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Steve Foley
Posted at 12:47 PM on August 26, 2008
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Very sad news today: Steve Foley, drummer and member of several significant local bands, has passed away.
Steve is probably best known to many folks for serving as the second and final drummer for The Replacements, following after Chris Mars. Steve went on to be in Tommy Stinson's post-Replacements band Bash & Pop, and then a few other groups, among them Wheelo, a band formed with songwriter Pete Lack.
A memorial service is scheduled for later this week. That's about all we know at the moment.
Our sincerest condolences to all of Steve's family and friends during this sad time.
Comments (28)
This is awful. See you there, Steve.
I learned he used to play in the Overtones. My friend Leif loaned me a cool 7-inch of theirs--'80s instrumental surf. Very cool.
I am shocked to hear this terrible news, I cant believe it. Saw Steve playing with the Replacments on their last tour. He kicked ass, did a great job. My condolences to his family and friends
Simply tragic. Beautiful dreams Steve, you will be greatly and sadly missed and remembered always. Rock on, say hi to Kate (and ask her to put me on the list)
Love ya,
Mary J
Such saddness I can hardly type- bye Steve, you are treasured
Steve was a band mate, a friend, and an inspiration.
we will miss you man.
Til we jam again.
Charlie E.
This is sad.
How? What happened?
One of the kindest, gentlest people I've come to know. Its not sinking in at all.Cannot afford to lose someone like him.....
Such a beautiful soul - now watching over all of us.
Not sure how this happened. Love to all friends and family.
Steve's final cymbal crash came down during a raucous, frenzied, and ridiculously silly jam in the key of "b" this past Thursday. We Wheelos had been spending our Thursday evenings bonding and rebuilding our calluses over the past 9 months. If we would have had any idea that it would end this way, we would have carried on all night.
Steve, my good friend, you will always be something wonderful.
An article has just been posted on Star Trib news with details of
funeral arrangements.
Steve, all day I felt myself squeezing out one last hug to you. Your eyebrows raised, 'Who knows?' or 'Whaddya gonna do?' is a funny comfort in my loving memories today.
I could have used a few more of those crazy laughs. Who didn't love running into Steve Foley? It's a heart saddening day.
I had the pleasure of meeting Steve last year while recording a band that he was in at the time. He was very happy to talk about his stint in the Replacements, his current job and other projects he was involved in. He even offered to let me borrow his favorite snare drum for any other projects at my studio. I am deeply saddened to hear of his untimely passing. I don't think he realized how many lives he touched in so many positive ways.
If you want to hear some of the songs we recorded last year, go to www.myspace.com/thesnapsband ...he played on all the songs that are posted there.
Steve, you will be missed by more people than you know.
I saw Steve play on that final 'Mats tour in Knoxville, Tennessee. They were in this cool old venue and they absolutely shredded the place. Steve came over for supper before the show and afterwards he and I went running around to the other clubs. I really enjoyed his friendship and musicianship. I remember thinking at the time "if there are other people like this in Minneapolis, I'm gonna move there." And I did.
What a sad thing to happen.Just breaks my heart.He was such a cool guy, and i really liked him alot.he was a great drummer and a great guy.it was such a cool gift to have had the experience of playing with him.rock on steve.you will be so missed.peace to you and your family.
Just the most terrible news. I remember Steve coming in to my father-in-law's music store. He'd walk into Torp's and my wife, Laura and I would just chat with him about whatever. He always left us smiling, both him and us.
Just heard about this on the current, Mary L mentioned it and my heart sank. Never saw Steve play or knew him - just know the rep - Steve had a lot of great things to say in the Mats book by Jim Walsh - he talks about how they met Norm from cheers amongst other things. Sad to see another great local musician pass :(
Steve was a great guy and a great story teller. So tragic.
Here's a link to a story in the star/trib
FOR FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY...
Please JOIN US Thursday night (8/28) anytime after 7 pm at The Local, 10th and Nicollet, for a casual pre-memorial eve gathering.
"WHEEL-Over..."
Let me try that again:
Steve Foley played with the Replacements (LINK)
My family is so deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love for Steve, especially from the music community. The response has been amazing and has kept us afloat during this unreal time. Hope to see some of you on Friday. We have picked a kick ass beauteous spot for Steve at Lakewood Cemetery, where he used to jump the fence and rollerblade at night.
thank you thank you.
from Steve's sister Colleen
Lisa Kane:
"Who didn't love running into Steve Foley?"
I lived in Uptown in the early eighties and would run into Steve once in awhile. We didn't really know one another but we knew a few of the same people. With a nod and a grin he'd always make me feel about three concentric circles cooler than I was.
His quiet easygoing kindness has stuck with me for twenty-five years.
Steve, my Geminian brother, I am in complete shock at how you've vanished so suddenly into thin air. So extremely sad to see you, one of the good ones, go.
I can only thank you for all of the meaningful times; the laughs, the jams, the stories, the introspection... the friendship. Good luck on your journey, and may you finally forgive the Coen brothers for Fargo.
steve and i both grew up in the hopkins area but i didn't meet him until he was the snaps' drummer. always thought he was very talented...and we had the same glasses, which was a funny bond. peace and condolences to the foley family for your great loss...
such sad news. i hadn't seen steve much since the pre-portland wheelo days. i keep hoping to bump into him and now i never will (not here anyway). he was so funny, even when he and paulette were horribly seasick sailing the boat down for peter and paulette's wedding - the water was so rough - and he still made me laugh. i hope this journey is a peaceful one.
my condolences to steve's family and friends. i am so sorry that i can't be there to celebrate his life with you. peace.
I was stunned when I read about Steve’s passing. I spent a lot of time hanging with Steve and his older brother Kevin in the mid-to-late 80’s and would run into him periodically over the ensuing years. I have never met anyone else quite like him. With his passing, a large piece is now missing from the soul of the Minneapolis music scene. Knowing I will never get the chance to see him again saddens me deeply. My heart goes out to the entire Foley clan, as I know how much he is going to be missed.
HE IS ONE OF THE HOPKINS PALS
THINKING OF YOU KEV
VICTOR
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