Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 5:25 a.m.

This is a sad sign of the times, but more importantly, a passing of a Seattle icon. He always brought a smile to my family and to other who passed by his music.

Tubaman was an ambassador to out of town visitors.

I am angry at these misguided men and their parents who did such a fine job.

Barney

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 5:26 a.m.

Seattle has been taken over by stupid thugs who beat and kill helpless citizens and the Mayor wants to spend your tax dollars on intervention and rec centers, It will never work because it's a waste trying to reform these thugs .
These young thugs need to be put in jail for the rest of their lives because at the rate crime is rising in Seattle we will all be victims .
The Mayor does not feel a need to spend money on punishing the criminals he wants to make their lives better through ill fated programs .
I am a Democrat but my libralism stops at a certain point when we have to create excuses for criminals who are hell bent on killing for fun .

Give the Police more authority in controlling our streets and neighborhoods .
Their was a time when you respected police authority in this town .

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 6:10 a.m.

Tuba was part of the Seattle scene. When my kids were young, they would search out "Tuba Man" and he would ask them would they would like to hear. Being shy, he would say "How about twinkle, twinkle, little star?". And they would sit and listen to him play. When it was time for my son to pick a instrument for 3rd grade, he wanted to play the tuba so he could go to games and play the tuba with "Tuba Man".
He will surely be missed. And Im not sure how to tell my kids about him.

Posted by sirvic42 at 11/4/08 6:16 a.m.

I'm shocked & stunned by this, but unfortunately not surprised. I occasionally rode the same bus downtown with Tuba Man on the way to games. He was as gentle a man as you could find. His music was part of Game Day.

A huge loss for our city: not just him, but a little more of our soul is gone too.

Posted by RyanH at 11/4/08 6:38 a.m.

This is horrible.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 6:46 a.m.

ED was also featured in the film documentary
"Big City Dick" with Richard Peterson:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397041

..not listed in the credits here, but should be

Posted by Ms Probity at 11/4/08 6:50 a.m.

Such sad news to wake up to this morning. This wonderful man who played the tuba outside of the opera house before and after many performances that I attended. His repertoire was great, he knew the classics as well. If he WASN'T out there, I'd wonder where he was (probably at a sports event). He will be missed by many of us. It is with heavy heart that I write this. A man with a tuba. Who knew. And to the thugs that broke him, you have no idea how you have rent the fabric of this city by your senseless, cruel act. He was worth more than the sum of all of you.

Posted by perfessor at 11/4/08 6:58 a.m.

Ed was a good guy, and a sweet person. This sad news hurts. When is anyone in charge going to admit that we have a gang problem, and that teen centers will only address part of that problem? Remember the 'big stick' that is carried while 'speaking softly'? It's time to use it.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 7:03 a.m.

Several years ago, I hired Tuba Man to play Happy Birthday for a friend. We had a meeting that day, so I picked up Tuba Man at his house and he provided the music for our ad hoc birthday celebration.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 7:29 a.m.

I can't beleive this. I remember his at the Sonics and Mariner games. At a Sonics game once I sat by him. Whenever Hersey Hawkins did something good he said "I like chocolate" and whenever Detlef Schrempf did something good he said "I like seafood". It was classic. Sat by him at a Mariners game once. He was a great fan. He'll be missed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 8:18 a.m.

He was a wonderful man. I am sure he was heading home after the Opera that night when he was attacked by these murderers. I saw him frequently and he always remembered me and that I worked nearby. When are we going to put a stop to this type of random violence? I saw "we" because it has to start with us telling our elected officials it is NOT acceptable for anyone to be harmed in this fashion. Forget the million dollar toilets, bag taxes, pandering to developers and creating traffic messes, and let's focus on crime including youth violence.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 8:27 a.m.

they should air that film with Ed and Richard Peterson on the Seattle Channel soon in memory of Ed

Posted by Big Ern at 11/4/08 8:50 a.m.

