6.21.2011

DETROIT GUITARIST TERRY KELLY PASSED AWAY

Written by guitarist/friend: Robert Gillespie

The passing of a friend and great Guitarist, Terry Kelly.. I will miss Terry Kelly like a brother and will cherish the times we've had together jamming and just hanging out, he is finally at peace. I'll be posting some pix soon. A lot of people never heard of him I'm sure, but he was one of THE best guitarists from the Detroit area EVER.

Terry was the original guitarist in CACTUS and wrote many of the songs on the first album and just got a thank you, he also played with the Detroit Wheels after Mitch left in the late 60's and many other projects that never really happened.

One funny story about Terry; way back in the day he was at the in-famous Massimino Music store on 7 mile and Van Dyke and was trying out a guitar and played a Bone-Shattering lick......Ted Nugent was there with jaw dropped and drooling saying; "let's jam man-show me that?" and Terry said; "Naw I'm tired man" and left. He had it all the taste, the feel, the look and all the chops.


Just ask Jim McCarty......Terry did have some Demons as well like so many artists do and that may have been holding him back from success, regardless a chosen few of us that knew him are the ones that know just how talented the man was. I'm sure he'll be fronting the band in the after-life with many more like himself, and it will be one hell of a band!! God Bless Terry Kelly...................RKG

There will be a memorial service June 23 Thursday Evening at 7:00 at Memorial Church on Jefferson in Grosse Pointe(right next to The War Memorial)



See Robert Gillespie play with Detroit Daggers Saturday July 1st at Marios of Troy
FIREWORKS AND PARTY ON THE PATIO...

6 comments:

T. Roy said...

You will always be remembered as the guitar player who could have made it with any band. I will always remember you as my friend. R I P

Much love,
T. Roy

Anonymous said...

I will always remember you as, my friend. R I P

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

This is a nice article Terry was my best friend I started playing bass with Terry and hired him to replace Jim McCarty in the Detroit wheels I was the Bass player for the Detroit wheels for the time form the first hit until Mytch Quit and carried on until it became a joke if any Detroiters are out there jamesmccallister9@gmail.com love to hear from you. James Mccallister Florida

Anonymous said...

Terry was my best friend since we were kids, we played together in many bands including the Detroit wheels Jamesmccallister@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Speaking of Massimino Music, I purchased a Marshall Super Lead 100W head some 25-30 years ago from Massiminos. On the bottom are the words "Dream" above "Fragile". I have been searching for some Detroit history on this head without luck. Has anyone ever heard of a band going by some combination of these two words?
jtcrane@aol.com

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