Donny

[Hellraiser6502]

I met Donny at NAMM one year and there
was something about him that struck me...just the way he carried himself that seemed wayy out of the ordinary.

I believe i was there at Del Taco one morning early before NAMM with Tekky & Mayday & a few others too and watching him there, I remember thinking to myself 'This guy is OUT there!' but in a cool sorta way. Just a bull in a china shop!

I also remember thinking to myself that he didn't look well....and this was 2003 or 04 I think. He had kind of a waxy look to his skin.....I now know why.

R.I.P to an original dude.

Way too soon to be gone. See you on the other side.

[bibz]

Its taken two goes to get through this thread, heavy stuff. I couldnt believe we were actually the same age when I found out. A unique and awesome guy.

"It was a Church

I went home and played slayer" - Donnie

Probably the funniest thing I've ever read on the internet. Ironically charveljunkie's message was the deepest, heaviest thing I've ever read. Hit me hard.

The love and admiration for him shows what the guy was worth. Factor in what he had to go through to do so much in his life and it just kicks me in the ass. What an inspiration.

RIP bro, I'm sure we'll meet, I owe you one.

[Brad68]

Chad Channing (The original Nirvana drummer) left a comment on Donny's myspace page.
He lives across the street from an old friend of mine here in Seattle (Bainbridge Island).

[RacerX]

Wow, I , too have been away from the board for over a week...

Some of you have mentioned me & Donny in a context that I think should be forgotten...Here is how I want you guys to remember me & Donny's dealings with this funny story:

I met Donny at NAMM a couple years ago, of course as the day went on he was quite a bit faded so at the end of the night I offered to drive him to his hotel (it wasn't that close to the Convention Center and he was talking about walking there LOL). I live 5 miles from there so it was no problemo. During that short drive, we talked about when & how he was gonna leave town...he mentioned he had to catch a flight out of Long Beach airport very early the next morning...I suggested that I come back in the morning and pick him up and get him to LBA (there are no buses going that way that early and cabs are super expensive).
So I get up super early (like 5 AM) and wait for him outside that cheap ass hotel by the freeway...and wait...no Donny! I go in and try to call, but I didn't know the room number or how to spell his last name D'OH heh heh. I contacted the management (by phone, cuz nobody's around at that hour) and had him dial rooms that had Don S. registered then went out to wait in the car some more. I was really worried he'd miss his flight! Finally, at the last possible minute, he staggers outta the place with his luggage, all apologetic....I figured he was really hung over. Then followed the wildest ride from Anaheim to Long Beach while we blasted RATT in my Buick's tape player, ha ha! I was really relieved that I got Donny to his flight on time, and he gave me some bucks which I really appreciated cuz I wasn't working at the time. I figure a cabbie would not have waited for him, missed flight etc etc.

Good or bad, Donny really epitomized the rock star lifestyle, more so than most of us, that's why he was loved so much here!

[NextInLine]

Cool cool story Ron! I'd like to have the opportunity to meet Donny, he must be really happy to see how much he's loved here..

[Firebird V]

Wow, I , too have been away from the board for over a week...

Some of you have mentioned me & Donny in a context that I think should be forgotten...Here is how I want you guys to remember me & Donny's dealings with this funny story:

I met Donny at NAMM a couple years ago, of course as the day went on he was quite a bit faded so at the end of the night I offered to drive him to his hotel (it wasn't that close to the Convention Center and he was talking about walking there LOL). I live 5 miles from there so it was no problemo. During that short drive, we talked about when & how he was gonna leave town...he mentioned he had to catch a flight out of Long Beach airport very early the next morning...I suggested that I come back in the morning and pick him up and get him to LBA (there are no buses going that way that early and cabs are super expensive).
So I get up super early (like 5 AM) and wait for him outside that cheap ass hotel by the freeway...and wait...no Donny! I go in and try to call, but I didn't know the room number or how to spell his last name D'OH heh heh. I contacted the management (by phone, cuz nobody's around at that hour) and had him dial rooms that had Don S. registered then went out to wait in the car some more. I was really worried he'd miss his flight! Finally, at the last possible minute, he staggers outta the place with his luggage, all apologetic....I figured he was really hung over. Then followed the wildest ride from Anaheim to Long Beach while we blasted RATT in my Buick's tape player, ha ha! I was really relieved that I got Donny to his flight on time, and he gave me some bucks which I really appreciated cuz I wasn't working at the time. I figure a cabbie would not have waited for him, missed flight etc etc.