I just saw this and it made me sick to my stomach. I just saw him at the Rams game in Sept! I hope the criminals that did this get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I like many others here have been going to M's, Sonics, T-Birds and Hawks games since I was a kid and loved hearing him play. I actually got in a fight with someone after a T-Birds game (wow, that was almost 20 years ago) defending him. A couple a-holes were really whipping coins at him. When he would get hit, he would just stop and yelp then carry on playing. I beat the snot out of one of the little punks and the others ran off...

R.I.P. Tuba Man

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 8:51 a.m.

I'm crying. A fellow tuba player and the best known in Seattle. Can you name any of the tuba players from the Seattle Symphony? Can you name any tuba players period?

Sunday, November 23rd against the Redskins, bring your tubas to Seahawks Stadium and play for Ed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 9:17 a.m.

Our family had the great honor of meeting Edward last month. My brother passed away from cancer last year, and for his memorial we contacted Tuba Man (one of my brother's favorite musicians) and asked if he would honor my brother and play at the memorial. Edward graciously agreed, and we spent the entire day with Edward and we were so pleased to have him with us on the day of the memorial playing random tunes on his tuba - which is what my brother would have wanted.

My brother, Kelly, was an eclectic individual, and also a musician - and a fanatic sports fan - and it would have brought him so much joy to know that the Tuba Man played at his memorial.

Our family is so saddened to hear about the passing of Edward and we're shocked at the senselessness of the act. Our love and thoughts go out to all of his wonderful friends, fans and his family.

God Bless You, Edward
We'll miss you, Tuba Man.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 9:24 a.m.

I'm not a sports fan, but when I lived in Belltown I'd walk through Seattle center some nights, and I always loved passing the Tuba Man, and will never forget his rendition of "My Sherona." Street music and street art need to survive here, can someone continue the tradition please? You will be dearly missed, Tuba Man!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 9:34 a.m.

These kids should be put up on public display and have their limbs ripped slowly from their sockets while being beaten with a big stick.

I mean if their parents are not going to take responsibility for punishing them then I guess it's up to society. .

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 9:49 a.m.

If I wasn't anti-death penalty, I would say these farking kids should fry. Bastages.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 9:50 a.m.

This sucks. Poor Ed loved Ravel's Bolero, please play it once for him.

Posted by cmk at 11/4/08 10:02 a.m.

ED Quotes " You Clown" "This is my 100th Copy of Ravel Bolero" he belted out words like he was blowing on his Tuba - he had perfect pitch, he could tell you if a recording was off. Crap......

Posted by Gusnalys at 11/4/08 10:04 a.m.

This just sickens me. Me and some friends made it to almost all the Thunderbird games years ago and always stopped to say hi to Edward and left him a ticket. He would come in and sit with us after the 1st period started. Years later I stopped by to say hi not thinking he would remember me and the first thing he asked was "Where's Katie", a good friend of ours who was almost always with us. I believe an eye for an eye and hope these thugs get what they deserve.

RIP Edward

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 10:09 a.m.

Time to restart public executions. These 15 year old losers and thugs like them need to be lined up in the International Fountian, blindfolded.

Posted by david puddy at 11/4/08 10:09 a.m.

Wow - this breaks my heart. In my 26 years in living here - I don't know if I have a Seattle sports memory without a tuba man sighting at entry, departure or both. We've been robbed of a fixture of our sports and entertainment culture.

God bless you, Ed.

Posted by Whistle Berries at 11/4/08 10:23 a.m.

Hmmm...

This is a terrible loss, not just for Seattle and the surrounding communities, but for thousands and thousands of people.

It is difficult to believe that a gang of younger men would select a target for robbery, then beat and kick the person so badly as to cause death. For what? A few dollars.

In the old days, the guys in custody would be singing, and the others would be in jail by now. There would've been a very speedy trial, and if found guilty, they would have been hanged the next day or so.

Nowadays, these miscreants will get a trial, and if found guilty, incarceration, all that will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars.

Hopefully, the police will soon find the remaining miscreants; who might resist arrest. That would give the police the opportunity to provide some "dancing lessons."

Regardless, eventually these thugs will be in prison. Who knows, maybe some of the other prisoners will remember the man who played the tuba outside many different events.

