Local musician Brian Flik, of black metal band Satanic Elite and formerly of Cannibal Unicorn, was found dead Sunday at his apartment, an apparent suicide. He was 33.
Flik moved from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Asheville in 2002, began performing in local open mics and recorded a 4-song demo. Xpress editor Steve Shanafelt put Flik’s “Tryin’ Not to Love You” on his list of best local heartbreak songs, dubbing it “one of the best songs about getting over an ex you could ever want. In fact, the content of the song’s chorus is so graphic, the images so painful and so true, they can’t even be printed here.”
In 2002, Flik sat down for a Q&A with Xpress. He described what he wanted to get out of music thusly: “I want to live cheaply. I want to make a little bit of money, enough to support myself and drink cheap beer. As long as I can do it playing music. … I’m not looking to be on the TV or anything. I just want to be myself, have a place to live and play music.”
In 2003 he moved from country and acoustic to a more aggresive style, forming Cannibal Unicorn with drummer Justin Whitlow. The duo broke up in 2005, and Flik went on to form Satanic Elite, though an undated announcement on the group’s MySpace page declares “my passion for music fails me now. I am going on a journey. My path will either take me to Transylvania or Valhalla, both are fine with me.”
Flik’s body was found Sunday by his roommates, after they had not seen or heard from him since Friday, Jan. 25.
— David Forbes, staff writer
20 thoughts on “Musician Brian Flik dead at 33”
This myspace page was just put up and features his earlier country-oriented singer/song-writer work.
http://www.myspace.com/theflikster666
He will definitely be missed. From his Paul Bunyan stature to his cut-to-the-chase/cut-to-your-heart song-writing ability.
Brian will be greatly missed, both as a musician and as a person.
Has anyone heard anything about a memorial service?
While I have sympathy for this guy’s friends and family, I can’t help but wonder if his life style had an impact on his suicide. “Satanic Elite”. Sounds a bit dark to me. Rest in peace Brian. I do say it will be Vallhalla. Everyone goes to heaven when they die.
His birthday is Feb. 7th. There will be a party in Grand Rapids. For right now there is just a hailstorm of broken hearts.
I know alot of folks that would not be who they are today without Brian Flik, myself included. Thank You Brian and I am sorry.
I just spoke with him last week. He expressed interest in returning to key west, and I wish he had. I would not be the person I am today without The Flikster. The whole story, I just posted on my blog at myspace.
myspace.com/eddieinnola
brian was a great friend,neighbor, and musician. i really can do nothing but get drunk and try to forget about this right now. i love you buddy
R.I.P. Brian. You will be missed.
We should all be supportive to the roomates who found him. It is a hard thing to deal with, and they will have to live with it the rest of their lives. I am torn, I can see the desire to leave this world in whatever way you see fit…but the selfishness of leaving the ‘end’ for others to contend with weighs heavy on my mind.
RIP
I will miss Brian Flik so much…playing music with him, listening to records, and laughing.
He was a great friend.
When I moved to Asheville Brian was one of the first people I met and connected with. His open mic days inspired me to play music for myself and his asking me to play music with him inspired me to open myself up to others even though I had sworn off playing music with anyone else from countless bad experiences with other musicians.I couldn’t thank him enough if I had to.
Brian’s family has set up a webpage for Brian. It can be viewed at
http://www.lifestorynet.com/memories/32586/
Please take a moment to leave a memory, photo or sign his guestbook. It would mean a great deal to his family
“but the selfishness of leaving the ‘end’ for others to contend with weighs heavy on my mind.”
Your thoughts are certainly valid, but how else can you do it? Unless you can stick yourself in a coffin and bury yourself, someone else is going to have to deal with it. This is the case for everyone… suicide or natural death. Expecting people to continue with a life they find too painful so that others won’t have to be bothered seems kind of selfish in a way too. I’ve considered this question a lot myself as I often feel like continuing my life is not worth all the trouble it takes to keep things going. If I had an easy and sure way out, I think I would have taken it by now.
I’ll always remember Brian serenading us here at Lake Freska by the bonfire.
Peace, Brian. We miss you.
Brian, I can hear you calling all destroyers. You have been one of my best friends for the last 15 years. You are now in a special place in my mind. You are missed…
Brian, may you be at peace now. I feel blessed to have known you. I wish I could have been there for you during a time of such pain. Thanks for sharing part of your life with those of us in Asheville.
Brian and I were neighbors in Asheville. I can’t count the nights hopping from Vincent’s Ear to close Broadways discussing music, loose women, and all of the other things life throws at you. One of my favorite times with him was when we recorded a few songs of his one afternoon on our front porch on Cumberland Ave. If anyone is interested I would love to master the three songs and put them up for everybody.
email me @ comettoblue@hotmail.com
Brian supported underground music more than most anyone else I’ve ever met. I also had recently spoken to him; he was interested in traveling to the Carribbean, and seemed to have high hopes, so I never would have expected this.
He was a great person, and would have done anything for his friends. Rest in Peace brother!
I dont hold it against Brian , leaving the way he did. He got took what he needed because he couldnt get what he needed. I hope it was worth it for him wherever he ends up. Im glad to have met him.
I never got the chance to meet him but im sadened that my kids will never get to meet their grandfather