This article is a small dedication to the sad passing of a dear friend, who the world lost very suddenly on June 20th 2003. His name was Nick Bohn, a.k.a. Nickels, Smurfetta, Gladys, etc. My best friend and I use to call him "Moaner" as well, because when we first met him back in 1987, he fell asleep at a party or two (completely sober, I might add!) and made these cute little moaning sounds. Back then, when I first met him, I saw him as very shy and sweet and quiet. Though he later emerged into someone more outgoing and outspoken, he always remained the perfect picture of sweet. I know people tend to overemphasize the good in a person and magically forget all the bad things when they pass, but I truly think you'd be hard pressed to find ANYONE with a single bad word to say about Nick. There have been special memorials for him across the country these past few weeks (from LA to New York). He is forever well loved and respected.

As I said, I met him at one of many Goth/Punk/New Wave parties and clubs going on in Sacramento in the 80s (where his Mom, Evelyn and Stepdad, Dale, and Father, Jim "The Eagle" Bohn all still reside. His only sister, Debbie, lives in Santa Rosa). We had many mutual friends who all hung out at The Second Level, Danceteria, Clunie Hall, etc. It wasn't until the early to mid 1990s when life had pulled both of us individually to the enchanting city of San Francisco that we really bonded. I spent most of my time with him and his partner at the time, Enrique, doing photo shoots, going to drag clubs, watching movies, listening to music, going to parties, and working on different art projects. I am proud to say that I starred in two of Nick's films in 1993/1994, one was called "Bliss" and the other was the infamous "Little Red" (which also featured Jason Mecier of the SF band ENRIQUE and bean/noodle art fame, Brigit Brat of the band GOD'S GIRLFRIEND, Heidi Wesbrock (LA based actress/artist) and Enrique Vargas (SF based photographer/artist). Nick and Enrique also published/edited the San Francisco based ‘zines Dragzine and Dragstrip in the mid 1990s.

Besides photography and film-making, Nick also did many "scrapbook art" collections, performance art, and played bass for the band THE VOLUPTUOUS HORROR OF KAREN BLACK, and was a member of numerous other bands including VERBALALA and SPLIT ME WIDE OPEN (with Jon Vomit). Nick moved to New York around the time I moved to LA, which was sometime in the later 1990s. We stayed in touch via phone and e-mail and he even came out for a visit in the summer of 1999. He stayed with his best friend, Heidi Wesbrock, and while he was here, he and I visited a few dance clubs and visited Marilyn Monroe's grave. This was unfortunately the last time I'd ever get to spend any time with him though. Nick was expected to visit LA again this summer, but as fate would so cruelly have it, that will not be happening.

I am listening to JOY DIVISION as I write this, and the words "Don't walk away, in silence. Don't walk away..." just jetted themselves into my heart. I have not cried since the moment I first found out of his passing, I guess I was not ready or willing to deal with this sorrow. I know Nick leaves behind an uncountable number of grieving friends, family, and admirers. It's always so hard to swallow the unexpected shock of a good friend's sudden death and the painful reality of never getting to see that person, talk to them, or share with them ever again. Not in this lifetime anyway. So all we can do is keep his memory alive with the art he has left behind and all the wonderful memories of his sweet, caring, talented, beautiful soul. It's impossible for me to credit all of the work he has done and all of the people he has known over the years, this is just a brief dedication of my life with Nick, for I know he touched the lives of many in every city he lived in and probably did many more movies that I am perhaps not aware of.

I know he did at least one other film in San Francisco, called "A Prescription for Disaster" starring Tina Root (of the band SWITCHBLADE SYMPHONY) and Clint Catalyst (author of the book Cottonmouth Kisses). And in New York, he did "Gladys and Roberta's Excellent Adventure" starring himself and Yosh and a film he did with Jon Vomit called "The Eve of St. Venus" starring Nick Zedd which you can find out more about at:
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/STRANGEWALLS/

You can look at more about Nick on-line and I have heard rumors of some of his artwork being published on a larger scale. You can look at Nick's website at:
http://www.geocities.com/nickbohn/

Many of his friends have entered their thought and feelings about his passing on:
http://www.geocities.com/nickbohn/guestbook.htm

This world is not the same without you, Nick. You are greatly loved, forever.