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| person:ille_homine_albe [2018/07/28 00:16] – Minor edits digital man | person:ille_homine_albe [2022/01/21 14:50] (current) – Updated a couple of links digital man |
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| ====== Steven B. Deppe (Ille Homine Albe) 1958-2014 ====== | ====== Steven B. Deppe (Ille Homine Albe) 1958-2014 ====== |
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| {{:person:scan0021.jpg?500|Steve Deppe, Dresden show, 1986}} | {{:person:deppe_steve_keyboards_1986_001b.jpg?500|Steve Deppe, Dresden show, 1986}} |
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| * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170914140030/http://stevedeppe.com/|Steve's old web-site]] (which used to have Dresden's [[https://soundcloud.com/rob-swindell/steve-deppe-with-dresden-occult-science-of-power|"Occult Science of Power"]] as background music) | * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170914140030/http://stevedeppe.com/|Steve's old web-site]] (which used to have Dresden's [[https://soundcloud.com/rob-swindell/steve-deppe-with-dresden-occult-science-of-power|"Occult Science of Power"]] as background music) |
| Having already met Dave at my house, the audition would be my first introduction to both Steve Deppe (the keyboardist) and [[http://www.guitarlessonsriverside.com/|Karl Johnson]] (the guitarist). Elaine Donaldson was the singer of the band at the time and I don't recall her being there the day of my audition. I would only see Elaine a handful of times as her interest in the band seemed to be waning (or was it mutual?) and I would only play with Karl for a couple of years and Dave maybe a year longer than that, but Steve would remain an important musical mentor and important influence in other elements of my life for many years to come. Of course, I didn't know that at the time. | Having already met Dave at my house, the audition would be my first introduction to both Steve Deppe (the keyboardist) and [[http://www.guitarlessonsriverside.com/|Karl Johnson]] (the guitarist). Elaine Donaldson was the singer of the band at the time and I don't recall her being there the day of my audition. I would only see Elaine a handful of times as her interest in the band seemed to be waning (or was it mutual?) and I would only play with Karl for a couple of years and Dave maybe a year longer than that, but Steve would remain an important musical mentor and important influence in other elements of my life for many years to come. Of course, I didn't know that at the time. |
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| {{:person:scan0030.jpg?300|Steve Deppe, 1986}} | {{:person:deppe_steve_keyboards_1987_001b.jpg?300|Steve Deppe, 1987}} |
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| The day of the audition for Dresden, I don't recall Steve saying more than 2 words to me. I remember noticing that he was very tall and pale and didn't smile much. Karl said maybe four or five words and at least feigned a grin my way. Dave was much more congenial and did most of the talking. I had learned the songs from the tape and we worked on a few that first day, all instrumentals... or at least played just instrumentally (no vocals). I got a sense right away that if I wanted to join this band, and I did (I felt compelled to), that I would be accepted. | The day of the audition for Dresden, I don't recall Steve saying more than 2 words to me. I remember noticing that he was very tall and pale and didn't smile much. Karl said maybe four or five words and at least feigned a grin my way. Dave was much more congenial and did most of the talking. I had learned the songs from the tape and we worked on a few that first day, all instrumentals... or at least played just instrumentally (no vocals). I got a sense right away that if I wanted to join this band, and I did (I felt compelled to), that I would be accepted. |
| {{:person:steve_deppe_pipe.jpg?500|Steve's meerschaum pipe}} | {{:person:steve_deppe_pipe.jpg?500|Steve's meerschaum pipe}} |
