Brownstein: Spirit of Nick Auf der Maur can be at Winnie’s and Ziggy's April 7

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On April 7, it will likely be the twenty fifth anniversary of the passing of Nick Auf der Maur, one of the vital memorable characters to have ever pounded our metropolis pavement, in addition to pound our metropolis’s bar-counters.  

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Journalist, politician, boulevardier after which some, Auf der Maur, who was about to show 56 earlier than shedding his life to throat most cancers, formed many lives, however none extra so than that of his beloved daughter Melissa Auf der Maur. She was typically featured in her dad’s Gazette column when she was rising up and later when she achieved her personal fame as a member of Gap, amongst different bands.  

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“There’s not a day that goes by after I don’t take into consideration Nick,” stated Melissa, 51, in a Zoom interview. “I’ve missed a quarter-century of my life with him. It’s heartbreaking to assume how younger he was when he died and the way far more he would have achieved.” 

Instances have modified for Melissa, who after Nick’s demise did a two-year stint with the Smashing Pumpkins. She’s now dwelling in upstate Hudson, N.Y., along with her filmmaker husband, Tony Stone, the place they run an arts centre. In 2010, after she launched her final solo album, she left the street and later grew to become a mom with the beginning of their first youngster, daughter River. 

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“Tony is from New York Metropolis, and we got here up with an settlement to dwell midway between Montreal and New York. Nick might not have accepted of me transferring to America, for political causes, however he would have so cherished Tony and his granddaughter and understood.” 

To mark the anniversary of Nick’s demise, Melissa, with the assistance of Montreal journo Bugs Burnett, is organizing an homage on — maybe poetically — Good Friday, April 7, at two of her dad’s favorite Crescent St. watering holes: Winnie’s — the place Nick’s famed Borsalino nonetheless hangs encased over the bar — from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., adopted by a hop throughout the road to Ziggy’s till the wee hours. 

There can be many vodka and cranberry juices — Nick’s fave libation — consumed. There can be many Donald Duck ties — Nick’s fave neckwear — being sported. There can be a lot hooting and hollering. It will likely be a visit again in time. 

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Melissa is hoping that the “final remaining irregulars,” mates of Nick, will present as much as toast him and utter just a few phrases. However the harsh actuality is that so lots of them are additionally gone: Mordecai Richler, Ted Blackman, George Balcan, Gordon Atkinson, Ron Seltzer, Irwin Steinberg and sparring companion Richard Holden.  

Nick had one of the vital eclectic circle of mates round: financial institution presidents and financial institution robbers; con artists and conventional artists; federalists and separatists (and within the case of Holden, each); politicians and anarchists (which explains why he was picked up throughout the 1970 Struggle Measures Act). 

Hell, even the Gray Nuns cherished him. Many imagine they had been key to him getting re-elected as a metropolis councillor and that it was their votes that pushed him excessive. 

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Whereas the St. Patrick’s Basilica priest had his doubts that Nick’s funeral might fill the massive room on the church, it was standing room solely, with a crowd estimated to be in extra of three,500. Following the funeral, it was extra like a New Orleans-style procession because the throngs snaked their approach west to Crescent St. 

“He simply cherished Montreal,” Melissa says. “It’s what fuelled him. I couldn’t be extra proud to be his daughter after I see that Ruelle Nick-Auf der Maur avenue signal on Crescent with Leonard Cohen trying over him.” 

It’s laborious to think about how Nick would have functioned in these occasions, how he would have handled the political correctness, how he would have coped with COVID, how he would have reacted to authorities insurance policies. 

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“I take into consideration that on a regular basis,” Melissa says. “The bum-pinching alone. Talking his thoughts. Talking instantly about what pushes individuals’s buttons. We’re dwelling in a neutered tradition. The cancel tradition is a catastrophe for expression and for ardour. The entire political divisiveness, particularly within the U.S., but it surely exists in Canada, too, is so horrendous. Individuals simply keep away from individuals not in their very own echo chamber.  

“And in the event you occur to have a distinction of opinion about these unusual factions of political correctness, individuals are afraid to have arguments. I take into consideration my father right here: all he did was have arguments! His entire day was about pushing individuals to consider uncomfortable, tough issues and to make individuals really feel uncomfortable. He was simply such a vigorous human being. 

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“What makes me most proud about my dad was that at his funeral had been his mates, his enemies, the homeless, the spiritual. He resonated with everyone as a result of he was only a humanist. I at all times bear in mind when he was protesting for French-language rights in Quebec how he was proud to inform me that he was being kicked by a police officer and that he was shouting: ‘Present some humanity!’ That was his response to every little thing.” 

Melissa is now within the midst of writing her memoirs. Probably, Nick — as nicely her mother, journalist/literary translator Linda Gaboriau — could be proud. 

“The best way they advised tales and noticed the narrative of Quebec and Montreal and the counter-culture actions is admittedly coming by means of in my second half of my life,” Melissa says.  

“Nick modified issues, however he actually by no means modified. Now, greater than ever, we miss him.” 

The 25^th anniversary tribute to Nick Auf der Maur’s passing takes place April 7 at Winnie’s, 1455 Crescent St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and after at Ziggy’s, 1470 Crescent St.  

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