|
3.20.2003
Nick O'Neill, 18; actor, 'amazing songwriter'
Tall, slim, blond, and 18 years old, Nicholas Philip O'Neill dreamed of
being a rock star in a "hair metal" band, his friends say. Party
anthems from the '80s were in his blood. He wrote more than 50 of his
own songs, catchy tunes about girlfriends and hanging out, and performed
them as the lead singer of his band, Shryne.
His father, radio personality and "Father Misgivings" creator
Dave Kane, said his son was a natural musician from when he was a small
child. By the age of 18, he had recorded a CD.
"We got him five guitar lessons and he just took off," Kane
said.
"What really hurts about it," said friend Dave Tessier, 32,
"is this kid was just an amazing songwriter. When I met him, the
kid was 16 and he'd written all these great tunes. I was in awe of him."
Nick was expecting to hear some more good music when he went to The Station
on Feb. 20 with bandmate Jon Brennan. Jon made it out alive.
"He was actually with Nick until the final moments when it went
black, and they got separated," said Jon's mother, Kari Tieger.
Nick was born in Warwick, a son of Joanne O'Neill of Pawtucket, formerly
of Cranston, and Kane, of North Providence. He lived most of his life
in Cranston, attending Cranston High School East before moving to Pawtucket
several month ago.
In addition to being a talented rocker, Nick is remembered as a gifted
performer for All Children's Theatre, according to Wrenn Goodrum, the
East Providence group's artistic director.
"He was always so full of life," Goodrum said. His jokes would
break the tension during a tough rehearsal. His smiles would encourage
even the younger members of the troupe, who admired him. "He had
a special way of working with them so they could find their parts, their
character," she said. "Even some of the kids we adults couldn't
reach."
"Nick and I, we used to goof around," said a friend from the
theater troupe, Dan Kenner, 16. Kenner remembers that once, while they
rehearsed for a play about the Holocaust, O'Neill's role called for him
to come onstage and greet the other people in the room with a kiss on
the cheek. It was supposed to be a somber moment. But as he entered, he
whispered jokes in the actors' ears, sending them into stitches. "All
the other kids would get in trouble," Dan said, laughing. "You
could always count on Nick for a joke."
-- John Hill
-- Drawing courtesy of Charlie Hall
3.2.2003 --
At large by Channing Gray: Stage left: Nick O'Neill had qualities of a
real star
2.27.2003 --
Music was teen's life, and his final note
Share your thoughts and condolences for all of those lost
|