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| After a year or so of playing with Dresden, we had played publicly as a band just one time (at a block party in Hacienda Heights that I think Karl arranged and which had been cut short by the police and their helicopter) and we recorded a 3 song demo, all without a singer. We had been searching for a full time singer the entire time I was in the band, but I was eager to play more shows and record more, so I decided it was time to leave the band and find a band with more immediate activity that might lead to rock stardom. Dave, Steve, and Karl all had full-time jobs and it just didn't seem to me that it was as important to them to "make it" as a musician as it was to me. | After a year or so of playing with Dresden, we had played publicly as a band just one time (at a block party in Hacienda Heights that I think Karl arranged and which had been cut short by the police and their helicopter) and we recorded a 3 song demo, all without a singer. We had been searching for a full time singer the entire time I was in the band; our near-miss at an appropriate singer was when Steve connected with John Hall, formerly of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f14cmf3XleE|Shiva]], but John flaked on the night of his audition and seemed to avoid Steve's calls after that. I was eager to play more shows and record more, so I decided it was time to leave the band and find a band with more immediate activity that might lead to rock stardom. Dave, Steve, and Karl all had full-time jobs and it just didn't seem to me that it was as important to them to "make it" as a musician as it was to me. |
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| (Steve was working at CompuCorp as a software engineer, Dave worked for Sears selling and repairing home appliances, and Karl worked for a music store giving guitar lessons and selling musical equipment. Steve was driving a brand new 1985 black Corvette that was sexy as hell and it was obvious that Steve was doing well financially) | (Steve was working at CompuCorp as a software engineer, Dave worked for Sears selling and repairing home appliances, and Karl worked for a music store giving guitar lessons and selling musical equipment. Steve was driving a brand new 1985 black Corvette that was sexy as hell and it was obvious that Steve was doing well financially) |
| {{:person:scan0019.jpg?300|Rob, at home on the phone, 1986}} | {{:person:scan0019.jpg?300|Rob, at home on the phone, 1986}} |
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| I didn't immediately join another band though I was jamming with some friends and auditioning for other bands. Eventually Dave called me to say that Dresden had found a singer, Baron Knight, and asked if I would rejoin the band. We had all been screening singers while I was in the band and I remember rejecting a singer named "Baron" because I didn't like his demo tape (in particular, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swfaoa8PJtc|his singing on it]]) and I wondered if this was the same guy. | I didn't immediately join another band though I was jamming with some friends and auditioning for other bands. Eventually Dave called me to say that Dresden had found a singer, Baron Knight, and asked if I would rejoin the band. We had all been screening singers while I was in the band and I remember rejecting a singer named "Baron" because I didn't like his demo tape (in particular, [[https://youtu.be/O_8s1OwyjQs?t=114|his singing on it]]) and I wondered if this was the same guy. |
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| {{:person:baron_knight_with_cassle.jpg?300|Baron Knight (second from left) with his former band, Cassle)}} | {{:person:baron_knight_with_cassle.jpg?300|Baron Knight (second from left) with his former band, Cassle)}} |
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| I agreed to meet the guys at their new studio in Santa Ana, California and meet this new singer and sure enough it was the **same guy** I had previously rejected. Somewhat reluctantly, I rejoined the band with assurance from Dave and the others that we would be playing gigs and recording eminently. | I agreed to meet the guys at their new studio in Santa Ana, California and meet this new singer and sure enough it was the **same guy** I had previously rejected. Somewhat reluctantly, I rejoined the band with assurance from Dave and the others that we would be playing gigs and recording imminently. |
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| {{:person:scan0012.jpg?500|Rob Swindell, Baron Knight, Karl Johnson, Dave Codde, 1988}} | {{:person:scan0012.jpg?500|Rob Swindell, Baron Knight, Karl Johnson, Dave Codde, 1988}} |