Justice will be served, one way or another.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 10:26 a.m.

We need to kill these types of thugs. There is no rehabilitating this type of criminal.

RIP, sir; you were truly an asset to our community.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 10:26 a.m.

I read in one article that The Tuba Man's one regret is that he never got to play the Star Spangled Banner INSIDE one of the stadiums.
I think that the Seahawks need to hire someone to play it [on a tuba] in his honor before next Sunday's game!!

Someone else mentioened a brass statue (or even a statue of a tuba) be erected somewhere between Key Arena and Qwest field... I AGREE!!!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 10:32 a.m.

I worked as a bank teller for Washington Mutual in Burien about 16 years ago. Ed used to bring his change and small bills from his tuba playing. Ed stood out to me - he was friendly, warm, and seemed to enjoy life and Seattle sports. His voice had a slow drawl and he laughed often.

I can't imagine why anyone would do something try to hurt this man. Those responsible have no regard for gentle, human life, and should be punished to the full extent of the law.

Posted by Germain Katanga at 11/4/08 10:55 a.m.

This killing is another one of the "wonderful benefits of divershitty" that so many "progressive Seattle liberals" constantly gush about.

Posted by judman25 at 11/4/08 11:12 a.m.

Well at least we don't have to worry about the teams sucking now that he is gone. Not sure it could get any worse.

RIP Tuba Man

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 11:27 a.m.

"Wanna buy a energy bar?" Ed, 1970s
RIP, Ed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 11:29 a.m.

As a musician I'm devastated. When going to work at McCaw Hall or Benaroya I would pause and listen to Ed, always admiring the fact that he would play selections from the ballet, opera or symphony concerts that would be going on inside. It always made me smile to hear him, and to admire his abilities. While I got to go inside and work with musicians and other entertainers, Ed would do his entertaining for the same audience outside, and bring as many smiles to their faces as we would inside. He was a true entertainer and musician with as much dedication as any of us who get to play "inside." We will all miss Ed.

Jerry Oram, Principal Trumpet, PNB

Posted by SUPERMC at 11/4/08 11:36 a.m.

I worked at a bar Ed visited every Mariner game day. I got to know him well. He was one person we could count on to always be upbeat and friendly. He didn't deserve to die like this.
We will miss you Ed! I hope you still get to play your tuba for everyone around you.

Goodbye and God Bless!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 11:39 a.m.

Wow! I'm 41 now, born and raised in Seatown. I'm sorry to admit that this city has totally gone insane. All that was human, as Ed was, and cool (which Seattle was at one time) is gone for good. Everyone from here who was worth a damn as a person has left. They have set up Seattle as a place for people coming from other crime ridden and repressed US cities to go to work as serfs, feel self important, and cringe in selfish fear in their own expensive, over taxed homes. Walking down residential streets on garbage/recycle day I notice about 90% of home recycle bins full of booze bottles. That is what Seatown is now as people fight on the roads to get to their jobs and back to hide and get drunk in the perceived security at their homes. Is this an improvement from where you came from? You are all so weak and greedy. I am blessed to have been pushed to the margins and now am ready to leave Seatown now that all that was real is gone. Hey Artis the Spoonman, let me know if you would like a lift out of this dump.
Chris, formerly from Seattle

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 11:44 a.m.

--Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 8:51 a.m.

"Sunday, November 23rd against the Redskins, bring your tubas to Seahawks Stadium and play for Ed."

A bunch of us Husky Band tuba players caroled with Ed in front of the U Bookstore back in 1990. I love the idea of playing in his memory at the Hawks game. Please post any further plans/details here.

RIP, Ed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 11:50 a.m.

I just saw the Tuba Man playing when going to see Elektra at the Opera- he was an icon of Seattle culture, and his death is a sign of the changing dynamic of this city. We can no longer ignore the growing problem of crime in our city. I live downtown, and recently have noticed a spike in violence, ESPECIALLY gun violence and tons of people just loitering around on the street corners, drinking and selling drugs. We must crack down on violence!!!!!!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 11:59 a.m.

