Basil Poledouris message board

I first became aware of Basil's music for the film "The Hunt For Red October" the haunting opening theme gives me goose bumbs to this day. After that I went looking for Basil's music everywhere. I then discovered his music for Robocop, The Conan Movies, Hot Shots!: Part Duex, etc. His music was always well crafted and distinctive. Words cannot convey my sadness on hearing of his passing. My condolences to Basil's family. Basil will be missed.

Rest In Peace Maestro

Rob Daniels
Host/Producer
Visions In Sound - Movie, TV and Videogame soundtrack radio program on 100.3 CKMS-FM in Waterloo, Canada

Goodbye and Godspeed Basil.

I could not trust my eyes when i saw this terrible news. Basil´s music is so mighty. He composed outstanding filmmusic in a perfect way. His score for Conan is so hard, though very atmospheric, it´s just an incredible feeling listening to his music and it doesn´t matter which score you listen to. Every of Basil´s scores has this magic and this fantastic intelligence and creativity. He was a master of filmmusic and it´s really a bad shame, that he couldn´t show us his talent till the end of his life.

Rest in peace.

Marcel

My sincere condolences to Basil's family and friends.

Thank you for so much wonderful music, Maestro.

On Saturday the 18th of April 1998 I was privalaged enough to meet Basil Poledouris at the after show party to John Barry's concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, he was charming and generous with his time chatting to me, he was a true gentleman.

My condolences to his loved ones, his family and friends.

Tim

I don't want to be too much of a downer but I had to respond to this terrible news. I'm totally sunk. I've had so much fun introducing all my friends to Basil's music lately. I even implored a client of mine, a marketing exec. for a large sportwear company, to audition Basil's music for some high-end TV spots. The exec. was very interested. I envied Basil's agent. What an easy sell. Just last week, I trapped a friend of mine in my car as I blasted the music from 1994's Lassie. "Just LISTEN to that! Can you imagine what the director must've thought when he HEARD THAT playing over the images?!!" I finally met Basil about ten years ago in Los Angeles when I attended a film music banquet. As has been said by so many people, his warmth and enthusiasm were immediately apparent. He played the theme from Lonesome Dove on the piano and I enjoyed watching him enjoying sharing his craft with others. His chords, his melodies, they just spoke to me. Great artists can do that, write as if you're the only one listening. When he was big, my God, nobody could touch him. He knew how to make massive sounds like no one else. He wrote heavy metal symphonies. But he could tell tender and simple tales, too, and get right to the heart of character and story. His music is here with me and I'll continue to treasure it. But I'll always remember that lovely guy playing intently at the piano and swaying, as he gave a small band of us groupies his best. I'll really miss you, dream maker.

-from a fan in Baltimore with great admiration and now sorrow,

Ned Boyle

A legend is passed away... today is a really sad day...

The very first musical score I ever consciously heard was that of Conan. I often wondered what kind of movie had the power to back up such a feat. My father told me to remember the name of the composer if I liked it that much, so I could find more of his work.

Oh boy, did I ever remember!

After all these years I still cannot watch Conan without singling out the music. It has taken on a life of it's own that no movie will ever be able to erase.

As with his music, the composer of this and many more brilliant pieces will never be erased. Every time I hear his music I will smile and think of the man who found out just in time exactly how much his work meant to people all over the world. I will think of the stories I made up as a child while listening and the stories I wrote as a grown up, still listening to his music.

I will think of all the people he touched with his work and hope that he somehow knew what he meant to us.

We will know.

And we will remember him.

The only thing i ever knew of Basil Poledouris was his music. From before my teens i loved Robocop, Conan, and grew up looking for his names on the credits, and buying his cd's knowing i would have a great time listening. It is a terrible shame, and i pass my condolences to his family and friends. But i'll listen to his music, and that will always put a smile on my face. So long, fella. :cry:

Rest in peace, Basil Poledouris.
And thank you very much for your beautiful music, that reached me and touched me deeply. It will be enjoyed and loved forever and it will inspire me forever. And you will never be forgotten.

My thoughts go out to the family and friends. With love,
Bregje de Laat
The Netherlands

I have always had a fondness for film music and, as an amateur musician, Mr. Poledouris' music was genuinely inspiring to me. I was just thinking today when he might be doing something new that I could hear.
I am truly saddened to hear of his passing, and offer my condolences to his family. Please know that I will always remember what I knew of him, his music. And will endeavor to pass it on to whoever I can.

Cara famiglia Poledouris

Le nostre più sentite condoglianze per uno dei grandi musicisti del nostro tempo. Ha saputo catturare le atmosfere e dare vita con i suoi magnifici arrangiamenti e le sue melodia accattivanti.

Ci mancherà ma resterà sempre nei nostri cuori per la sua grande ARTE.

Andrea e Daniela

I was so shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Basil Poledouris.

I first heard Basil's work on RoboCop, a strident, action-packed yet moving score which really helped lift the visual material to a different level. I made a note to keep an eye out for Basil's other work.

The next time I heard his work was The Hunt For Red October, again Basil's music helped elevate an exciting action movie to an almost operatic level.

When I was in film school I came across Conan The Barbarian for the first time. I was completely blown away. Conan is one of the all-time great film scores, mythic, powerful, eerie, awesome. I quickly sought out the full length CD release and barely a week passes that I do not have the score blasting out of my stereo system.

I wish I had the opportunity to meet this truly gifted and exceptional composer, and thank him for the emotions he gave me while I listened to his work.

Now I imagine him with Crom, creating magnificent battle themes and hymns in the heavens. I salute you Mr Poledouris and so do lovers of great music all over the world. You were an inspired, and inspiring, artist.

My thoughts to his family and friends,
Mark Jobson,
Edinburgh,
Scotland

Basil was one of the greatest Filmcomposer. I loved his music since I`ve heared his massive Score from Conan the first time. One of the Best is gone.
I hope he is playing his biggest orchestra in Heaven.
I`m so sad about this terrible news.
Dear Poledouris Family: all the Fans around the World are with you.
In his Music he will life forever.

In deep condolence

Two fans from Munich in Germany

Tom + Konny