Sad and tragic news, which shakes me and all who knew him to
the core: On Tuesday, 16 August 2005, Ben Schatz,
great musician and friend passed away - completely out of the
blue, at the age of 28 he died presumably of a clot in his brain.

I can't help but ask about the sense for his passing away - why
did he have to die? I guess It must have a deeper meaning,
which is hidden to me. Maybe it's that it qualifies everything, it
can hit everyone at any time, therefore we have to be true to
ourselves and try to live our dreams with all we have - which
Ben did! I am convinced that in the end as in the beginning
there is light - and now, dear Ben, this light shines for you. I
am sure we will meet again, though I do not know where, I do
not know when. But we will meet again, my friend, some sunny
day, and we will rock, we will have a great jam like in the
good ol' days!
Have a wonder-full immrama. You are unforgettable now, you
will live on for us with and in your music and ideas.
Kraft, Licht und Liebe für die Ewigkeit, give mr. zappa my regards!
shineOn* Bert

today, 27 august 2005, 3pm, Ben will be buried in
attnang-puchheim, close to his home town in upper austria - no
priest and conventional burial music, but rock music and his
family and friends will pay their last respect to him. is this sad!
but true: und jetzt fliegst du aufi, mitten in himmel eini, in a neue
zeit, in a neue welt, und du wirst singen, du wirst lachen, du wirst
des gibt's ned schrei'n, weil du wirst endlich kapieren, du wirst
glűcklich sein. baba ben, wir sehen einander dann dort.