Bryan Harvey
Remembered Well
by Donna DeChristopher
 Former House Of Freaks frontman Bryan Harvey and his family fell victim to tragedy Sunday, January 1, 2006. Harvey, his wife Kathryn and two young daughters were found brutally slain in the basement of their Richmond, VA home. According to authorities, the Harvey family was set to host a New Year chili party. Fellow House Of Freaks' founder Johnny Hott arrived at the home to discover it engulfed in smoke. Firefighters responding to the scene made the grisly discovery in the basement. Police say the family was bound with tape and their throats slit. The Richmond Police Department currently have two suspects in custody. Harvey, 49, was a passionate, engaging performer whose rootsy delivery was tinged with pop brilliance. His lyrics were great Southern novels, telling tales of history and religion while balancing melancholy with inspiration. He started his music career with the Virginia-based The Dads, before founding House Of Freaks with Hott. In 1987, Rhino released the duo's major-label debut, Monkey On A Chain Gang. Two years later, House Of Freaks became college-radio darlings with their follow-up, Tantilla (and garnered rotation on MTV's 120 Minutes with the video for "Sun Gone Down"), along with 1991's Cakewalk. The band's final release, Invisble Jewel, came out in 1994. Harvey also took part in Gutterball, an alternative supergroup featuring Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate), Stephen McCarthy (Long Ryders), and Bob Rupe (The Silos), which resulted in three albums. Harvey most recently performed with the Richmond-based NRG Krysys, whose final performance took place New Year's Eve. Kathryn operated a popular local gift shop, World of Mirth. Daughter Stella, age 9, was in third grade while Ruby, age 4, attended preschool. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 4240 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, Va. 23060, or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60601. In 2004, Rhino Handmade rerelased Monkey On A Chain Gang and Tantilla. The latter CD includes the previously unissued "Remember Me Well," whose chorus heralds, "You can dance on my grave, you can ring out the bells, you can drink to my health, but remember me well..." Bryan Harvey will be remembered well.
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Comments:
Ese tipo de sesinos tienen que pasar el resto de sus dias en prision,y me parece muy poco,vivir un infierno en vida y perpetuo,cuando leo este tipo de injusticias me apoyo mucho en la gran fe que tengo,en la fe de el karma,de que nada queda inpune nunca por siempre,es infinito y eso me da paz,estoy segura de que purgaran el daño que han hecho,no somos animales,esto no es el paleolitico,no te puedes llevar una vida por delante y de esa manera,en fin,lo siento de verdad,mis condolencias a todos,a la familia,a los amigos y a todos nosotros por vivir entre monstruos asi,gente que nos cruzamos por la calle,gente con la que compartimos este mundo de dios,gente indigna ni de mirar al cielo,en fin,por desgracia ,no sera este hecho covarce y misero,el ultimo.por ahi afuera aguarda mucha gente asi,en esta realidad que vivimos no se puede ser confiado en nadie,simplemente.descansen en paz este matrimonio y sus dos niñas.un saludo amigos.CRISTINA.SPAIN.
Thank you, my brother Mike was in the Dads with Bryan and I was there 1st soundman, and I always thought alot of Bryan and have been, esp. as a parent, very shaken by his death, news of which came to me on Jan. 2, and still resounds today and is hard to make any sense of due to the senselessness of the Harvey family's deaths. - Jay Tubb
Without Bryan, Kathryn, Stella and Ruby, Richmond will seem a bit quiet and perhaps only ordinary. You are remembered well. Susan, Aylett.
I Knew Kathryn, when I Lived in Richmond VA, & I Had Met Bryan a Few Times. They Were GREAT People & I'm still in Shock way over here in San Francisco. The World of Mirth Store, to me, Was a Wonderful Fun Place to go & a Great Chance to see Kathryn's Smiling Face. I Knew The Store in Both its Locations, on Grace Street & Then over to Carytown. I Hope They Will Always be thought of as they were in Life: As Great, Friendly, Nice, Funny, And Always Looking Out for a Smile type People.
glenn Hawley/San Francisco CA
Nothing can diminish the pain I am feeling right now. I pray that the killers are caught and brought to justice
i saw house of freaks at the boathouse in norfolk many years ago and remained a fan of their music what a terrible tragedy and great loss to one of richmonds great musicians
I will miss Bryan's contribution to music - he wrote one of my all-time-favorites together with Steve Wynn: "When You Make Up Your Mind". I will definitely remember him well!