| By this time, I had become engrossed in Steve's compositions and Steve would teach me my favorite parts on the keyboard (mostly from "[[https://soundcloud.com/rob-swindell/steve-deppes-mass-for-the-dead-string-septet|Mass for the Dead]]") when I requested. Some of the longer more intricate pieces that I didn't immediately "get" when I was younger, were now my favorites and I was eager to get them recorded just so I could listen to them for my own enjoyment and I just *knew* that fans of great music would find and love Steve's songs, with or without drums. Heck, I didn't care if it was even a band, I just wanted the melodies and arrangements to be downloaded from Steve's brain to something more permanent and easily shared with the world: like a compact disc! | By this time, I had become engrossed in Steve's compositions and Steve would teach me my favorite parts on the keyboard (mostly from "[[https://soundcloud.com/rob-swindell/steve-deppes-mass-for-the-dead-string-septet|Mass for the Dead]]") when I requested. Some of the longer more intricate pieces that I didn't immediately "get" when I was younger, were now my favorites and I was eager to get them recorded just so I could listen to them for my own enjoyment and I just *knew* that fans of great music would find and love Steve's songs, with or without drums. Heck, I didn't care if it was even a band, I just wanted the melodies and arrangements to be downloaded from Steve's brain to something more permanent and easily shared with the world: like a compact disc! |
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| In 1989, Steve and I moved from the studio in Santa Ana to another more secure studio in Whittier, California and it was there that we auditioned and played with different guitarists and bass players. When we found [[http://www.reverbnation.com/musician/kenjaquess|Ken Jaquess]], we were sure we could move forward finally as a new band (but preserving most of Steve's music from Dresden) and Steve's girlfriend of the time, Holly, had suggested the name "Vertrauen" (German for "trust") for the band. I liked the name so much that I decided to use it as the name of my new bulletin board system, running on a PC-XT clone running WWIV v4 on MS-DOS. We never did much as a band with the name "Vertrauen", but the BBS by that name has lived on, all these years, in one form or another, and ultimately played a large part in my life. | In 1989, Steve and I moved from the studio in Santa Ana to another more secure studio in Whittier, California and it was there that we auditioned and played with different guitarists and bass players. When we found [[http://kenjaquess.com/|Ken Jaquess]], we were sure we could move forward finally as a new band (but preserving most of Steve's music from Dresden) and Steve's girlfriend of the time, Holly, had suggested the name "Vertrauen" (German for "trust") for the band. I liked the name so much that I decided to use it as the name of my new bulletin board system, running on a PC-XT clone running WWIV v4 on MS-DOS. We never did much as a band with the name "Vertrauen", but the BBS by that name has lived on, all these years, in one form or another, and ultimately played a large part in my life. |
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| ==== The BBS Years ==== | ==== The BBS Years ==== |
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| Eventually, the band would fizzle, but Steve and I remained friends and Steve would spend a lot of time logged into my BBS and/or talking with me on the phone. In the early 1990's I would ultimately write my own BBS software (to replace the WWIV BBS software I was using). Steve provided technical (e.g. C programming and debugging) tips, but he also gave me the suggested name of "Synchronet", which I liked immediately. | Eventually, the band would fizzle, but Steve and I remained friends and Steve would spend a lot of time logged into my BBS and/or talking with me on the phone. In the early 1990's I would ultimately write my own BBS software (to replace the WWIV BBS software I was using). Steve provided technical (e.g. C programming and debugging) tips, but he also gave me the suggested name of "Synchronet", which I liked immediately. |
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| | Steve would make other suggestions to me for the BBS and its software, like this mock-up of a user information/editor screen that he prepared for me in July of 1991 (you can see his personality and the signs of the times, e.g. 2400bps, here, but definitely see his influence on Synchronet): |
| | <code> |
| | Acct: Ille Homine Albe #4, bastille, 213-378-4903, 2400 |
| | User: Steve Deschaine, 32 M 05/22/58 |
| | Test: 26/25 Propeller-head |
| | Syst: 386DX-25 4096K ISA HGC, 2-RLL 115M |
| | Actv: 09/10/89, $0 paid 0 days |
| | Cmmt: r0dent-terrorizer |
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| | Main: 99 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Rstr: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ |
| | Xfer: 99 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Exem: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ |
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| | Stat: total today last |
| | Logn: 214 3 12/17/90 18:01 |
| | Time: 1281 58 |
| | Mail: 55 4 12/17/90 10 sysop, 4 pending |
| | Post: 112 0 12/15/90 |
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| | Upld: 4,294,967,295 bytes in 65535 files |
