There was a time I often went to Pirate Video Cabaret at Clintons and if Alan Park was on the bill it was extra special. That amazing hilarious intimidating and confident man. We got a little bit friendlier 12 years ago at the memorial for Makesi, another original inspiring voice, unique on that stage. The strongest work is rarely there for the mainstream, only the few get the pleasure to be there. I offered to make a theme song for Alan’s first podcast serial, about conspiracy theories. He was flattered that I offered and very excited… until he heard it. Alas, it didn’t make any sense to him and instead he cut and paste something more to his taste, something like Metallica. I felt like one of us didn’t get the joke, so it goes. I liked his podcast and the next podcast after that, when he became the poster boy for a type of cannabis treatment that saved his life when cancer first tried to destroy it. I saw Chuck Angus of the NDP hold a fundraiser once or twice and I found the entertainment he invited so very luke warm, doing nothing for reaching other types of Torontonians. I thought that should have been the priority and offered to organize the next one. After Chuck agreed, I was pleased to ask other musicians and dancers and visual artists and when it came to comedians I knew Alan would be perfect because he was all about political ideas in his comedy. I got him on the telephone and he said unfortunately he would be traveling that day, returning from Montreal – so yes of course he’d be there but he might get there a little late. His humour at first pleased the left identified crowd, then without missing a beat he said contrary things that pissed some of them off, whoever was thinnest skinned. It was awesome, he was awesome.