So sad.

These little chunks of vomit have nothing to offer the world, and I'm 100% OK with harvesting their organs.

Posted by Germain Katanga at 11/4/08 12:02 p.m.

"and I'm 100% OK with harvesting their organs."

.... except they all probably have A.I.D.S. by now...

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:09 p.m.

So many memories of going to the Kingdome and the Seattle Center Coliseum and hearing the tuba from blocks away. My dad and I would always comment how he was always there, making him one of the most passionate fans in our city. And once he played "the hey song" (rock and roll by gary glitter) for me cause my dad told him it was my favorite song to hear at a game when i was a kid. He was a gentleman, and an overall amazing citizen of seattle and the world. He will be missed immensely.
- Ryan, formerly of Auburn, WA, now in Los Angeles

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:09 p.m.

This is such a tragedy, such a loss! As a tuba / sousaphone player, I'd sometimes be down at one of the fields or the Center, playing with a Dixieland band, and on the breaks, I'd go find Ed (he was always easy to find) and talk all things tuba with him. We played extemporaneous duets a few times, and he was the most mellow guy ever. I'll miss his grumbling voice and his quirky laugh, the way he'd roll out the brand-names of tubas ("Hirsbrunner" came out "Hurrrrrrtzbrrroooooonerrr"). I've said it that way ever since, and chuckle & think of Ed every time.

Tuba Ed was one-of-a-kind. I'll see y'all Nov. 23rd with my rain-catcher and hard-hat - we'll send him off in a way he'd appreciate. Damn...

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:19 p.m.

I'll never forget the first time I saw Ed, I was in the 5th grade leaving the key arena with my Mom after watching the Sonics play the Denver Nuggets back in 1997. He was outside playing "My Sharona" while everyone was leaving the center grounds, his hat made me laugh and I couldn't stop staring at him. 10 years later this past winter I was leaving a Sonics game and there he was in the same spot, I told him I saw him when I was much younger and he made some hilarious gesture with his tuba, he and I were both upset about the Sonics leaving this city. I will never forget this man and the smiles he brought to me throughout these years of growing up in Seattle.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:22 p.m.

Incredibly sad. My daughter called from UW in tears this morning. From the sonic games to the ballet to the Mariners. We always asked him to play Nutcracker music and he delighted us to no end. A piece of me and of my family feels missing but we will celebrate his life and his memory will always live on with us. Thank you Ed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:24 p.m.

I am devastated. Goodbye Ed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:43 p.m.

Ed -

Thanks for the memories. Thanks for your wit, your constant presence. It was about 6 wks. ago I was walking by SAFECO and drifting up through the traffic noise was the
familiar tuba, humanizing all of it. Such a terrible end for you Ed - but you are living on in the hundreds of thousands of people and families and drunk sports fans and kids and the rest of Seattle over the years who heard you do what you do for them. We all feel the loss for this city. Our thoughts go out to your family. Rest in Peace.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 12:46 p.m.

I remember Edward playing at the Seatle center when i was 5 years old- he would play Star Wars tunes just for us. I'm nearly 18 now and still tuba-man is a part of my life. In early October he played at my Dad's memorial, starting with "Amazing Grace" and then playing his favorite Beatles tunes. I'm so grateful that we had that time with him. He was a shoulder for us to cry on and a great comfort to my family. We will always remember him as a great friend, a great man, and as the happy musician he was. We love you Edward, and Thank you- We will never forget. ~ Julia

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 1:02 p.m.

From St. Louis with LOVE!

" o my god " this hurts. I moved to Seattle in 1992 I used to walk to the Kingdome through Pioneer Square and to my $5 SW Airline Cloud Seats. I remember passing the sounds of the TUBA, it put a smile on my face because it was like he was saying "Welcome to Seattle".

I live in St. Louis now and I put this cat with the likes of Bill the Beer Man at the Seahawks games. Legends!

On behalf of the Midwest Seahawkers...we send a prayer to you Ed and I hope the man upstairs gives you an orchastra to back you up, you deserve it!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 1:32 p.m.

