RIP Stephen Hawking…
Sad news to share…as The Guardian.com reports tonight:
Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science, whose insights shaped modern cosmology and inspired global audiences in the millions, has died aged 76.
His family released a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning confirming his death at his home in Cambridge.
Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim said in a statement:
“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said: ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever.”
The Guardian.com has a great obituary, which you can read here:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-professor-dies-aged-76
Now, time to share a beautiful, spiritual song from one of my favorite Artists:
The iconic Musical Artist Todd Rundgren wrote a song inspired by Stephen Hawking’s life…a song that is inspirational and a great tribute to a great mind…
“Hawking,” from the “Nearly Human” album, is a gorgeous song – as described online:
“A meditation on human frailty and aspiration, based on the example of Stephen Hawking, the best-selling British author and astrophysicist who reaches out to chart the universe with a mind trapped in a paralyzed body.”
Todd gives a great tribute to this brilliant mind…
Here are some lyrics to the song “Hawking”:
“Whenever I
I close my eyes
Then I don’t mind being the way I am
But whenever I try
Explaining why
I know I never can
Now that it’s
Gone, paths I used to travel
Gone, things I used to handle
Gone, once I had a choice what to be
But then god kissed me
And I lost it when I fainted in his arms…”
I found this quote form Todd, explaining the song:
“The inspiration was not anecdotal–one person with a disease–so much as the concept of what bravery is and what humanity is,” Rundgren said. “So many people waste themselves. They just kind of fall into an average consumerist existence, and life is an endless round of the latest TV show and the latest movie. They forget the greater questions of what existence is about, why these things are here for our benefit.”
Here is Todd’s great live performance of the song in 1990:
Thanks as always to “HarryRunt danu” on YouTube, who posted this live clip from Todd’s “Nearly Human” Tour, the performance live At The Tokyo Sun Plaza Hall.
The song is from one of Todd’s greatest albums, “Nearly Human”, which includes his hit singles “Parallel Lines” and “The Want Of A Nail.” You can see more from the terrific album here:
https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/26/todd-rundgren-is-nearly-human-todds-6-fingered-masterpiece/
RIP to the brilliant mind of Stephen Hawking…
Categories: Art, Books / Media, Classic Rock, Music, Obscure Music, Talent/Celebrities, Technology, Todd Rundgren
Such a great loss to of course his family, but all of us that learnt from him too! I had so much admiration of his spirit and persistence, that in itself teaches us all so much. What a great song too, thanks for sharing x
Ugh! I’m so sorry to hear the reports of his passing. What a wonderful human being.
The brightest star in the firmament of science, – that is so eloquent. Beautifully put.
An amazing man shown in the tenacity he had for life as much as the brilliance of his mind
Lots of tributes to him around today of course. He managed to live a full life, against the odds of doing so. He also inspired so many, contributed to science and society, and will never be forgotten, that’s for sure.
Best wishes, Pete.
Exactly Pete, his physical limitations couldn’t hold back his intellect or spirit
Thank you for this moving and appropriate tribute to a man who can never be replicated. My favourite line of his ‘although I cannot walk and I have to talk with the aid of a computer, in my mind I am free’ …. may he now be free to shine in whatever firmament he has flown to.
EXACTLY! “In my mind I am free”…imagine living with that inability to move or talk, yet nothing held back his spirit – thanks for your comment
My pleasure …. he was beyond extraordinary
Thank you for the article and for posting Todd Rundgren’s comments about the song “Hawking.”
Rip
This was real nice, John. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment. I thought the song captured his inspiration and spirituality