Griffin Kelly is one of those guys no category could touch. He can’t be simply placed in a square or even a tridecagon. This guy has hands-on experience in all shades and angles. More than fifty! He wasn’t just a Dj at SPARKS, or a cook in the Irish Rover, or a backup dancer at a rave produced by that one dude, nor a world-class artist, nor a fast lane lover.
“LADIES!”
All sides of the Magic dice ain’t got nothing on Griff!. He is pure fun times, imagination, and death to each and every one of us. A real ‘ keeping it REAL‘ dude. He is a wizard. Everyone he encountered could confidently walk away with happiness within, and a friend to the end.
back in the day!
2000: One of my most memorial times. There was a bit of controversy amongst the clan. I got a phone call that Griffin was being sent to my door to give me an ass-whoopin’ for something I did wrong. (or someone thought) The moment came when he knocked upon my door and it felt like the LPD! I opened the door and their Griffin stood like the tall giant morbid angel of death he is. My back ally doorway was silents. I rushed in with my last words in defense.
” Want to watch Half-Baked and got high?”
To my fortune, ” yeah bro. That’s why I came by! To hang out for a moment, say what’s up.” That night we had a blast. Not bringing up any of the drama of that day, and enjoying the night like buds. Time passed and drama died, as it always does; but a true bond between men was formed.
2000-2011: Long days were spent out on my parent’s boat baking away, talking shit. Griff’s backflips off the outboard motor, flippin’ the bird. Don’t know what happened to those photos. Mishaps in Bangkok probably. A few times playing the game of pretending not to come up from under the water made us both laugh out loud. On one of those days, I got the bright idea that it would be cool to swim across the lake for there was a rope swing in view.
HA.!
Not so bright on the return swim. Quite a few lazy summer days with a few close friends chillin’ on the back decks overlooking the lake.
back in the day!
1998: I met Griffin years earlier when we were all playing the underground RAVE scene in downtown Louisville, Ky. During my senior year of high school that will never get my time for a proper mention. An acquaintance introduced us, yelling in my ear!
“He’s one of the cool kids! He knows how to dance!“
back in the day!
1998-2002: Then there were the days of College Street. Where VHS or BETA was on rehearse repeat on the second floor, some giant man-eating lizard with razor-sharp talons and fangs living on the 2.5th floor. Griffin & Zeak Money resided on the third, ending with a couple that has been together for a billion years now on the 3.8th floor. Where almost nightly roof parties lead to giant blunts and blunts lead to long nights of 007 GoldenEye in the main front room. I don’t really know how many people lived in that half building, but I know for some time I was one of them.
I gave all my Ghost in the Shell posters and collection at that time to Griffin for he was having some hard time. Medical stuff, and I was doing my best as a friend on the move. 
back in the day!
I lived out in Breckenridge, Colorado. I kept in touch with everyone back in the Ville for I was fresh out of Sullivan University, as well as having spent some five BIG growing up years living the city. I scored me a high paying job working at a place called Daylight Donuts and was to and from Lou-Vegas for weddings and such.
2006: Griffin called.
He asked me if I could help him out. Like most of us that have been around Griffin long enough, that wasn’t included within a deep circle of buddies, I kept my mind off the subjects of addictions. Which probably needed my true attention at the time. I, like most, always saw Griffin in a brighter light. I for one could see the creation of an artist, a hopeless romantic novel miles thick being developed. A movie classic comes to mind; One of my favorite and cherished
– BARFLY – starring Mickey Rourke & Faye Dunaway. A brilliant movie!
I don’t know if I helped Griffin much at that time, for we spent time developing other stories in my life. Those stories include visiting Summit County Jail several times, coming home more blacked out then before for drinking, and found it way to easy to have sex in the bottom bunk while Griffin was on the top. We took down city lamp poles together with my 4×4 truck, toured out of the way hot springs that took hours to hike to through in knee-deep snow, and weighed down with booze. Round trip tours of Love Land pass picking up snowboarding hitchhiker! It was some of the best times of my life for I had a good ol buddy to tear up Colorado with! I even took it upon myself to make him INSTA-FAMOUS in the local scene. FRONTPAGE babe! Frontpage!
Times went by and Griffin took the jet plane back to Louisville.
back in the day!
2007: When I returned home. I saw more art of Griff’s. He was starting to find his polish. Darkness was moving in. A continued talent that has faded in the so-called art scene of human history today. No one really draws, doodles anymore. Not among my busy friends.
anyways.
The ol clan was back together and hanging in the out in the Lou was like I never left. The weekly get together with the “pop-in Griffin” was continuing and that was the spirited I need at that time. One time I got tickets and we went to Cincy-nasty for a Wolf Mother concert at Bogart’s.!
That was EPIC!
2008: Time was coming and I was heading off to my next adventure in life. Beijing, China. Love this dude! Griffin was the only one that would call me long distance to see how I was. Talking shit and run up one hell of an international phone bill. But I never cared about money with this guy. The energy and love were there.
2011: A few years later I returned to the states for a six month period. I gave Griffin a run for his money stating I would provide him a job at my bars in Beijing if he would make it over. That inspired him to get his passport and started the process.
haha, I just remember he would try to dry hump me in front of the stage at VHS or BETA shows at that Headliners Music Hall.
2015: My return to the states. I made a few runs through Louisville, Ky for my family still resided near, and the only person I could care about checking in with was Griffin. I made just two too shortstops only to catch two crazy stories of him dating a little Indiana firecracker and what to do!
Pure immaturity, but how can you tell your friend that when he is in the same boat as well…
All under the same roof, with the same dog; talking about getting him down to my farm for a relaxing visit and some beach time. Great time catching up like a day was never missed
In one of our chats. We talked about getting him started in a direction, a career path. Possibly forming his own LLC, and allowing me to help get his art out on the show. Get his inking desires in play. Asking me what tattoo school, certification, etc is there. Keeping in the spirit as we always do when around each other. Positive energy.
back in the day!
Summing it up!
These stories are just me. What Griffin and I have shared in time. This art you see is what I personally found inspiring and enjoyable and this is what I would speak and show to others. There are many others who know Griffin on other sides of the dice! What we all do have in common is the love and commitment of one man and that’s truly wonderful in this world of divide.
One image of Griffin’s artwork is available. Not only do you get a piece of Griffin Kelley!
Proceeds go to American Diabetes Accusation and Brick Consulting LLC to feed the bees!
This guys talent were always calling. I’ve been wanting for some of his art on my body from the beginning.
Get your Griffin Kelley Machine Gun Rabbit Gear!
Thank you!
Brick, thank you so much for this tribute to my wonderful son. It brought tears that I’m proud to shed for him. You are ba once in a lifetime friend. When you wanted him to come to China, I did my best to convince him to go. I offered to help with the expense getting there. I believe it would have turned his life around. Thank you for being his friend and mine.
I think it’s so cool that you made this page. I don’t think we’ve ever met, but I remember Griffin told me about you when he was trying to inspire me to chase my dreams and do whatever I wanted in this life.
Thanks, man.