Meat Puppets' Cris Kirkwood shot by Arizona rent-a-cop

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According to an Arizona newspaper:

Cris Kirkwood, former bass player for the Meat Puppets, an influential Phoenix band that became a national act in the 1980s and '90s, was shot Friday after an altercation with a security guard at the downtown Phoenix post office.

Sez here he got in a fight over a parking space, after which a security guard was summoned. Then:

The guard "took out the baton and held it out in front of him and said, 'You need to leave,' " Killigrew said. "The guy took the baton from him and struck him at least one time in the forehead at which time the guard felt fear for his life. He said, 'I thought the guy was going to kill me.' He already displayed that he would hurt him, and the guard shot him one time in the abdomen."

He's got huevos, alright. Any further word?

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

An incident involving firearms at a Post Office that didn't involve a Postal worker...what are the odds?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Considering this was the last I've heard of him four years ago, I'm actually surprised he was still alive. I seriously thought he might have passed on.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

That's fucked-up.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit shit.

Well, hell, sad to say, at least this proved that he was still alive. No one had heard from the guy in years. Even Kurt even disowned the guy's existence at one point.

So.... Is he going to be ok, maybe? Any word?

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

even if he recouvers from the shooting, i don't know if he can pull off "ok"

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

er, recovers

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Weeeeell, you never know, dyson. In a sick sort of way, maybe this is the kind of rebirth he needs if he survives this, if it turned out he was still spiralling down the vortex of drug addict hell that he was apparently the last four years. I wish the guy the best. I have pleasant memories of his bobbing hair-covered head during the Meat Puppets shows I've seen many years ago.

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Strange. I hope he can pull out of his abyss.

I can state from experience that there are some wackos in the rentacop jobs. I had one pull a gun on me, as I was walking in a mall with my coat draped over my arm and the lunatic thought I was hiding a gun.

I was waiting for my girlfriend at the time to get off work and was getting a soda from one of those cookie stand places and all of the sudden two of them with their guns drawn go "freeze". The most classic thing was the look on the kid running the register at the cookie stand, it scared her more than me.

― earlnash, Monday, 29 December 2003 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

there is a chance he could turn things around. but it really does look like this guy is going to be the next layne staley.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

but it really does look like this guy is going to be the next layne staley.

a fate worse than death?

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:46 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, why insult kirkwood that way?

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

because i think he might be doing the drugs.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

He has probably been doing the drugs for almost half a decade in enough seclusion as it is. That's no real secret. To reiterate Ned, this was shocking only that it was the first time in that long I even heard the guy might have been alive!

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 29 December 2003 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

The second song off the last full-length MP release is called...ulp..."Armed and Stupid."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 29 December 2003 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

note: cris hasn't played with the meat puppets for many years.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 29 December 2003 22:05 (twenty-one years ago)

in its own weird way, this is good news. after reading things like that phoenix new times article, i figured the next thing i'd hear would be "meat puppets' bassist dead of overdose."

― Andrew Calaman (Andrew Calaman), Monday, 29 December 2003 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm shocked that someone getting shot at a post office in the U.S. makes the news.

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 02:39 (twenty-one years ago)

[i]I'm shocked that someone getting shot at a post office in the U.S. makes the news.[/i]

Hahaha.

― Catherine (Catherine), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 03:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Ain't that America? You can be shot, perhaps killed, by a control freak who flunked out of the police academy (or has a record), all over a parking space. Nice.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this why SST is selling all the old Meat Puppets LPs for like $4 apiece?

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Ain't that America? You can be beaten, perhaps killed, by a junkie who is clearly past whatever prime he had, all over a parking space. Nice.

― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

No new news here, but at least it's a decent summary and yet very sad and telling story of the decline of Cris Kirkwood (until now that is, still holding hope that there will be a turnaround)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"Heavyset" Cris Kirkwood is hard for me to imagine. There's also a Yahoo Groups page featuring stream-of-consciousness patter from his girlfriend. Sad stuff.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

you would be able to link to that would you¿

― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the idea that if he recouvers, he will leave the hospital a French-Canadian.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"I called my stepdad who is an emergency physician and has worked at the County ER, a Level One Trauma Unit, for 30 years. He knows a thing or two about gunshot wounds. I described the symptoms that Cris had described to me. Since his lack of medical treatment, Cris' feet had gone from having a tingling sensation, to being completely numb. His legs were also numb. Also, his genitalia were numb. My stepdad does not get freaked out very easily. He has seen some sh*t in his 30 years as a trauma doctor. He told me that the symptoms that Cris was describing were indicative of compression on the spinal cord. He said that Cris' situation was a 'time imperative' situation and that 'every minute counts.' He said that Cris should be immediately transported to a medical facility where an MRI and a neurosurgical evaluation could be performed ASAP."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/criskirkwood/

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

This is horrible, horrible.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

Not much new to report, but this is from www.aversion.com:

Meat Puppet Pleas Guilty
May 13, 2004

Former Meat Puppet Cris Kirkwood faces prison time after striking a plea bargain on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Kirkwood, who faced charges after assaulting a security guard outside a post office Dec. 26, agreed to enter a guilty plea in return for a light sentence. District attorneys are expected to recommend a 27-month stint in the can when Kirkwood is sentenced July 26. He will also be ordered to pay restitution to the security guard. If found guilty of the original charges, Kirkwood could have faced up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

Restitution to the security guard? Ten years in jail? A $250,000 fine??? From the accounts I've read, the security guard was pushed, punched and hit with his own baton. Kirkwood was shot in the stomach. I just don't understand the law.

If nothing else, maybe the prison sentence will help Cris? I don't know, but I hope so.

― woly boly (woly boly), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

27-month stint = 2 years + 3 months, prolly will get out early with good behavior.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Just the possibility of the ten years/$250,000 fine is what shocked me. I realize it was a federal offense, but omg wtf.

― woly boly (woly boly), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Prison is the best thing that could happen to him, all stories indicate he's so deep in his addiction that nothing short of round-the-clock surveillance will help him. Lots of people get clean in prison & stay that way when they come out, hopefully that's how it'll work for him.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

lots of people do drugs in prison too though.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Sentencing has happened:

Gary Grado of the East Valley Tribune is reporting that a federal judge sentenced former MEAT PUPPETS bassist Cris Kirkwood to 21 months in prison Monday (August 2) for attacking a security guard with a baton. Kirkwood, 43, who was shot in the incident, pleaded guilty earlier this year to assault with a dangerous weapon.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Has he been in custody since the plea?

― Huck, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I just bought the expanded Meat Puppets' II at Virgin for 9 bucks. Easily one of the most amazing records ever. "We're Here" is about the most beautiful thing to come out of american rock in the 80s.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:30 (twenty-one years ago)

"We're Here" is about the most beautiful thing to come out of american rock in the 80s.

FINALLY, someone who understands what I've been saying for years now.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Best plea-bargain ever!

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:07 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

Does anyone know of any updates on this situation? One of the online groups is saying Cris has been released, but there's no confirmation. Does anyone know/care?

― it's ALL too loud, Saturday, 9 July 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

wtf show at the Independet May 16 in SF!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 5 April 2007 01:02 (eighteen years ago)

they were fucking great at sxsw

― QuantumNoise, Thursday, 5 April 2007 01:36 (eighteen years ago)

really? i left the sxsw after three songs 'cause they sounded totally lost (and not in the good way).

― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 5 April 2007 01:38 (eighteen years ago)

on the freeway again

― chaki, Thursday, 5 April 2007 01:39 (eighteen years ago)

i wish they had been lost like that.

― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 5 April 2007 01:42 (eighteen years ago)

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