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In Memoriam: Ernie Cortez of Powerhouse/OBHC

Contributed by lushj. Posted by brian on Saturday, December 18, 2004 at 10:07 AM (EST)

Ernie Cortez, bassist for the local hardcore band Powerhouse, has died of cancer. Ernie also sang for the band Doomsday Device and ran the Sacred Heart tattoo shop in downtown Oakland.

Contributor Jesse Luscious adds, "If it wasn't for Powerhouse in some part, the local hardcore kids wouldn't have much of a scene to speak of. Those dudes played brutal NYHC style when it wasn't particularly cool to do so, and helped out a lot of people. They also played a big role in the opening of the short-lived East Oakland venue the Bombshelter.

So crack open a beer or fire one up for the big guy, slap on your copy of the first Powerhouse CD and pay tribute to a dude that did his best to make sure hardcore bands would get their due."

Check the following message board here for messages from his friends and fans, and his bandmate and singer of Powerhouse, Chris.

Blackout! Records (30 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Someone (December 18, 2004)

through music we live forever.

2+ Replies

Someone (December 25, 2004)

i will miss ernie very much we were good friends. I hung out at his shop & hung with him when he did shows as he was alaways letting me know when powerhouse were going to do a show here in san francisco. he always made me laugh. he gave me my first sacred tattoo t-shirt. I still have it & will wear it forever. To chris & the rest of the guys in the band whom know me. hang in there fellows. i feel for you al the way. rest in peace. ernie. we all love &will miss you. Rspect. Alistair......

Someone (May 24, 2006)

I guess I'm not gonna get the $300 he ripped us of for!

Someone (December 18, 2004)

powerhouse were one of the most supportive bands for the bay area scene. they helped a lot of bands out. ernie will be missed.

Tahoejeff (December 18, 2004)

Wow..shitty week to be in a band. But I will definitely go above and beyond and drink multiple beers tonight.

1+ Reply

Someone (December 19, 2004)

well, I am drunk, and I hate tp see band members go out like this. sad week. -Dakotacore

ILOVESCOTT (December 18, 2004)

Rest in Peace, Ernie

jamespastepunk (December 18, 2004)

Rest in Peace, sir.

druhol (December 18, 2004)

Holy crap. Every comment has been supportive so far; I think that's some kind of record. But anyway; I'm sure Ernie's still kickin' it hardcore wherever he is now. RIP, dude.

1+ Reply

LushJ (December 20, 2004)

No kidding... nice change. Won't last though!

Someone (December 18, 2004)

How many "punk" band members do you think will die before '06? At this rate im guessing atleast another 4-6 announcements published on this site.

7+ Replies

BizzleBrizzle (December 18, 2004)

Who will be the first to croak from Bad Religion?

Someone (December 18, 2004)

At this rate, it's more like 30 or 40 announcements... This is a bidaily thing now. -BSD

Jon_the_Skafather (December 18, 2004)

well the drummer who was on tour with leftover crack died so his announcement should be coming soon...

Someone (December 19, 2004)

See, people in the Elvis Costello thread about this, I wasn't making it up!

Tahoejeff (December 18, 2004)

there's been 3 this week alone...its has to be a record....thats almost 6 before the new year. If this trend continues, there will be 156 punk rock deaths by 2006.

Jon_the_Skafather (December 18, 2004)

there've been over 20 this year.

Someone (December 19, 2004)

fuck.

Someone (December 18, 2004)

holy fuck this sucks.. i wish i could be on the other side of the country for the services on tuesday. ernie was such a good dude, and he'll live forever in our hearts, i know that. rest in peace, brother.

1+ Reply

Someone (December 19, 2004)

Not to be rude to anyone or something, but the reason why "in memoriams" are posted so often these days is because the staff of punknews.org has begun to post about people that are even remotely connected to the punk/indie-scene, which unlike a year ago, when they only posted when people that everyone visiting this site knew about passed away. It's kinda hard to say something like this and not have it come out totally wrong.

colleen (December 18, 2004)

oh my god. im speechless, first AJ, now ernie. its been a sad autumn for bay area hardcore. RIP. i will miss you.

Someone (December 19, 2004)

I hope it's never cool to play any kind of hardcore music.

Someone (December 19, 2004)

"What Lies Ahead" was a great record that really never got a chance to be heard....RIP Ernie....you will be missed!

LushJ (December 20, 2004)

The impact Powerhouse and OBHC had locally was pretty intense. I wasn't always on the same page, but they all worked extremely hard to build and maintain the scenes they were involved in, Ernie included. Mad props for that! P.S.- Not that this makes a difference since I agree with the sentiment, but I was quoting someone else in this news item. I didn't come up with the "If it wasn't for Powerhouse in some part, the local hardcore kids..." blurb. Thanks!

Someone (December 27, 2004)

Damn, this sucks. Met him July 03 at a H2O / Powerhouse / Doomsday Device show. Nice guy. His bands ruled. May you rest in peace, man.

1+ Reply

Someone (April 17, 2005)

damn.. i went to the Gilman in Berkley for his benefit show. it was fucking insane. All bets off played and they were pretty fucking amazing. im greatly thankfull for what obhc did and may he rest in peace.

Someone (April 29, 2005)

A man of strong opinions and a man who learned from his mistakes. When I met him, there was no man alive who despised tweekers more than he did, for the simple reason he had been one once, knew how that ugly drug changed people, and didn't want anyonec to be what he had been. One of the few people in my life who cared for others, friends and strangers alike. A man of honor. He would never flirt with a girl if he knew the girl was with another guy. If the girl started it, he would walk away. In many ways an old fashioned man because he had a Code of Honor and he kept to it. His life proved that Honor makes a man a better man, a stronger man. But perhaps most of all he proved a man who has Honor is a better man than the thief, rip-off piece of shit who thinks he knows all the angles. I'll never forget him. Jack Biggins

Someone (May 16, 2005)

yo who can tell me what obhc stands for

1+ Reply

Someone (July 20, 2005)

to the dude who asked what obhc stodd for: oakland brand hardcore

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