*editor's note - Michael Saba is no longer working with divingin2memphis.com - Please visit musicphotog.com for his latest updates.

It's been three years since I
Last saw your face
In that time I've done well
So it would seem
But we cannot escape
From what we find down deep
And I am still afraid
I pray my soul
To keep
- Michael Houser's Burned Faceless

Michael Houser was a guitar genius, a poet, a friend, a father, and an entertainer. His life was taken much too early by pancreatic cancer on 8/10/2002. His death was grieved not only by his wife and children, but by thousands of fans across the globe.
I had the pleasure of meeting him (and his wife) only on one occasion (after the Halloween show of 1999). He was very humble, and it was nice to carry on a conversation with someone who provided so much joy in my life. Although that was the only time I spoke with him, he was one of my best friends. From 1993 to 2002, I had the pleasure of seeing him play that Telecaster almost 100 times from coast to coast. He had a huge impact on my life and was the reason I met most of my friends. He will never be forgotten.
Many have tried to down play his style of guitar playing. They complained was that he played the same solo in every song, and Mikey never denied it. Clearly it was the rhythmic chords, combined with the bending of strings, the work of his pedals (mainly volume and wah), the perfect tone, and the subtleness of playing that was the essence of Widespread Panic. He did not have to play in the spotlight to make his point. Mostly he was just there in the background; then all of the sudden, that lingering lead, would grab your leg and pull you in.
His songwriting was just as much of a stronghold. The man had love pouring out of him. Songs like Vacation, Sandbox, Airplane, and Burned Faceless (the list could go on and on) could bring tears to your eyes. Mikey’s songs came from his heart.
In the early months of 2002, I got a phone call from a source very close to the band informing me the news of his illness. After canceling their European tour, the Panic announced a very short spring tour. Seven shows in three states, over a period of two weeks. I knew this would be the last dance, and I needed to be there for every moment of it. I lived in Colorado at the time, and three of us loaded up the car and drove across the country. The whole gang was there. It was nice spending this time with so many friends I had made along the way. The music was phenomenal. The whole band was firing on all cylinders, and everyone on stage appeared to be having the best time of their lives. I witnessed three of those seven shows front row, of course, Mikey getting my undivided attention. As they played those final notes at Oak Mountain, emotions were all over the place. Seeing John Bell singing to his best friend, knowing that the end was near, was unexplainable. Those shows were, bar none, the most emotional I have ever experienced. I knew the end was near as we drove back to Colorado, but I had a feeling I would see him again. Red Rocks was not to be missed; it was the encore, so to speak. After that run (at one of the most beautiful venues in the world) I could only hope that I would get to see Mikey play again, because “where there is love, there is hope”. July 2, 2002 was his last show and then he went home to spend his final days with his family.

On July 16 Mikey made the following announcement:
Dear Widespread Panic community, and dear friends, Mikey here, with some thoughts and facts for you.
As some of you know, I have contracted a terminal form of cancer. I want to assure all of you that all that can be done has been done, and I want to thank all of you who have contributed information, medicine, and so on.
As for me, I am at my home in Athens, GA, surrounded by my family, and being well taken care of.
In the words of Lou Gehrig "Though some of you may have thought I have caught a bad break, I feel like the luckiest man in the world."
Between my best friends, J.B., Todd, Sunny, Dave and JoJo, and you, our friends, and best support group in the world, I feel strong and well taken care of.
I have hopes of playing again soon, although I can't say for sure when or where, and I hope to see you all there.
With much thanks and love,
Mikey

Many were upset because there was no official announcement prior; however, that was the style of the band. It was all grassroots and everyone that needed to know, already knew. However, reading these words was heartbreaking. He knew he was about to die, but was very much at ease with it. Mikey was the luckiest man in the world. I did not fully comprehend his last line of his announcement until he died less than a month later.
I had a very hard time dealing with his death. Not only because he was the driving force of my favorite band, or even the reason most of my friends across the country would plan vacations together, but largely because my father was dying of cancer at the same time. As my father watched the tears come out of my eyes he knew this was preparation of what would soon come in our own home. To close the chapter, I traveled back to Colorado for the first shows after Mikey’s death. It was a beautiful memorial and a much needed time with friends. Although the band has carried on, Michael Houser will NEVER be forgotten.
Thank you Mikey, for all that you gave us.

I have included this streamable link, which is a recording of a radio show in remembrance of Mikey. The complete song list is documented below the pictures. Bandwidth is replenished each day, so if the link doesn't work, try again tomorrow. The pictures are never before published photos I took at Red Rocks, the last time I saw his face. They were taken from the crowd and are by no means my best work; however, even as blurry as some of them are, they are some of my favorites.

Please sign on and list your memories or some of your favorite words written by our beloved friend.
















Bluff City Nights (DJ's: JDe Dehart, Lee Hoffman, Dan Tupis, Michael Saba)
08/11/04
"Mikey's Night"

Widespread Panic 12/31/97
Atlanta, GA Fox Theater

1.) Wish You Were Here (Mikey and J.B.)

Educational
Widespread Panic 10/20/86
Athens, GA Up-Town Lounge

2.) The Other One

Greatful Dead 05/04/77

3.) The Other One

Garcia and Kahn 05/05/82
Live from the Oregon State Prison

4.) Run For The Roses
5.) Ripple
6.) Been all Around this World
7.) Valerie
8.) Dire Wolf

Widespread Panic
Mikey Mix

9.) Burned faceless (04-29-97)
10.) It Was You (07/26/97)
11.) Sandbox (05/03/97)
12.) Maggot Brain (10/09/94)
13.) Chilly Water (07/19/97)
14.) Suprise Valley (12/31/00)
15.) Airplane (04/27/97)
16.) You Got Yours (07/11/97)
17.) B of D (07/11/97)
18.) Genesis (05/10/97
19.) Vacation (04/03/96)

04/27/02

20.) This Part of Town
21.) Happy Child
22.) I'm not Alone
23.) Tie Your Shoes
24.) I'm not Alone
25.) Don't be Denied

04/26/02

26.) Fish Water

04/28/02

27.) Trouble
28.) Down
29.) Postcard