David W. Sweetapple

Thank you for everything, Dave.

All the nice things being said about him online--Dave was all that and more. My deepest condolences to his family.

My condolences to Robin and Sweetape Renzoni families.
I am a first cousin to Ray and Pat Renzoni

David is my Nephew and left us too soon. He was always full of life & always smiling.. I am Very sorry for your loss Robin, he will be truly missed .. May David Rest In Peace ! Condolences to all who had the opportunity of knowing him. God Bless Robin @ this difficult time...

David, you lived a very short life, but seemed to have packed it full for many memories for those left behind. All our loving thoughts go out to Aunt Florence, Uncle Ches, and your loving wife. Robin. Watch over everyone till we see each other again at the gates. You will and are always in hearts and minds. cousin, Sue & Mick Lantz Sr.

RIP in peace David so shocked and grieved.Out heartfelt condolences to Robin and Aunt Florence and Uncle Ches,god give you the strength to endure this!
All our love Cousin Derek and James

Like seemingly everyone here on the internet, I´m mourning the tragic and unexpected loss of my friend, and everyone´s friend, Dave Sweetapple.

I was so looking forward to catching up with him @ The British Invasion in Stowe as was our habit of the past few years, although he had mentioned there was a possibility of him missing that event in favor of another Land Rover trek into the muddy hinterlands. Although I´ve only known Dave for a short time in real life, our connection goes back much, much longer as we spent a while last year unraveling 35-40 years of same show/you were there too?

We were bonded by our mutual love of punk rock and metal in general; Scream, Government Issue, The Damned and of course, Rory Gallagher in particular!!! I was so stoked to send him a Rory video he hadn´t seen before a few months ago, which he assured me he was enjoying with his breakfast cereal.

He was one of the people I tapped for ideas when a friends´ band was coming to town and needed a show, and also someone who encouraged me to put on my first show as a promoter earlier this summer. And always one of the first to like or comment on an Instagram post I put up - and - he'd actually read the text of the post.

And as I read the tributes pouring in from all over the world, I realized more and more how far back we went; his Surefire Distribution company from whom we ordered many records in the early 2000s, Tee Pee Records a constant in my store inventory, a decade at the British Invasion, the Muddy Chef Challenge that got wrecked by the thunderstorm, just tons of intersecting times, places and interests over the years.

Although, despite selling many of his own bands' albums over the years at my store, I had never seen him play live. And vice versa - last year he good-naturedly ribbed me about finding other musicians to play with in my somewhat geographically-isolated part of Vermont, while I grumbled about it being full of out-of-tune jam bands. We were working on a plan to put tentatively put together another really cool VT show.

Plus, Dave was certainly a First Degree Vintage Land Rover wizard. Certainly the
only person I know crazy enough to take a 50-year old Land Rover into the middle of the Maine woods. In the middle of Winter!

It's funny to think we finally connected in person when I was setting up my booth at the British Invasion a couple years ago and heard a neighboring vendor say out loud "Sweetapple should be here soon..." as if that was the time the event started for everyone. I sent him a message and sure enough!

One of a kind, friend to many and literally the best dude.

Goodbye Dave, I´ll really miss you! Condolences and hugs to your wife, Robin, your family and all of your friends spread across the world.

#davesweetapple #bestdude #sweetappleforever

Offering our deepest condolences during this time.