VOICES GUITARIST ERIK TORJESEN LOSES FIGHT WITH CANCER

IN TRIBUTE TO ERIK TORJESEN
Larry Hoppen, Jimi Jamison, Bobby Kimball and Joe Lynn Turner dedicated and sang this version of the classic 'Amazing Grace' to Erik Torjesen and all of his friends, upon learning of his loss during a concert of Friday, March 23 in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The third verse was specifically written for Erik that evening in the dressing room. Erik's Memorial Service is today -- Tuesday, April 3 -- in San Francisco.

Erik Torjesen doing what he did best

It is with deep sorrow that we report the passing of Starship band member, Erik Torjesen. Erik was also the original lead guitarist for the Voices of Classic Rock band.He was diagnosed with cancer last April and his year-long fight with the disease has come to an end at the age of 34. He is survived by his mother and father, Arline and Victor. There will be a memorial service for Erik today in San Francisco.

Erik joined Starship in 1997. Indeed, his first gig was playing at the NHL's All-Star Party, which was the pre-cursor to the formation of The Voices of Classic Rock.Erik possessed a rare combination of flawless technique and emotive, heart felt phrasing. His musical background was extensive. Beginning at the age of eleven, this prolific guitarist was performing publicly. He was teaching professionally by the age of thirteen. While in high school his band was sold out Bay Area night clubs. At UC Santa Barbara he continued performing and writing his own music as well as studying classical guitar and jazz. After graduating from UC Berkeley he headed to Hollywood for the Guitar Institute of Technology (G.I.T.) and devoted every waking hour to the improvement of his skills. It paid off. He was awarded a vocational honors degree in which only 3 of the 800 in the graduating class receive. He was also nominated for student of the year.

Erik Torjesen

Erik went on to form 'The Erik Torjesen Band'. He released his first CD "Fingers" and shared the stage with the likes of Gladys Knight, Leon Russell, Edgar Winter, Y & T, and fusion artists Steve Morse, Scott Henderson and Frank Gambale. In addition to fronting his own band, he was the guitar player for singer Davey Pattison (Robin Trower, and Gamma featuring Ronnie Montrose) and gigging in Lake Tahoe area with Credence Clearwater Revival great, Doug Clifford.

He will be deeply missed by all of us who performed or worked with him. A fund has been established to help his family with the costs of his treatment. Fans and friends of Erik and Starship can send contributions to: Erik Torjesen Memorial Fund, 767 Corbett Ave., #2, San Francisco, CA 94131.

-- on the plane to the Far East --	-- always working on a new idea --
Mickey Thomas, Erik, Phil Bennett, Starship bandmates	Erik, Goose Gossage, John Cafferty Lucent SuperBowl Party 2000