Lydia Woltag Memorial (12-10-17)
Lydia Woltag was a truly unforgettable, much-loved cog in the wheels of the West Coast music industry, most prominently in the 1970s-1990s. A bubbly, highly energetic and skilled public relations and publicity specialist, Lydia perhaps left her greatest mark on the industry during her stay at the legendary firm Gibson & Stromberg. She tragically passed-away in mid-2017.
A group of her close friends met-up on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Sunset Strip's iconic Rainbow Bar and Grill (where she spent many hours with her cherished clients) to honor her memory, relate Lydia anecdotes and stories, to laugh and to cry.
The following are a few photos that I shot from that event.
-Pete
A group of her close friends met-up on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Sunset Strip's iconic Rainbow Bar and Grill (where she spent many hours with her cherished clients) to honor her memory, relate Lydia anecdotes and stories, to laugh and to cry.
The following are a few photos that I shot from that event.
-Pete
Some Memories of Lydia From a Few of Her Special Friends
From Jack Kellman: Lydia never lost her sense of humor, she never lost her will to fight, she never gave up...NEVER. In my last conversation with her, she told me to go fuck myself. I waited 10 minutes and then called her back. I told her, "I did it". She said, "Did what?". I said..."fucked myself". She hesitated a moment and then asked..."How was it?". I had no answer, thankfully.
From Irving Azoff: In her last days, when she was really miserable and the staff were about to walk out on her, Gary told me to call and cheer her up. So I called and she quietly told me the end was near and she needed to let go and told me how much she loved me. I told her that if she loved me, she owed it to me to hang on until I sent my wife down to see her. I would get her a gun and the least she could do in her last days was to shoot Shelli for me. The perfect crime. Of course, I love my wife but Lydia laughed for days. She was a special woman and I will never forget her.
From Bruce Garfield: It was the very early 1970s, when a hot, young, super-energized, take-no-prisoners, flash your tits, cuss like a sailor, serve-me-no-bullshit Gibson & Stromberg publicity kid named Lydia Woltag and I became friends. Almost immediately thereafter, she decided I was no longer Bruce. I was now BRUCIE.
Despite decades of protestation, she refused to address me in any other manner and reveled in my frustration. "You're my Brucie and that's it." Brainwashed and re-oriented, a circle of our closest friends (Gary Stromberg, Irving Azoff, Susan Markheim, Richard Kimball, Jack Kellman, Michael and Sandee Ochs and other likely suspects) continue to perpetuate Lydia's will and my re-monikering. I cannot help thinking about her and hear her laugh whenver anyone addresses me as "Brucie". Perhaps that's the way she wanted it to be. She did have a bit of a taste for torture.
It was in 2016 when Gary and Irving filled me in on the worsening gravity of Lydia's health. The news marked the beginning of a trip to see her and a constant flow of calls, letters, cards, text messages, links to obscene humor, etc. We all took the ride with her: the crying, the pain, the worries, the ups-and-downs, the courage and all imaginable forms of human emotion. It seems so ironic that the pain and subsequent loss of someone so loved by so many can bring friends together to celebrate that person's very being. I wish I could be with you all today to see so many faces, each of which occupies a place in my heart and life. Cheers to all of us kids.
Despite decades of protestation, she refused to address me in any other manner and reveled in my frustration. "You're my Brucie and that's it." Brainwashed and re-oriented, a circle of our closest friends (Gary Stromberg, Irving Azoff, Susan Markheim, Richard Kimball, Jack Kellman, Michael and Sandee Ochs and other likely suspects) continue to perpetuate Lydia's will and my re-monikering. I cannot help thinking about her and hear her laugh whenver anyone addresses me as "Brucie". Perhaps that's the way she wanted it to be. She did have a bit of a taste for torture.
It was in 2016 when Gary and Irving filled me in on the worsening gravity of Lydia's health. The news marked the beginning of a trip to see her and a constant flow of calls, letters, cards, text messages, links to obscene humor, etc. We all took the ride with her: the crying, the pain, the worries, the ups-and-downs, the courage and all imaginable forms of human emotion. It seems so ironic that the pain and subsequent loss of someone so loved by so many can bring friends together to celebrate that person's very being. I wish I could be with you all today to see so many faces, each of which occupies a place in my heart and life. Cheers to all of us kids.
Lydia Woltag Tribute Video
A Previous Memorial Get-Together to Honor Lydia
This dinner at one of Lydia's favorite restaurants (Genghis Cohen) gathered many of her long-time friends. Left to right: Susan Markheim, Richard Kimball, Michael Ochs, Sandee Ochs, Bruce Garfield, Gary Stromberg, Irving Azoff, Jack Kellman and Patti Kimball.