Growing up in our family, there wasn’t a lot of touchy feelings. We come from a family that does love us, but they don’t wear it on their sleeves if you know what I mean. You kind of always looked out for yourself or no one else would. Even though we lived miles apart , Jon and I had that close relationship. Maybe it was our common was love, respect, and support for music that connected us in life.
In the late 90’s to early 2000 I was off in NYC working for a studio and Jon was playing in a band that was literally one of the “buzz bands” in the Philly scene. He played bass in the band, Stutter and they were former regular at The Pontiac Grill, new Legendary Dobbs on South Street. Working in the music industry for so long, every band at the time was starting to sound the same and it took a lot for me to get excited about anything new. When I finally had the chance to come and see them play I was totally impressed not just with the showmanship, but the songs as well. I mean they had kids in the front row singing their lyrics and stage diving. I had a flash back to the times we played air guitar in our grandparent’s basement as kids and seeing him play it for real, I was so proud. He actually did it, did what he said he always wanted to do.
The band was tight, the act was great, and hell they were on the Vans Warp Tour, what is better than that in the early 2000’s for an unsigned band? When Stutter was ready to record, I wanted to help and guide them down the correct path as that was my forte. I believed in the music and our bond we had was strong that I wanted to do everything I could to help them succeed. So in 2002, the band released, “All Kidding Aside” and they were moving up the ladder with their management team and tours. Unfortunately a year or so later, the music era changed, the band called it quits and life went on as usual.
We didn’t talk all the time, but when we did, we just picked up where we left off without skipping a beat. After a while, I was getting burnt out in the city with my career and Jon actually talked me into starting my own business in Philadelphia. I thought it was a crazy idea, but he made it make sense. So, I moved to Philadelphia and open Mirror Image. In 2007 I inherited Origivation Magazine, now THAT MAG. All of which could not have happened if it wasn’t for my cousin’s support, encouragement and love.
These past few weeks, all I have been doing is thinking of him and like most people I am pissed off and feel robbed of our relationship being too short. I never got the opportunity to tell him how much he influenced my life, how great a person he was or tell him that I did love him. He was taken away from us at such a young age.
If there’s one thing this experience has shown me is, if you have a dream, live it. Thanks to Jon, I have and will forever be grateful to him. This is my way of remembering Jon Savko, a Cousin, brother, friend, husband, father, son, uncle and nephew. My heart goes out to his wife, his 2 beautiful children, sisters and his parents.
Jon, I love you and I will never forget you! May you still be rocking on in the afterlife!
Stutter did reform before Jon’s passing and they are planning on doing a tribute show as well as recording some of their new material in the very near future.
