Bill Briggs — the 1964 Staples High School graduate, car aficionado and keyboardist with the Remains, the band (with Staples alum Barry Tashian) that developed a cult following that remains strong today, and opened for the Beatles on their final, 1966 tour — died yesterday.
He turned 78 a few days ago, and suffered from multiple health issues.
Bill Briggs
His daughter Jen posted on Facebook:
As you all know, my dad was quite the rock star in more ways than one. Bill could build a hot rod in his garage to drag race in the desert, he played the blues and toured with the Beatles playing keyboard and harmonica with the The Remains in the 60s, was a damn fine Porsche/Audi salesman for many years, an avid train photographer, collage artist, patient advice giver, along with one of the most hip rock and roll dads you’ll ever meet.
Bill Briggs (far left) and fellow Remains Chip Damiani, Barry Tashian and Chip Vern Miller.
My brother Jake and I will miss him so much, along with his partner Barbara Simon and his extended family.
We will have a small gathering for my dad near Boston at some point soon. Yesterday, he requested we join in on singing “Knockin on Heaven’s Door” with the music therapist. He chimed in clearly, singing, “put my guns in the ground!”
Miss your sense of humor and understanding already, Dad.
Bill Briggs, George Harrison, and Beatles tour manager Neil Aspinall on tour in August, 1966. (Photo/Bob Bonis)
Tributes poured in, from fans and friends from Bill’s many stages of life.
Remains guitarist Vern Miller wrote:
I can’t even begin to express how shattered I feel with Bill’s passing. We played together in The Remains for 57 years and were friends for almost 60 years. We toured together all over the U.S and Europe and shared so many adventures like the 66 Beatles’ tour.
Just last week we were clowning around on the phone about that great band in the sky. I told him if he gets there before I do, please make sure they know what kind of bass amp I want.
Bill, in his inevitable way of not missing a beat, quickly asked me where I wanted it placed on stage. He kept his humor right up to the end.
Michael Haydn recalled playing with Bill in the Westport band the New Schemers, in 9th through 12th grade.
Tom Hatch remembered working on cars with Bill, in the Downshifters hot rod club.
I was a Remains fan from junior high on. I felt so fortunate to get to know Bill later, as a friend.
In 1966, the Remains played a Staples High School fundraiser for the Orphenians’ upcoming trip to the Virgin Islands. Staples grads Bill Briggs (right) and Barry Tashian flanked the school’s music director and Orphenians founder John Ohanian.
One of the true highlights of my life came about 20 years ago, in the basement of Gail and Terry Coen’s Soundview Drive home.
The Remains got together for the first time in about 30 years. They had been “rediscovered” in Europe, and were ready to embark on an overseas tour.
I was there at the first rehearsal, the moment they started playing and singing again. Their joy at being together again — and the sheer, incredible power of their musical talent — was astonishing, and overwhelming.
The Remains in 2019. From left: Chip Damiani, Barry Tashian, Bill Briggs, Vern Miller.
Bill was an “06880” fan, always interested in his hometown, and the people he grew up with here.
In the mid-’60s, rock critic Jon Landau — channeling John Sebastian — said the Remains were “how you told a stranger about rock ‘n’ roll.”
Today, Bill Briggs’ many admirers remember him, and his magic.
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