Patrick Sullivan- 1978-2005

Shane · Newbie Joined: Feb 13, 2004 Posts: 191

Our good friend Pat passed away this weekend.
We are terribly saddened by this experience. It goes to show that you can be here for one minute and gone the next.
I first met Pat 3 or so years ago. He came into the shop wearing a cast on one of his arms. He had been playing bass guitar in a function band around Maine, and he was very good at what he did. This injury was something he didn’t speak of, in fact there are a few different stories as to how it happened, I still don’t know for sure what it was. This injury that he sustained though, prevented him from playing bass again. Instead of staying down, Pat decided to play drums. But there was a problem-he didn’t know how to play, and he didn’t know a thing about drums. After talking with him, it was clear that the guy wanted to know EVERYTHING he could about gear. It was fun to talk with him for the first ten or so times, but around the sixtieth visit, (I’m exaggerating here, but not much) he decided to buy. He was full of questions; so many, that he was known at the shop as Pat “Let me ask you this” Sullivan. We were considering a Yamaha Stage Custom kit, then a Premier artist series, but one day he came in and bought a sea foam DW kit. The guy just had to have top end stuff.
Despite wearing this cast, he practiced drums tirelessly, and within a year, was making money playing gigs. This is unheard of. Eventually the cast came off, which was great timing, because it freed up both hands to hand over all his money for drums, cars and toys. It was unreal. He was very conservative about disclosing what he paid for what, but was always boasting about his new toys. The guy bought all kinds of stuff-snowmobiles, guns, knives, drums, you name it. He loved boy’s toys, and it was entertaining. Don’t think of him as a loose cannon, because he managed to buy a home and be married to a woman that I believe was a great anchor for him.
Over time, I really began to like the guy. He would spend many of his lunch breaks at the shop, talking about gear, politics, or whatever came up. He was very passionate, and he had this innocence to him that was engaging. This was around the time that he learned about building his own drums.
Being a drum sales guy-this would normally bug me, but it didn’t, because he was Pat. I often made sport of him, and he would dish it right back. One of my traits behind the counter is to really rib somebody, but I expect it right back. I only do this to people I really like, and I thought a lot of Pat. My fondness for the guy must have been quite sincere, because he was often the brunt of my jokes, but he always had a line for me. It was hilarious. I always looked forward to his visits.
His relationship with The Drum Shop was great; he was our go to guy to run sound at clinics, which he always did a great job at. We hired him because he was great at what he did, but also, the money he made would go right back to us! There always something he needed, and I was one of the guys to help him with that, which was always a hoot, because of the constant hounding of each other. He would make a drum and bring it in, and I would tell him that heeded to name his drum company L-Mate, the initials would actually be L.M.A.Y.T., standing for, “Let me ask you this.”
Pat bought a used Porsche a while back, of course he got a great deal on it, not sure how much, he wouldn’t disclose, and was looking to sell it a few weeks ago. He did, and I just happened to have one of my personal kits for sale. He was real interested, but spent the money elsewhere. I wonder if it was on that bike. It breaks my heart to think that he could have been playing drums instead of what happened.
Over anybody, Pat lived life to the fullest, and I’m not just saying that. He really did. I never saw a guy do all the stuff he did in such a short amount of time. He was building drums, buying toys, and just enjoying his life. It’s tragic that it was cut short. He was full of talent and drive.
I’m very thankful to have met and befriended Pat; he was truly one of my favorite people from behind the counter. He will be deeply missed.
Let me ask you this Pat, find any great deals up there yet?

Thanks to our friends at ghostnote.net for the image.