Finding Tom Marshall
Brent Block
When I was young, I did what many of my generation did. I joined a rock band. The group I joined was called Pacific Gas and Electric, and it was founded by Tom Marshall. We enjoyed our run of success. Although we were a one-hit-wonder, we all made some great music. As most bands of that time did, the members eventually moved on to other pursuits.

I lost touch with Tom around the mid-nineteen seventies. The last few times I heard from him it was to borrow money. Being broke myself, I had none to offer. Because Tom had no phone, contact was broken off after that.

Thirty some odd years later, and thanks to the internet, I struck up a long distance dialog with a friend of our lead guitar player, Ken Utterback. This friend has been very instrumental in giving those of us who were a part of this group many tangible memories of our days with the band. He started this web site, and along with Frank Petricca (bass player for the 1970s version of the band) and Ken Utterback, he secured copies of a documentary film we'd done in 1970 called "The Lexington Experience", and the tapes of an unreleased live album.

This guy is a very persistent individual, and he kept searching for Tom Marshall. About a month ago, he found him. We'd had a phone conversation one night, and after we finished, the phone rang again. I found myself on a conference call with two film makers who'd made a documentary about Tom Marshall. The films title is "Falling Home", and it was made by Nicolas Pectol and Ryan Smith. After getting to know them both, I've found that not only are they good at their art, they have hearts as big as Texas. The three of us set up plans to meet and go find Tom. This we did. Tuesday night May 2, 2006, one of Nick and Ryan's friends found Tom lying semi-conscious next to a bus stop. They then rushed him to the hospital where I later joined them and met up with my long lost band mate.

If you haven't guessed it by now, Tom Marshall is homeless, and has been for about twenty years. From the time of our first phone conversation, all involved were determined to get Tom some help. Through a very good friend of mine in Los Angeles, I learned there is a foundation that treats musicians with chemical dependency. We put Tom up in a hotel that night, not wanting to lose track of him again. I contacted the foundation to see if Tom would qualify for their rehabilitation program. On the one hand he did because he had been a working musician. On the other hand was doubt. The person at the foundation took time out of a busy schedule to council me in a straightforward and forthcoming manner. It seems Tom has just been on the street too long, and he's in such a state of mental degeneration that theres no way hes in a place to admit to his problem and commit to a program. I know because, using the counseling, I tried.

At the end of our two day visit with Tom, Nick, Ryan, and I had to stand and watch as Tom walked away to the subway station. We had no choice but to allow him to return to his routine. Here were two young men who, through making their movie, had gotten to know a person, not just some anonymous homeless person, but a personality who they clearly cared about. Here was I, having connected with the friend I played with, traveled with, and had spent years wondering what had happened to him. We just stood there helpless to do anything for Tom.

Im feeling helpless because a desire to help doesnt always translate into a solution. Im feeling frustrated because the system works such that if an individual isn't in a mental place to admit to the problem and commit to a rehabilitation program, no one can help. How can we think it's better to let people sleep in the cold on the concrete because we're concerned of depriving them of their rights? I know Tom isn't going to have any epiphany regarding his status. Would placing him in a facility that just might make things better for him, whether he wants it or not, actually deprive Tom of his right? Is it really more humane to litter our streets with wasted human beings?

I personally don't think this is right, and that's the point of this report. Isn't there something that can be done, not just for Tom, but for all the persons who've found themselves in this situation? I'd like to hear what you think. Please click on the talkboard link on this page (you have to register, but it's easy) and leave messages for me. Thanks for reading this.