourself as anything other than who you were, and I hate writing these references to you in the past tense. But, you're gone so I have to. I wish you could read these messages people are posting here, but you're gone so you can't.

I never met you in person, but you're gone so I'm hurt and I will miss you.

Rest In Peace, you deserve it.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'm always lost for words at times like this, it is such a great loss. My heart felt sympathies go out to his friends and family, and I can only reiterate and endorse what others have said about him being a great guy. RIP Billy

[Zzzptm]

I meant it when I said that my wife and I were going to be travelling to Iceland and we'd come over and have a visit. Fuck.

Hands up, anyone else that was planning a trip to Norway just to say hi to Billy...

I know I was toying with the idea. I might still do it and think of him as I hike around in the bracing air.

[Zzzptm]

Some wonderful thoughts & memories of Billy so far. I will post mine later. I’ve been walking around in a daze at work this morning. Finding it very hard to concentrate and be motivated. I’m very shocked and saddened at what we’ve learnt today.  Thank you Vyn for your slueth work and alerting us. I know Billy posted some videos of his band somewhere, can’t remember if it was here or elsewhere. Maybe we can follow up some more info on what happened through his band channels. Don’t think it was posted via a YouTube link.

https://www.komunumo.net/forumo/the-studio/tungsten-live-in-lafthall'n/msg8780/#msg8780

Billy and his band.

[Typhon]

Damn, this sucks!  It really sucks!
I'm sorry for the outrage, but anger is the typical reaction I have to this type of news.  The guy was around 25 years younger than me.  I better pause here.

[Scott]

Damn, this sucks!  It really sucks!
I'm sorry for the outrage, but anger is the typical reaction I have to this type of news.  The guy was around 25 years younger than me.  I better pause here.

All emotions come at once, I don't blame you for being angry about it.

Billy was always a good guy, even if we didn't agree on everything, we got along. In many ways he was one of the most 'human' members of the other place. He came to the board not pretending to be anything he wasn't, he was real. I'll miss him terribly, as we all will.

[BOGBLAST]

Billy was my Guns 'n' Roses buddy and we both defended Breakout and Swinging the Chain. Much more so than I, I always thought of Billy as very intelligent, reflective and very articulate in his posts. I will miss him.

And I don't think he would mind, I don't know how he did it, but he was geezlouise at the other place. I figured it out and he confirmed it. Would have been cool to see where he took this new identity. He was just an all around awesome guy. This whole thing sucks.

[Zzzptm]

He got me to try again and again with Bowie. This one's for you, Billy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyk7tOiGgZU

[Charger]

Man...gotta say I still feel pretty numb about this whole thing really. I just got my christmas drinkables in the mail today and I've usually been pretty excited about new Scotches and the special Bourbon but not today. I also remember talking to Billy about them every year too so it makes it even more hard now...Strange what kind of things gets you emotional in a time like this.

Well on Friday I'll be getting my Christmas Cigar (might get a few actually this year) and smoke and drink on Christmas eve remembering Billy...Christmas is always an extremely sad time of the year but this year it's gonna be extra hard for sure.

While at work today I started thinking about how we always jokingly said that we should get together some day sit by a bonfire and smoke a cigar and drink and talk about stuff and things....It was always like yeah sure some day...well now it is for sure never gonna happen...man that just...I don't know...

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

Well this is really hard for me. I used to private message with Billy at BSO about bands to check out. I always looked forward to getting a response from him. After he was banned, we didn't really talk to much on these new forums. I haven't really participated on these forums too much and I wish I would have. This forum will definitely not be the same without him!