This weekend I visited Axel's grave to pay him a visit. It's not something I'm going to do every year, but since the previous time I was there, I feel I have gotten to know Axel a lot better. I have heard him speak on live audio recordings, I have seen him sing on video, pulling jokes with the crowd in Pentastoma, Roden, and I have read some of his contributions to the Bodine fan magazine, which are going to be published on regularrocker.nl in due time.
More than before, I have come to realise what a great talent was lost when he passed prematurely, aged 48. Most of my deceased heroes' graves I cannot visit, since they are far, far away. Axel is buried around the corner, so to speak--hence I felt compelled to light a candle on his grave.
It turned out that I wasn't the only one who paid him tribute.
On his gravestone I found a withered pink rose.
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