12/23/2024
Some of you may know that part of the Tankcrimes lore is that Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and local Oakland hero / legend Rickey Henderson was the landlord of TCHQ Oakland for 20 years. One million bands crashed there but only a few got the rare Rickey sighting. We had more access to Rickey than most of his many tenants in Oakland because our close friends and next door neighbors are part of the Henderson extended family, the first people I reached out to when the news came in yesterday.
He did not pass out photos and autographs, he still got paid for that kinda stuff but this photo here from 2012 Rickey agreed to because it was on business. I had told him the editor of America’s best and only monthly metal magazine, Decibel, was a massive fan. This was the first time a TC affiliated band had landed on the cover and I wanted a pic to schmooze with. (It worked, I’ve got the editor on my speed dial now, hi Albert!)
Another story friends have always liked is that Rickey would mow our lawn sometimes, he had an Escalade with the little open cab in the back just big enough for a push lawn mower. Looking down from our front window you couldn’t help but notice his beautiful chunky pro athlete $$ watch blinging in the sun.
There was a time around 2015 when the property manager who worked for Rickey (and was his family) wanted to kick us out of the house (we partied, ran businesses, grew pot, stayed up late, hosted bands, it was a punk house for 2 decades) and Rickey himself got involved and we were out front yelling (I am loud, he is loud) all the neighbors were peering out of their windows and Rickey listened to me and sided with me. We renewed our lease on the spot. I moved out 2022 but Marky and a lot of Tankcrimes stuff stayed till we finally closed the lease earlier this year.
Very sad to hear of his passing, he is a fu***ng legend in Oakland and around the world. Grieving today with his friends, fans and family. You can count me as one of those.
RIP Rickey Henderson, legend.
