Boston beat

DJ Mikey Dee falls ill

by Carly Carioli

At press time, one of the most universally beloved behind-the-scenes players in the local music scene -- radio-promotions man, disc jockey, musician, and writer Mikey Dee -- was in serious condition at Children's Hospital. Dee, 37, suffered a stroke February 7 while undergoing "catheter-based surgery for an ongoing heart condition," according to a press release issued Tuesday by the local management agency he works for, the Planetary Group.

As news of Dee's condition filtered through the city, so many offers of assistance poured in that Planetary established the Mikey Dee Musicians' Benefit Trust, to which Dee's friends and family are accepting contributions. "He does have health insurance, but this will be used to assist with [additional] medical or other expenses," says Dee's friend Adam Lewis, his boss at Planetary. Lewis adds that plans are in the works to stage a series of benefits in Dee's honor this spring; many local clubs and musicians have already donated their services.

Mikey Dee has been active in Boston rock for a decade. For at least that long, he has been a contributor to, and local-music editor of, the Boston-based 'zine The Noise; in addition, he hosts the weekly local-music program On the Town on Tufts University radio station WMFO, and is director of AAA radio promotion at Planetary. A former drummer for the band Butterscott, he has also been a member of Boston Rock Opera and ACME Theatre. Together, these activities have made him a constant presence in the network of basements, bars, and back rooms that make up Boston's bustling rock scene, where Dee stood out not only for his manically friendly manner but also for his tireless and avuncular boosterism of emerging talent. Recently he'd also begun a weekly e- mail newsletter, usually several pages long, listing a dozen or so gigs that he recommended or, more likely, was planning to attend himself. Often he would end up sending multiple addendums, cheerfully apologizing for having left out some new discovery or other.

"I consider myself one of the experts on local music," says his Noise editor and friend T. Max, "and Mikey is the guy I turn to to make sure I have facts right. I really do believe he's the guy in town with the most information about what's going on. He has so much knowledge from doing the radio show. He's always listened to new stuff."

Donations may be sent to the Mikey Dee Musicians' Benefit Trust, c/o the Planetary Group, 327 Summer Street, Studio 4, Boston, MA 02210.