(Dietmar from Germany)
This is such an awful tragedy, I am in shock! Never met him or his family but to think this would happen to him and his family just makes me sick to my stomach they are in my prayer. So Sad. Thank you at Rhino for the info on his death, Sincerely, Jodie Gifford
TANTILLA was a major inspiration to me and I've bought many copies to pass on to people over the years. Bryan was a a great artist and, from what has been written in the press over the last couple of weeks, and even greater husband and father.
RIP Bryan, Kathryn, Stella, & Ruby
Kathryn was my cousin, Stella and Ruby, my second cousins. Time can't heal this one. Thank you for keeping Bryan Harvey in your thoughts as well as on the website. These people ought to be remembered for their artistic contributions for generations to come. They are so very missed.
Kindest Regards,
Shannon
What a sad tragedy.
May they all rest in Peace!
I was working in a record store when they debuted and thought they were the coolest thing. Then TANTILLA came out and I was amazed that they topped themselves. We have been robbed! May the Harvey family rest in peace. Greg / VA
i knew every single one of the Harveys and love them with every inch of my heart. Kathy's smile could light up any room no matter how dull. Bryan's music was heard best on firday nights at Granite pool or when he was in his Elvis costume. Stella had to cutest haircuts and a voice that could make anyone melt. And Miss Ruby Red was so cute! Her favorite color was green and she always wore ruby red sparkly shoes! The love of that family is what made Richmond so much fun! Richmond is missing a huge part of it now! R.I.P.
I just saw the story on Dateline ... I had not heard. I am so sad. I have fond memories of seeing the House of Freaks several times in the San Francisco Bay area. I still count them as one of my favorite bands. Harvey's song writing was inspiring. What a loss. My prayers go out to their family and friends.
poor bryan, my sincere support and respect for them...
I saw House of Freaks play a free show at Cal State Fullerton when I was a student. These guys were my first intro to music that wasn't the same ol same ol mainstream. Very sad to hear this news
I grew up with Bryan Harvey. He was at our house all through those young years, playing Tripoli, kick the can, baseball, football. I remember when we had a carnival for muscular dystrophy and then later when he began playing the guitar...we all had to dress up like the Beatles....I will remember him well.
remember me well was on cakewalk....jh
How is it that I'm only learning of this now (3.2.06)? Was it on the Rolling Stone e.mail news feed and I somehow missed it? God bless us all including their remaining family and friends.
Used to spin House of Freaks' "Sun Goes Down" on WVXU in Cincinnati back in the day... Unbelievable... so sorry for the friends, family, fans... how can human beings possibly do these things to each other... words fail.
Peter Aaron, ex-Chrome Cranks
Saugerties, NY
a family so wonderful,
with smiles full of beauty,
bryan, kathy,
stella and ruby
i loved them all for
their personalities and ways
their laughter and love
kept many going through
hard days
i miss them and love them
with all of my heart
and i'll remember you always
but where do i start?
bryan, sir elvis, your music so cool
ruby when we babysat u at william fox school
stelly, ur laughter got me laughin too
no matter where we were i was laughin with you
kathy, with her friendly nature, never a bore
gave me a discount at her world of mirth store!
this family was a gift that was given to our town
so much love and kindness to be found
if only those people could see it like me
i wouldnt have to say -
harveys, RIP. 3
At the request of family and friends, The Community Foundation has created the "Bryan and Kathryn Harvey Family Memorial Endowment". The fund is established in memory of the family and will be used to provide music, visual art and performing arts enrichment in the Richmond area. See their website at "www.tcfrichmond.org"
We hope to carry on their legacy of love of music and art. Our entire family thanks Bryan and Kathy's fans and friends for their kind thoughts and generosity during this horrendous ordeal. They will be greatly missed by us all.