| | Dnld: 4,294,967,295 bytes in 65535 files |
| | Pnts: 4,294,967,295 |
| | </code> |
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| Around this time period Steve was working as a firmware engineer at General Automation (frequently referred to as "GA"). He worked in the office strange hours and he would sometimes bring me to his work to see the offices, the cube farms and PCB assembly lines all quiet while almost all the employees were home asleep. Steve would tell me about what he was working on, show me code listings and documents he was working on. I was fascinated by Steve's knowledge and programming skills and many years later, I too would become a professional firmware engineer, always reminded of Steve's early inspiration and encouragement to me. | Around this time period Steve was working as a firmware engineer at General Automation (frequently referred to as "GA"). He worked in the office strange hours and he would sometimes bring me to his work to see the offices, the cube farms and PCB assembly lines all quiet while almost all the employees were home asleep. Steve would tell me about what he was working on, show me code listings and documents he was working on. I was fascinated by Steve's knowledge and programming skills and many years later, I too would become a professional firmware engineer, always reminded of Steve's early inspiration and encouragement to me. |
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| ==== Steve Moves Back Home ==== | ==== Steve Moves Back Home ==== |
| For a period of time in the mid 90's, Steve actually lived with me in the house I purchased from my mother in Fullerton, California and had lived in since I was 9 years old. After a few months of awkward cohabitation, he moved to L.A. to live with his girlfriend at the time and we lost touch for about 10 years. During that time, after breaking up with his girlfriend, he moved back to Fresno and lived there with this parents and also for a period with Dave Codde in Pine Mountain Lake. | For a period of time in the mid 90's, Steve actually lived with me in the house I purchased from my mother in Fullerton, California and had lived in since I was 9 years old. After a few months of awkward cohabitation, he moved to L.A. to live with his girlfriend at the time and we lost touch for about 10 years. During that time, after breaking up with his girlfriend, he moved back to Fresno and lived there with his parents and also for a period with Dave Codde in Pine Mountain Lake. |
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| === Re-connection === | === Re-connection === |
| {{:person:xmas_in_reedley_2007.jpg?500|Steve in Fresno, Christmas 2007}} | {{:person:xmas_in_reedley_2007.jpg?500|Steve in Fresno, Christmas 2007}} |
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| As it turned out, my wife's family lived near Fresno, so we had a several opportunities to see each other and work on some of Steve's material from the Dresden/Vertrauen days (again, mainly, "[[ftp://vert.synchro.net/music/DRESDEN/Requiem.MP3|Mass For The Dead]]"), and Steve recorded some of our improvisations in his private studio ([[https://soundcloud.com/rob-swindell/steve-deppes-last-jam-with-rob-swindell-on-v-drums|listen here]]). But mainly, we just socialized on the occasions that my wife and kids and I would visit my in-laws near Fresno. Steve enjoyed bringing over DVDs and sharing his favorite shows and movies with anyone that would sit and focus long enough. We played board games and just talked. Steve was now mellower and a bit more comfortable in social situations, so he would join our New Year's Eve and birthday parties eagerly. | As it turned out, my wife's family lived near Fresno, so we had several opportunities to see each other and work on some of Steve's material from the Dresden/Vertrauen days (again, mainly, "[[http://vert.synchro.net/Dresden/Requiem.MP3|Mass For The Dead]]"), and Steve recorded some of our improvisations in his private studio ([[https://soundcloud.com/rob-swindell/steve-deppes-last-jam-with-rob-swindell-on-v-drums|listen here]]). But mainly, we just socialized on the occasions that my wife and kids and I would visit my in-laws near Fresno. Steve enjoyed bringing over DVDs and sharing his favorite shows and movies with anyone that would sit and focus long enough. We played board games and just talked. Steve was now mellower and a bit more comfortable in social situations, so he would join our New Year's Eve and birthday parties eagerly. |
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| {{:person:steve_deppe_studio_2011.jpg?500|Steve in his music studio in Fresno, 2011}} | {{:person:steve_deppe_studio_2011.jpg?500|Steve in his music studio in Fresno, 2011}} |
