The loss of noted Seattle author Charles R. Cross last week hit many people in Seattle hard. Easy Street Records owner Matt Vaughan was a friend of his and reposted something he wrote about their history, from Instagram.

"Sir Charles RIP
Repost from 06/20/20
So great to spend some quality time w old friend Charles Cross today. Charles was publisher/editor/writer for legendary Seattle free rag magazine #TheRocket (‘79-2000) . The Rocket is arguably the greatest form of music + culture journalism that Seattle has ever created. The story of the Seattle music scene can be told through the issues of The Rocket. @mattgroeningofficial from pre-#TheSimpsons fame had a very popular comic strip #LifeInHell , a young @wesandersonplanet was a contributor, graphic artist legend #ArtChantry, as well as lefty punker @brucepavitt who had a column #SubPopUSA , which of course, along w #JonathanPoneman would give rise to the world domination we know @subpop . The late 70’s/early 80’s Seattle music scene was comprised of bands like The Cowboys, The Blackouts, U-Men, The Allies, The Heats, Visible Targets, Striker, Rail, TKO as well as superstar act @heartofficial and legacies of #TheSonics #TheWailers and of course Jimi Hendrix. By the time mid 80’s hit, metal bands Queensrÿche and Metal Church were getting major label contracts and local DJ/rapper therealsirmixalot would soon become a multi-platinum hip hop star. A mesh of punk/AOR/hard rock/metal was sludging thru neighborhoods such as The Ave, West Seattle, Belltown, Pioneer Sq, Lake Hills, Cap Hill, a hybrid style of music, creating a cultural revolution w bands @mudhoney_ Soundgarden, Nirvana, TAD, Melvins, #MotherLoveBone, Alice In Chains, Screaming Trees, @pearljam and so many more. We are indebted to Sir Charles and his team of writers, jokers, and collaborators. Easy Street was a consistent advertiser. If u wanted to be something in Seattle, u had to go thru The Rocket. Charles has gone on to have a stellar writing career. His biographies on Heart #KickingandDreaming , Cobain “Heavier Than Heaven” and “Cobain Unseen”, Hendrix “Room Full Of Mirrors”, as well as books/writings on Springsteen and Led Zeppelin are arguably the most accurate, informative, and lasting. His music reviews, concert reviews, and talks/lectures are always on point. What’s next Charles? A NW music icon! #HappyFathersDay
We ❤️ U Ash

Loved going to shows w Charles Cross.

It was like going to a baseball game w Bob Costas. Charles was Seattle’s greatest communicator and historian of what this PNW/Seattle music scene is all about and how it came to be.

I made sure my lil @easystreetrecords advertised in Charles #RocketMagazine back in those late 80’s/90’s. I would scrape the $ together to get my ads in there. It didn’t mean anything if u weren’t in The Rocket.

Eventually he knew who we were and my ol dear friend and ad exec Courtney Miller introduced us. Then I find out he was also founder/editor of #BackstreetsMagazine. There are Dead Heads and then there are Springsteen Heads. I’m the latter. When I had my LQA shop (2001-13), Charles was a regular and we hosted a cpl book release events. Were u at  his #CobainUnseen ? We were one of few stores w a sizable vinyl section back then.

He was our de facto Springsteen, Dylan, Jimi vinyl specialist.

As time went on, we became even closer. Whenever I wrote a music industry piece or needed a fact check, he was my editor, but really I was just looking for his approval. We just recently took our sons to @pearljam @climatepledgearena, was a great father + sons night out. I can’t recall how many events he played a part in at my shop.

He was moderator, review critic, or he would just use the shop as his office to meet ol friends or work on his next story. He wrote the review for The Sonics Live at Easy Street show. He moderated our event w #PeterJesperson last year…and just last week he hosted @_marcinprokop_ for Warner Brothers-Poland. As many of u know, his son Ashland works for us.

We love the Cross family dearly and we will always be celebrating the life of Sir Charles R. Cross. Charles has written many an obituary about others.

These are hard.