Paige Harvey
i've met Bryan in Belgium, during a concert in 1994 in Antwerpen, we've speak and drink a beer after the show, He was GREAT, i can't excuse the killer. PAIX A LEURS AMES.(R.I.P.
Stef from Belgium
How could anyone take such a young vibrant family away like this? How could anyone conduct such a horrendous crime? Have they No Heart? May God have mercy on those who did this. I surely do not.May you get 10 fold of what you have done to this family. This has to be the most sickening thing I have ever encountered. The only comforting thought right now is knowing they are not in pain anymore. They cannot be hurt anymore. They are with Our Heavenly Father. No more harm will come thier way. God Bless The Loved Ones left to live through this. My prayera are with you ......aw
I read that bad notice and my mind back in the past when i saw Gutterball in Revolver club in Madrid,Spain.I recall a great night of rock "n" fun.All my respect and support from Spain
A sad awful thing to happen to this family with such a "real" person as Bryan. I love the Remember Me Well, and it sounds so good I may have to paraphrase for myself. Again, not to make light of this tragedy, is Rhino or others in Richmond working to make sure the suspects are indeed the ones who are responsible for such unbelievable horror, and if so that they receive the maximum penalties allowed for their crimes and are not slapped on the wrists and given some wet noodle kind of punishment by bleeding heart liberals and or others who do not understand this kind of mayhem must end now. Sorry, it makes me so very sad to hear of such tragedy. Saddened in Texas
I am not personnally involved, but I do know someone who was! She has been so devastated that I can find no way to really console her. I just have been so truly in awe about all the tragic news I've heard here in Richmond. I'm from a small town in PA, and it seems to be somewhat spiritually covered from such sad news. I feel so helpless to comfort the individual whith whom I am visiting, that I just had to write and let everyone know that I am so sorry for the family and friends of the Harvey family. Thanks for listening.
PAC/PA
Just in case anyone is interested, friends of the Harveys have put out a cd of some of Bryan's best work-Bryan Harvey:Remember Me Well. It's a great tribute to a very talented musician and song writer. A retrospective of Bryan's career from his first band Boys From Skateland to his last NRG Krysis. Only thing missing is some Gutterball. It also includes a 20 page booklet with some great photos and liner notes.
All proceeds form the sale of the cd will go to the Bryan and Kathryn Family Memorial Endowment. As far as I know it's only available at Plan9 Music in Richmond. www.plan9music.com
Ingrid-Richmond
Who did such a horrible thing to such a beautifull family? Bryan will be well remembered by many. Dianne Russell San Diego,Ca. U.S.A.
They will burn in hell. And I hope they suffer badly before then.
I met Bryan in Dallas on the House of freaks Tantilla tour. I can not say that I knew him well because I only spoke to him and Johnny for a couple of moments to congratulate them on the great show they had just preformed but while speaking to him as he wiped the sweat from his face I could tell that he and Johnnie both were very kind people.
I have met several people that in bands since then but never has anyone that I have encountered before or since been as personable and as caring towards there fans as Bryan.
It's a sad world that we live in where good people like Bryan and his family must meet such a tragic end.
My heart goes out to his loved ones and his fans all over the world.
I first heard HOF as an opening act for B. Mould in Copenhagen and it was a fantastic performance they gave. I remember that they jumped off the stage and went into the crowd still playing one of their songs...Hott played those spoons so brilliantly and Harvey's voice and guitar playing was just perfect. It must have been in the beginning of 1993 perhaps and now I just wanted to buy Tantilla as a CD (instead of the LP I have) and then I find out about the horrible tragedy that happened to him and his family....I'm shocked and find this world so cruel and godless.
B. Soerensen/Denmark
I dont understand why someone would do this to two little girls. I mean ages 4 and 9 what kinda sick minded freaks would do that to little girls and slit their throats this is horrible
linda, charlotte, pamela, me, jay tubbs, lindy playing piano in the kitchen, the collgate mansion...david, bryan, mike, mark. some bars in waterbury....I remember him well. cindymariedreierfunk. itsindy500time@yahoo.com cfunk@ramseyinsurance.com
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