With regard to the two competing theories about Sito, he did join Cris in "junkieland" months before he committed suicide. I spoke with Sito a week before he died, and he was moving out of his apartment that day (I will not give the exact street address, as that would be tasteless). He told me that he was going to a six-month rehab program. Unfortunately, the next time I saw him, he was pretty wasted.

Can we blame Cris for Pete's lifelong battle with addiction and depression? Here is another theory you might want to consider: Misery loves company.

In Holthouse's November 1998 article ("Shooting Star"), he blamed Cris' wife, Michelle, for his self-destructive descent into addiction. Now he finds Cris responsible for Pete's decision to self-destruct. If one person can cause another person to decide to end his own life, and Cris, tragically, makes that decision, then you, too, will need to accept a part of the blame.

I believe you have gone too far. You are far more evil, David Holthouse, than Cris' house.

You were wondering if Cris is laughing or crying. He is crying--more tears than I have ever seen a fellow human being cry. What did you think he would be laughing about?

You say that you are not looking forward to writing Cris' obituary. Yeah, right!

Your latest intrusion into Cris' life has struck horror in many people who now are terrified of how Cris might respond to having all that dirt heaped upon him. Fortuitously, Cris left his home one day before your defamatory article hit the stands. He was in a safe place when you launched your missile--so you have missed your target, David Holthouse. Cris is still alive, and I believe that, in time, he will be well.

Ruth Wilson
via Internet

Thanks for the open letter to Cris Kirkwood. As a friend of Sito's, I'm not sure if I feel better or worse knowing some of the specifics at which I had heretofore only guessed. One thing is certain: No one that I have known had more of a knack of making you feel good about yourself than did Sito; I will miss him immensely.

Alan Hall
via Internet

As someone who has watched the tragedy unfold from afar and hoped and prayed that logic and reason would somehow prevail, and Cris Kirkwood would regain sanity, this piece was incredibly moving. It is an incredibly beautiful and incredibly sad piece of work by David Holthouse.

Robert Morris
via Internet

Regarding David Holthouse's article on Cris Kirkwood and Sito: I wanted to write to you after the "Shooting Star" article appeared. My heart goes out to Curt Kirkwood. I can only begin to imagine. What a tragedy.

David Holthouse is a very gifted writer. I'm grateful that he moved from Alaska to Phoenix. New Times is better for it, and so is the local music scene.

I'm sorry that Cris seems to want to check out. I've had a lot of friends check out over the last 10 years. I still retain my youthful enthusiasm; I still believe anyone can change his destiny. I don't think it's ever too late, mentally or spiritually.

I wish the pen could make all the pain go away; let someone else write the obituaries. Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. Thanks for caring, David.

Mahalo Ralo
Tempe

How sad it makes me when I read about how great and talented people (like Kurt Cobain and the countless others) can't handle their own greatness and have to escape into the endless abyss of drugs and, eventually, suicide. I hope David Holthouse's letter reaches Cris, but I doubt that at this point it would make any difference. At least Holthouse attempted to reach into Cris' abyss and help pull him back into life. I don't know him, but I still want to cry for him. I feel that you'll be writing his obituary very soon, and I feel for you as well.

Rikki Gray
via Internet

How dare you! It is one thing to lament a fallen hero, but to bring in the death of someone you obviously were not friends with, and did not know, is another. I am speaking of David Holthouse's open letter to Cris Kirkwood, and while I have never met Kirkwood, and never want to, I was friends with Pete Sievert, "Sito" as you refer to him in your article.

Petey, as we knew him, was a wonderfully funny, thoughtful, kind person who, perhaps because he was such a loyal friend, got caught up with one of the demons that plagued Kirkwood. You did not mention any of the things that made Pete such a wonderful friend. Your knowledge of him was limited to what you may have read in his obituary and from police reports.

So how dare you! Pete has many friends who are struggling to find out the answer to what may have happened that caused his death. Your callousness in trying to answer why your hero may have fallen does not give you the right to injure so many others. No one knows what may have happened. As you mention, the police and coroner reports are not in.

At the funeral, Brophy chapel was packed, standing-room only, to mourn the loss of a much-beloved man. Family and friends will miss him. We cannot say the same for Cris Kirkwood. I only wish it had not been Pete who passed away.

If only you had known him, perhaps your article would have been written much differently. Petey, we will miss you.

Kim Bergsten
Tempe

This is regarding the piece on Cris Kirkwood in your April 29 issue. Seeing Peter Sievert's name in the article was as painful as hearing the news of his death again. I now have the nightmare of this image of the repulsive hell where Peter spent his last hours on this Earth burned into my brain.

Of course, Peter's mother and father and sisters and brothers have it as well.

Fuck you.
Name withheld by request

Excellent column!
We will eventually know whether Cris Kirkwood read David Holthouse's insightful open letter and sought guidance. This supportive music fan hopes he will walk out alive. Maybe he will take that restful return trip to Alaska, not to escape, but to recover.

Otherwise, and unfortunately, the public will read how he joined a too-long list of others whose final trip was that of being carted from their death scene inside a black plastic, zippered bag--their trip ticket tied to a toe.

As former Xavier students, we were always told that our educational experience would take us to a higher level than what other schools (public or private) could provide. We were told that many of us would be famous for our achievements. I don't suppose the priests and nuns at Xavier/Brophy had this Meat Puppets definition in mind during those pep talks.

Name withheld by request

After reading yet another account of the pitiful downfall of Cris Kirkwood, after watching the slow downward descent of Kurt Cobain, and now after reading your letter to Cris, whatever thoughts I have had or will ever have about experimenting with harsher drugs will be dashed from my mind with one simple recollection of what will actually happen. You have done more than a lifetime's worth of watching those "Drugs are for losers" commercials.

Name withheld by request

I just read your open letter to Cris Kirkwood online. I can't really say, "Nice piece, man," about such a piece of writing. As one who used to write a weekly column, I recognize how much craft, as well as personal pain, went into that piece. As a fellow fan of the Meat Puppets and human being, I can only say I wish it would help. I wish something would help. So, although it sounds hollow, thanks. Good work.

Gary Whitehouse
via Internet