Lin Brehmer; Everyone’s Best Friend in The Whole World
If you are from Chicago and participated at all in the rock ‘n roll scene you will intimately know WXRT and Lin Brehmer. Lin passed this morning after battling cancer for a number of years; I was surprised how his death struck my inner core. Suddenly I was back at Park West, back in the Chicago night life scene. Back in Chicago, the town I so miss these days.
If you are from Chicago, you know exactly what I am talking about. Lin is/was a boomer like me, and my friends, coworkers, lovers and family members. Say what you want about my generation, but I will tell you this, we had a fuckin blast. My memories of the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, 2010’s in the city is incredibly raw and touch me like a lost love. My heart pounds a little and I cannot take a full breath. People remembering Lin on Twitter today were all there. Some were at Park West and referenced seeing Lin in the club. I was there too and one thing I will say about Lin is he always remembered my name. That stood out because another XRT favorite, Terri Hemmert, never remembered my name. The folks on Twitter this morning were all from Chicago and they all know Lin Brehmer’s name.
If you are from Chicago, you know what it’s like to get that city in your blood stream and feel a tightness in your chest when you recall all the music, the laughter, the fun, and absolute soul of the city.
If you are from Chicago, you will feel the hole in your heart that Lin Brehmer left today, January 22, 2023. Thank you, Lin, and the entire WXRT team for your huge presence in my memories.
If you are from Chicago, a little piece of the city died today. You have my condolences and my heart.