The past few months many of us have experienced an immense loss and have gained an even larger void in our life.  By filling it with memories, music, and a desire to live our lives with as much zest as he did, we can help Phil’s energy, his spirit, live on forever.

 

My first encounter with Phil was through the tape deck of his sister Kristen’s Pontiac Sunfire. Blasting through the speakers was a hip hop duo that I had never heard before, and I asked who we were listening to. Kristen’s face was consumed with pride as she told me that the music was by her brother and his friend Paul.  While drove to the party we were headed to we probably rewound that tape 3 or 4 times, bopping our heads and attempting to rap along. I don’t exactly remember the first time I met Phil face to face, but what I will never forget are the fun times we spent together; conversations full of his love for life and its music.   

 

Anyone that knew Phil knows what a passion he had for everything he was involved in.  He believed in, stood by, and promoted his interests and his actions. He had a way of getting you excited about whatever it was he was into at the moment.  His zeal was contagious. And he gave the most amazing hugs.

   

Phil spent his life enjoying the moment.  He surrounded himself with good company and things he enjoyed. He ate well, drank well, and listened to good music. He also made good music.  He didn’t skimp on things and he always went all out.  Though his life was cut tragically short, it was not short lived.  His was the perfect example of a life lived to its fullest.

 

Now we are left with only memories of our time with that amazing guy.  He spent his life creating an energy that has now been released and is surrounding us all.  It’s in the next song we hear that makes us think of him, the next concert we go to, the next beat shakes us and makes us dance, or the next great hug we receive.  And it will be there always.  We all experienced Phil in our own ways, and we will all remember him in the things that we shared with him.

 

He was a lover, a dreamer, a friend; a brother to us all.  His passion will live on, in the music, in the memories, and in all of us.

Peace Phil, we’ll miss you!

 

By: Katie Vernezze – Special to Popular Underground

 

More than a contributor...

 

It’s hard to remember when and where you first met people and I can’t remember exactly where I first met Phil Ryan.  It was probably over a few beers in his parent’s pool room.  My memories of Phil go far beyond first impressions though.  I didn’t get to see him often, but when we did have the opportunity to hang out, we certainly had fun.

 

I remember having conversations with Phil about Popular Underground Magazine.  He contributed in more ways than I ever really knew.  Sure he wrote a couple articles for the publication like an interview with The Crest, a review of the Rock the Bells music festival and even a review of a boxing match for the Sports section of PUM.  Phil had a great writing talent, but his true talent was in his excitement for everything he got involved with.  He was constantly spreading the PUM word.  Letting everyone know about this online magazine that “his boy” ran.  Phil even helped coordinate a photo shoot for one of the PUM Girls at a friends condo in Chicago.  I’ll never forget how excited Phil was to be involved.  Maybe it was because of the scantily dressed model running around the condo, but I could tell it meant more to him than that.  He was helping a friend try and achieve something more.  That’s what Phil was all about.

 

Like anyone, Phil had big dreams.  He loved music, mainly hip hop, but respected many different genres.  He could listen to nearly any song and find the good within the music.  Just like how he found the good in people.  His mother recently told me how Phil never judged anyone.  He accepted people for who they were and welcomed them with open arms.

 

Phil was part of a hip hop duo called Pickled Corpse Squad (PCS).  He used the stage name Corey Webb along side Uncle Paulie.  They released a record in 2002 entitled Drunk n Wise Guys and you can actually find it online; even on AOL music.  Phil never let me in on his music endeavors.  I’m not sure if it was because he was worried I would be too much of a critic or what it was, but from what I’ve heard since his passing, it was pretty awesome stuff.

 

I’ll never forget one of the last times Phil and I hung out.  It was after the photoshoot he helped coordinate.  We had a long drive home on a snowy Chicago night.  He opened up to me with stories, feelings and emotions that were deep within the confines of his heart.  It was that night when I truly felt a bonding to Phil.

 

Just days before his passing I got a phone call.  It was Phil, his voice full of excitement.  He had just landed a new job for a company he believed in and he wanted to begin coordinating press for the Rock the Bells festival this summer.  That would be the last time I would ever talk to him.

 

Phil was more than a contributor to PUM.  He was a personal friend.  It’s sad how you oftentimes don’t realize the impact a person has had on you until it’s too late.  That feeling sucks.  I’ll always remember Phil as a person who was full of life, passion and had a drive to succeed.  We had some great times together and I’ll never forget him or those memories.

 

By: Adam Zak - Senior Editor / Founder