I don't play the Tuba, but please, anyone who does...please bring yours to the Seahawks game on Nov. 23rd to play in honor of him. I don't have tickets to the gmae, but I will be mulling around outside straining to hear the melodic notes from his Tuba.

I really would like to see the Seahawks have a Tuba player play the Star Spangled Banner before the game. It would be a fitting tribute...perhaps someone on this forum can help facilitate this idea? Who could we contact? Seattletimes? seattlepi? Seawhawks?

God bless you Tuba Man.

Posted by AngelaG at 11/4/08 1:42 p.m.

The race of these punks has nothing to do with their crimes; if they're white, black, brown, amber, purple, green, I don't care. I simply want them brought to justice, and by justice I mean captured, CONVICTED in open court according to the laws of our land... and then turned over to those of us who prefer not to share our Seattle air with them.

Seriously. Hand the little wretches over. Someone get a video camera. Someone fire up YouTube. We're going to make the punishment for killing-for-sport fit the crime and send a signal that the society we want to live in has greater priorities than keeping these worthless brats as guests of the state. We don't have the time or resources. We have, among other things more important than their "correction," new tuba players to train.

(And yeah, I'm a liberal who's advocating for capital punishment and some Web 2.0-style "deterrence." Got a problem with that?)

Posted by Germain Katanga at 11/4/08 1:55 p.m.

"The race of these punks has nothing to do with their crimes"

WRONG. Actually, it has a lot to do with it, statistically. Black males, wherever they are found in the world, are extremely much more likely to commit violent crimes than males of any other race.

That's just a fact and only the most delusional would even attempt to dispute it.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 1:58 p.m.

ed and i were in the youth symphony together, and we attended PNWMC before it became Marrowstone Music Festival. i'll never forget ed's stereotypical john-wayne drawl. i'll also never forget the time, at SYSO auditions, ed was warming up in the stairway on the opposite end of the building and he was still loud enough that he disturbed the people auditioning...

RIP ed! 8(

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 2:04 p.m.

God Bless you, Ed... In a world filled with hate and rage, you rose above it all. Hopefully, you knew while alive how much we all loved you...beyond the couple of bucks we pitched in your case. Funny, how some people can gain real 'fame' without needing a fancy house or car or title...

Posted by Groundhog at 11/4/08 2:26 p.m.

A Seattle Landmark. Make a tuba monument or name a Seattle street around the stadiums "Tuba Street".

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 2:30 p.m.

I am actually more angry than sad about this. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. I have been attending Seattle events for over 27 years and my experience will never be the same. Ed was always the beginning and the end of every Seattle event and always made EVERYONE take time to stop and appreciate each other and the city of Seattle.

He is Seattle icon and will never be forgotten.

RIP, Tuba Man!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 2:34 p.m.

These COWARDS should be stripped bare and dropped off in the middle of Afghanistan,
WE'LL MISS YOU TUBBA MAN, WE'LL KEEP LISTENING.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 2:35 p.m.

Ed the Tuba Man and my birthday were one day apart and this was a major focal point of our encounters. He (kiddingly of course) always tried to steal me from my husband. It made me blush and laugh alot. I always dropped him $20 and just tickled him. I loved him.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 3:24 p.m.

Ed was hired to play at a golf event. Scantily clad ladies were also hired. Every time I saw Ed, I would simply say "Hey Ed,remember the golf tournament?" to that he would always smile and reply "Oh yeah...the Naughty Nurse". then I ask him to play Led Zeppelin...and he did. He remembered a good day, he remembered me, he made me feel good for a while.

Posted by jmazarcon at 11/4/08 3:24 p.m.

FOREVER ED....TUBA MAN.......THOSE COWARDS SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH.....EYE FOR AN EYE...FAIR IS FAIR......CALL ME I WILL PULL THE SWITCH...

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 4:12 p.m.

I gave Ed my Husky hardhat after a tough 1997 Apple Cup loss walking out of Husky stadium. For nearly the next 20 years we'd visit him before the sporting event we attended. We always asked for "Bolero" and after a few years he'd see us and just start playing it. Always a positive person, even on a cold winter night after a Sonics game. He will be missed. I'm now waiting for Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to voice their outrage at this senseless hate crime....but I'm not holding my breath.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 4:15 p.m.