Good or bad, Donny really epitomized the rock star lifestyle, more so than most of us, that's why he was loved so much here!

Yeah. That was fun hanging with him that year. I remember him calling me when he got home to see if we had gotten stuck at the airport because of the bad wether that was going on back east. That was quite cool of him. And that was really cool of you to do that for him to Ron. Your hospitality during that trip was super cool. You drove us around and kept us out of trouble... lol. Well... Some of us... lol. j/k..

Donny had a blast on that trip and that is how I will remember him.

[lori]

Hey, if any of you guys who were at NAMM that year have any pics of Donny could you shoot them my way?

My email is [email protected]

Thanks!!

[npacheco]

So sad to hear of Donny's passing , been away for awhile. My thoughts and prayers to you lori and the rest of your family. I'm sure he's bustin' heads with a Charvel somewhere. ROCK ON DONNY, YOU RULE!

[El_Kabong]

Oh my Satan (for Donny), this is indeed very sad news. I have been absent for a couple of weeks, due to a medical scare of my own and was wondering how he was doing when I looked at the top of the page. My deepest condolences to the Swanstrom family.

Although I only new Donny online as I live in Japan, he was one of the most fun, friendliest and outgoing people whom I have ever met. Carpe Diem never lived in a truer soul. RIP.

[buzzsaww]

See ya Donny, Rock On!

[~K~]

Hey, if any of you guys who were at NAMM that year have any pics of Donny could you shoot them my way?

My email is [email protected]

Thanks!!

Lori I have a ton actually, I need to locate them though so give me some time.. I even have one of you with the Cabo girls

[GregM]

RIP Donny. My condolences.

[~K~]

Yeah. That was fun hanging with him that year. I remember him calling me when he got home to see if we had gotten stuck at the airport because of the bad wether that was going on back east. That was quite cool of him.

I think i was the only dumbass who got stuck there that year .. for 1/2 a week!

[Brad68]

I'm working on CD's to give out at his memorial, if anyone has input on his favorite songs, let me know.
This is the list I came up with so far from the input I had and what I know....
Gee, sounds like what I listened to when he was a kid. :-)

Eruption (Van Halen)
Runnin' With the Devil (Van Halen)
I Won't Forget You (Poison)
Round & Round (Ratt)
Crazy Train (Ozzy)
Angel Of Death (Slayer)
Kickstart My Heart (Crue)
Home Sweet Home (Crue)
Dream Warriors (Dokken)
Dance the Night Away (Van Halen)
Sweet Child O Mine (GNR)
Detroit Rock City (KISS)
Talk Dirty To Me (Poison)
The Ballad of Jayne (LA GUNS)
House of Pain (Faster Pussycat)
Superwise (Goodness)
My Michelle (GNR)
Yesterdays (GNR)
Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Poison)

This weekend I'm running another 1/2 marathon and it's going out to my rockstar nephew!
In november I ran a full marathon (26.2 miles) and I raised about $650 for a charity that helps transplant victims. This race I didn't have time to put together money for a charity. But I'm rockin the shit out of this one for Donny. I hope to finish in under 1:30:00 which would be a personal best by 4 minutes. My knee has been bothering me, but the damn thing has to fall off before it'll stop me from finishing this in rockstar fashion.
Knee pain? Big fucking deal, nothing compared to what he went through many times in his life, I'll be thinking about it every mile that I feel pain from that fast pace.

Congrats Lori, your gonna make the perfect bride. Donny will be right there with you tomorrow!!!

[vwall]

Man! Donny! Be in peace, Brother!!
Have a blessed eternity!
Im tipping a few for you tonight!