photo by Rustee Pace
We at KEXP are sad to inform you that punk guitarist and indie-trailblazer Rick Kulwicki has died. The 49 year-old single father passed away at his home in Denver. While cause of death is not 100% confirmed, it appears to be natural causes. Rick is described by many of those who worked with him as an all-around great guy, and Fluid frontman John Robinson described him as “a person of impeccable integrity.”
Most recently a member of The Buckingham Squares, Rick is better known as a part of the Sub Pop band The Fluid, who were the first non-Seattle based band to be signed to the label. The Fluid released two records with Sub Pop and played alongside Nirvana back in the late 80′s and early 90′s. Rick was certainly no stranger to us here at KEXP, so we honor his memory by showcasing what he did best: shredding that guitar.
3 Comments
Condolences to his family and many friends. Rest in peace...
We were art school buddies before he probably ever picked up a guitar. Everything good everyone says about him is true. His good energy was infectious. At being cool, he was a natural. He was cool long before he was up on stage. He was humble and sweet, and just being near him made you feel happy. (Nobody else who says this is exaggerating) and as I noticed someone who photographed him say, he was the cutest of the bunch. I just want to say to you Ricky Kulwicky up there, I never forgot you, and the way it felt to be in a room with you. Your boys are beautiful just like you. (They look like angels).
just a correction on my other comment. Ricky had picked up a guitar, just wasn’t on stage yet. Definitely had stage presence though (not in a “hog the stage” way). Whenever the teacher came back into the room we’d have to act professional and be quiet, but when the room was sans teacher, we were always cutting up. Don’t so much remember the content of our conversations, more the energy of the whole affair, and how memorably fun it was. The way he was nice and the way he was, period, was one of the best memories of that time in my life.
He had a sort of quiet greatness. That was once said of Ray Charles and I’m sure other great people. I guess I was trying to say, Ricky was great even before he picked up a guitar.