Brian MacLaren

Brian Robert MacLaren a.k.a Brian Moyce Fieseler Left us too soon on January 3 during an epileptic seizure at the age of 41 at his father's home in Southern Humboldt. Born on May 10, 1968 Brian was raised in San Jose and Daly City. He was always a happy boy who loved music and learning. He overcame his dyslexia and became a voracious reader. He devoured books on ancient and modern history having inherited not only his Grandfather Moyce's love of learning but also his Grandfather's incredible memory for everything he read. After high school Brian joined the California Conservation Corps quickly moving up through the ranks to be a Restoration Crew Team Supervisor. After leaving the CCC Brian was hired to be a grounds keeper at Lake Tahoe Community College. When the college received a grant to build a state of the art little theater for live performances Brian was hired on to the construction crew. During this time he learned all about theater lighting and sound production, and when the theater opened he was the lighting and sound engineer for community and college productions.He also acted in several of their productions. Returning to the Bay Area living in the East Bay Brian worked as a sound engineer for McCune in San Francisco and learned to be a DJ. With his extensive network of friends and professionals he produced and played at many events in the East Bay and SF. He had a special love for reggae, funk, and hip hop, but his musical knowledge and tastes were widely eclectic. Some of the DJ names he was known for revealed his clever humor. He was known as "Funksidious Rex," "Mixologist MD," and "Big Mack Attack." Before leaving the Bay Area to live with his father, step mom, brothers and sisters, Brian did a stint as a sound and lighting technician at the Brava Theater and later for the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Shortly after moving to the redwoods of Humboldt County Brian was hired to be the Musical Director for Redway's KMUD Community Radio Station. He also hosted many shows on the radio including Burning Issues. Brian graduated from the firefighter and first responder courses and became a Captain of the Whitethorn Volunteer Fire Department as well. His manager at KMUD, Brenda Starr had the following to say upon learning of Brian's passing. "He was a great musicologist who loved vinyl and his extensive skill as a sound technician was a great plus. His personality was also right for the station. Brian was a beautiful soul who resonated with KMUD." His latest personal shows for the station were Musical Opportunities and Cosmic Groove Surfer. Brian is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Robert W Moyce, MD, Eugene Fieseler, Medal of Honor recipient, and his uncle Paul Moyce, M.D. who also left this life far too soon . He is survived by two sets of parents who loved him dearly, Ben and Denise Fieseler, Bill Smith and Barbara Moyce-Smith, his three brothers and sister in Whitethorn and his grandmother Shirley Moyce. He will be greatly missed by the many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews he leaves behind. Brian was a good man with strong attachments to his family and friends. He was a beautiful, gentle and kind soul. Memorial donations can be made in his name to KMUD Community Radio PO Box 135, 1144 Redway Drive, Redway, CA 95560 or to your local SPCA. A Celebration of Brian's Life will be a potluck at Beginnings, school hall and community gathering place in Bryceland 8 miles outside of Garberville on January 17, 1PM-6:00 PM. Come with food and fond memories of Brian to share. His ashes will be interred at a later date at a private family gathering.