EVIL MISTER

Photo: Rhythms on the Rio – Left to right: José, Dio, Sydney Flynn, (DC, hidden), Brian Flynn, Lisa, Ian and John-Alex.

A special edition.

And a Valuable Lesson Learned!

Last Friday, June 26, I posted EVIL MISTRESS: Part Twenty-Six. The article was intended as a lighthearted story about my late friend, musician Brian Flynn.

Some of the content was decidedly sarcastic and was, what I thought, representive of my usual satirical humor.

Unfortunately, one of Brian’s loving daughters, Bridget Flynn-Rapps, found the piece upsetting, and an affront to her late father.

She texted me and stated her case quite eloquently. I could feel her pain – and anger – in every sentence. In the end, after some tough soul searching, I came to the correct conclusion that sometimes, what I think is humorous is actually caustic and perhaps even cruel.

Yesterday, Ms. Flynn-Rapps shared her perspective in a Letter to the Editor, here in the Daily Post.

This young, highly intelligent woman has taught me a valuable lesson; one that I will faithfully follow in all my future scribblings.

I’d like to publicly apologize to Bridget from the bottom of my heart and hope that she can find it in her heart to forgive me. I never meant to cause her or anyone else pain, but I am guilty of gross insensitively and poor taste.

Something she wrote in her text really struck me,  I had concluded my essay by stating my love for Brian — but knowing Brian as I do, wouldn’t I have known that he would be livid if he’d been alive to read my essay?

And shouldn’t I also be ashamed of mentioning Brian’s youngest daughter, Sydney?

I texted the following in response:

This article is number 26 in my series on my crazy life in the music business since the 1960s. I poke fun at everyone I ever played with – including myself. I am truly sorry that the piece upset you, but it wasn’t my intention nor did I set about to write a smear piece.

As regards your little sister Sydney… Brian once contacted me to write a letter to the judge presiding over Sydney’s custody case. I wrote a passionate letter in behalf of Brian insisting that he was a wonderful father, that he and Syd were inseparable.

See the photo above, with Syd performing alongside her father.

I told the judge that Brian would do anything for his daughters. And I meant every word. Brian claimed that the letter had helped him gain custody. I didn’t have to do that, but I did… because I loved Brian. . .  and Sydney.

I apologize for having caused you pain. Please forgive me. Sincerely, DC.

Bridget replied:

You should have included more of that in your article, my friend.

Every lesson I ever learned was learned the hard way.

My love to all and have a Happy Fourth of July!