Tributes pour in for late Columbus musician Michael Christian

Michael Christian’s Red Velvet Letdown bandmates described him as an intensely private person in a late 2022 interview, making it likely he would be discomforted by the extensive public outpouring that has followed in the wake of his death becoming public on Sunday.

In the past couple of days, Christian’s Facebook page has been transformed into an expanding digital memorial, with people from across the spectrum penning public posts lauding his contributions to the Columbus scene both as a musician and as a teacher, citing the years he worked with children at School of Rock Gahanna.

“As many of you are already aware, over the weekend we lost our brother, our friend, and founding member of Red Velvet Letdown, Michael Christian,” Red Velvet Letdown wrote on Facebook. “His passing was a sudden and unexpected shock, and we are all trying to figure out how to cope with the news. But seeing all the love for him being shared the past two days, the stories, the pictures, the in-jokes… they’ve all made it easier in a very bittersweet way. We know Columbus feels the pain of his loss every bit as much as we do.”

A Celebration of Life service for Christian is currently being planned by his family. And Christian’s younger sister, Maria Thrasher, recently established a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs and other related expenses. “Michael’s life was a symphony of dedication, passion, and unyielding love for music,” wrote Thrasher, who shared that Christian was discovered by police in his apartment on Saturday evening after a neighbor called for a wellness check. “As an avid guitarist, he saw the world through the strings of his guitar, always finding solace and joy in the melodies he created.”

When discussing Christian in 2022, bandmates Kent Grosswiler and TJ Steppe expressed admiration both for his skills as a guitarist and the relentlessly professional demeanor he exhibited toward making music. “I was surprised he even took interest in us,” Grosswiler said at the time. “He’s made music all over the city for a long time. He’s gone on tours and toured as a soundman. Pretty much his whole life has been music. … So, I was thrilled when he became our guy. Not just because he’s an amazing guitar player, but because it was like, ‘Oh, this is awesome. This gives me an opportunity to see my dude every week.”

Christian’s history, musical knowledge and demeanor paired perfectly with a sense of humor so deadpan that at times it could catch even those closest to him off guard. 

When singer Ace Mayes submitted his audition tape to Red Velvet Letdown, for instance, Grosswiler and Steppe were immediately floored by his potential, trading excited messages with guitarist Mitch America in a running band text thread. After some time passed, Christian finally chimed in, writing, “Sorry guys, not feeling it,” and nothing else.

“It was like that moment in a cartoon where a character runs off the mountain and looks down and there’s no ground,” Grosswiler said. “I felt things inside of me starting to shift.”

“Finally, hours later, he writes back like, ‘Sorry, I was clowning on y’all. I haven’t listened to it yet,’” Steppe said, and laughed.

On Facebook, Red Velvet Letdown wrote they would fulfill any already scheduled concerts with rotating guitarists, embracing the gigs as a celebration of Christian’s life and work. “And after those [shows], we’ll sort out how we plan to move forward, because we do intend to carry on as a band,” the musicians wrote. “But all of those discussions and decisions are for another day. Today is for honoring and cherishing the memories that we, and you, will carry of one of the most amazing musicians, friends, and people we were ever lucky enough to know.”