I was in PNWMC music camp too in high school, that was back in the 1970's and Ed was our Tuba Player. He was also an incredibly gifted piano player too, he could play anything he'd ever heard and then some! Next summer I wasn't in camp but my fellow horn player and local Radio Personality Bryan Lowe was with Ed. The food was always terrible so to tease Bryan I mailed him a Big Mac. Unfortunately, Ed saw it and said "I'll Eat That!" Unfortunately because the mayo was a couple days old by then. Oops! Sorry Ed, you big goof! I love you man!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 4:27 p.m.

What a sad day for Seattle. Tuba Man epitomized the essence of being a warm and caring human being. Besides missing you at every major event, I will miss seeing you on the big screen in your hard hat, dancing that crazy dance of yours at the Thunderbird games. You knew how to love life. Justice will eventually be served but the wrong will never be righted. RIP Tuba Man...........

Posted by bothellsteve at 11/4/08 4:41 p.m.

I first met Edward in the 5th grade and went to school with him through high school. He was a gifted musician and played the piano and violin as well as the tuba. He was talented, eccentric and good-hearted. He only wanted to be your friend. When we saw him before a game, my kids would ask him to play 'Flight of the Bumblebee' on the tuba and he'd do it - amazingly.

It says very bad things about our city and world that this happened. His life was not supposed to end this way. There are many of us who will be closely following the Seattle PD investigation. It is important for Ed and for all of us.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 4:50 p.m.

Ever since I was a kid I remembered the tuba guy playing, especially at the Kingdome. I used to hang with him every so often, back in the 90s when I was an avid Husky fan. He was always a fun guy to be around.

I am completely devestated by this loss. Nothing can replace such a great guy.

We must erect a bronze monument to him.

We still hang here in WA state.. these people that did this deserve the death penalty.

Jason Goff
"Crazy"

Posted by Racer_C at 11/4/08 5:55 p.m.

That is very sad news.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 6:49 p.m.

I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but he's been part of Seattle sports so long how about a ring of honor in Quest field? Sure, he hasn't contributed to what happened on the field, but he sure contributed to every Seahawk, Thunderbirds and Sonics game I attended since I was a kid.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/4/08 9:45 p.m.

I'm quite sure that these gangbangers are unrepentant McCain supporters!! ahem.....NOT

Posted by redneckhicks12thman at 11/5/08 12:01 a.m.

hey what i think is the nest hawks home game we need to have a mment of silence for tuba man and raise the 12th man flag in his honor. bill the beer man did and i think that this would be the greatest honor we could give him.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 12:03 a.m.

AS a tuba player around Seattle I ran in to Ed many times at the Seattle Center and other places. He was a happy person, the kind once you met you never FORGOT. We talked " TUBA" a few times and I was amazed at the RANGE of NOTES he had and the different keys he could play in!. I regret that I didn't take the time to know him and listen to his music more often ! What a senseless crime !HE will be missed. HE knew how to play and ENJOY the " Tubbaaaahh ". ED McMIchael Tubaman you LOVED the TUBA like no other. FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUBA!! GOd BLess YOU
Oz Windmachine

Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 9:17 a.m.

Rick the peanut man was a great friend of Ed's. He would also be a good pick for raising the 12th man flag.

People loved Ed for his enthusiasm and the fun he had in performing. Everyone should know that he was a very educated and accomplised Tubist. I played in brass ensembles and orchestras with him, and he knew A LOT! When he saw a colleague at one of the stadiums, he would switch songs and play something by a great composer like Holst.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 9:25 a.m.

This is the worst news I've heard of late and I'm absolutely sickened by the horror and senselessness of this appalling crime. Ed was the sweetest person you could possibly ever know. His attitude and demeanor brought smiles to countless. As a professional musician in Seattle, Ed was outside of the Opera House before and after every event I participated in. I was always amused by the charm of his tuba playing and the respect he showed to ALL the people he talked to. With small kids, a few cents brought on a joyful rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle" that would guarantee smiles and endless dancing. I know. My kids were right there on many occasions. I cannot fully express in words my sadness as an adult that Edward McMichael will no longer be there to share his joy. Like the Kingdome, Almost Live and the Sonics, Seattle has lost another irreplaceable icon. Charles Butler, trumpeter at large

Posted by msmerlin at 11/5/08 10:45 a.m.

I'm so very, very, very tired of society feeling sorry for these types of murderers and mollycoddling them (poor little darlings, they weren't handed every opportunity when they were young, and we should try to make it up to them.....etc.). Personally, I think they ought to be put to death in exactly the same manner that they put their victim to death. I hope they are caught and executed.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 11:13 p.m.

I am so saddend by this lose. My friend lives in Seattle and it was very important to her that while I visit the city we go to a baseball game and meet the Tuba Man. I was fortunate that I went 1 1/2 years ago and had that amazing experience. I am deeply disheartened by the fact that someone would do this to such a great spirit that matches the Seattle astomsphere so well. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 11:55 p.m.

I can't remember the last time I was this torn up over the passing of someone I didn't know personally. I've taken the long way in and out of Thunderbird games, Mariners games, and Seahawk games to pass Ed, and I loved showing new friends who Tuba Man was. He was one of those people who embodied Seattle for me.

I've read quite a few of these comments in various articles over the past few days, and this was my favorite so far. There are some incredibly unique stories about Ed here, as well as the familiar ones we can all identify with. Mostly I'm impressed with how the revenge comments have been kept somewhat at bay on this page. We're all upset, we all don't understand why, and we could go on and on about what horrible things we'd do to these kids if given the chance, but for now let's just remember what a wonderful person Ed was. Seattle sports are tragic in their own right; finding a way to move on gracefully with some humor is how Tuba Man would do it.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/6/08 6:50 a.m.

This was the saddest news to hear. The joy and music are gone. Ed will truly be missed. I remember may sporting events our family went to where Ed was doing nothing but playing his music and right before game time he would dane to the music he heard and not played. Such fond memories watching him at the games cheering on our guys, and man that guy could dance.. RIP Ed Seattle will truly miss you....

Posted by unregistered user at 11/6/08 10:43 a.m.

This is a BIG loss for everyone in Seattle!
Somebody please tell the Seahawks or Mariners owners, if next time they want to do a giveaway item to the fans, make an "Ed McMichael the Tuba Man" bobblehead to honor him. I am sure everyone will remember and miss this wonderful Seattle icon "The Tuba Man"!

Posted by unregistered user at 11/6/08 9:45 p.m.

I remember going to the Sonics vs Wizards game when Jordan played his last year of basketball. It was my younger brothers 1st sonics game and his 1st encounter with the Tuba Man. I said to my brother "you've got to meet the Tuba Man, he is an icon." My brother couldnt understand what could be so special about that until he met Ed. He just had a way with people, like so many others have said on this comment section he was a very kind hearted person. I can only hope that these punks recieve exactly what they deserve. But my fear is that in King County the bad guys are treated like victims. And the victims or next of kin to the victims are left holding the luggage of their loss and the never ending grief of injustice. R.I.P. Ed and may God truly comfort his family in their loss by filling their spirits with the knowledge of how loved Ed was. Tributes are great and definately deserved in his case, but there will NEVER be another TUBA MAN! I really hope that the city of Seattle will place a permanent memorial of some sort in his honor somewhere in the stadium area. I really hope that the sports teams do something special in his honor. He really does deserve it.

Posted by unregistered user at 11/6/08 11:47 p.m.

I moved from Seattle a few years ago, and now live in Denver. Ed, thank you for the smiles and joy that you brought to so many sports and music fans! People across the country care, and miss you. I remember you from the many, many Mariner's games I attended, both in the Kingdome and at Safeco. Thank you for being there every time I attended a game!

If anyone wants to start donations for that bronze statue, I'll contribute. I think it's a great idea, honoring a great man.
Karen