American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambodia

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Re: Unidentified Male Foreigner Found Dead Near Bicycle On the Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambo

Post by Kuroneko »

Sailorman wrote:On Tue.I was driving between Otres 1 and 2 on the main road. Pitch black and I came up on an idiot barrang with no lights on a bike. I had a witness with me that I didn't hit him and it was Tue. night. Maybe the same idiot as before riding without any lights. Looks like a death wish to me, like the Cambos that ride their motos without lights.

I live in PP and on a number of occasions I have nearly "wiped out" a stupid barang riding a bicycle with no lights. There are also quite a disproportionate number of barangs that drive motos and dont wear helmets.
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Re: American John William Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambo

Post by hanno »

Temple Town early in the morning: dozens of foreigners make their way to sunrise on pushbikes without lights and preferably wearing dark clothing.

And the Barang 250cc dirt-bike group will never wear helmets in town as otherwise nobody will see who those cool cats are...
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Re: American John William Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambo

Post by General Mackevili »

It seems the victim name is Johann Bran Cleereman from San Francisco, California, according to his Facebook profile and obituaries from his friends.

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He was also featured in Vice Magazine for making his own absinthe on Koh Ta Kiev island off the coast of Sihanoukville and throwing absinthe-fueled orgies there on the beach.

Here is that article if you want to read it:

http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/a-cambod ... and-orgies

Here are a few that shows how highly he was regarded by his friends.

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Spoiler:
I heard late last night that my dear old friend Johann, known to some as The Red King, formerly of the band Corvus Corax, had passed on. Part of my mind has always allowed some small chance that he genuinely was an immortal alchemist-vampire who had lived for hundreds of years in the recesses of the arts underground; and he was a man who made it easy to believe that. He seemed to move in a dimension one half-step removed from the rest of us, with beliefs and motivations we could never fathom, every word and movement the tip of some vast and ornate iceberg sculpture he had spent his life carving beneath a black frozen sea. I don't imagine there are many people left in this city who remember The Red King. For me, and for every other ritual artist and experimental musician I knew then, he was a source of inspiration and fascination, and an object of respect that verged on reverence. My time spent in his secret absinthe speakeasy, decorated with human bones and sigils, surrounded by noisicians and butoh-ka and junkies and satanists and chaotiticians and poets and metalheads and bellydancers and anarchists and aristocratic freaks - those hours will always stay with me, when Johann and I would exchange cutting quips and misanthropic observations over Death in the Afternoon with a damiana twist. It's strange to think that this happened last night, perhaps on the legendary island off the coast of Cambodia where he received visitors in his treehouse distillery. There is a place of wonder in my heart, where I truly believe this is all a charade, and he's walking the earth today with a different name, and he always will be. Rest in Power, Johann. Feel free to visit any time.





<3 RIP my incredible friend The Red King / Johann Bran Cleereman :( strangest thing, you popped up in my mind last night when i was listening to music & today i sadly read you have moved on... i will always remember the fun times drinking your delicious meads & absinthe at your beautiful speakeasy & being at your magical shows. you will be missed by so many!!! <3





I have original pressings of The Red King albums Johann Bran Cleereman left with me if anyone wants/needs one please PM me and/or leave your address on this post. Thanks meows. My heart is with any of you who are feeling the loss i am feelingImage
Johann I'm flourished with memories of your sweetness.





Reflecting on my friend's legacy, I share this album cover from our band, WINDOW PAIN. We were the rhythm section of this legendary SF band, and in 1992, were playing shows with Switchblade Symphony/Consolidated/Killing Floor. Johann designed our logo, with letters long and black, like him. Those who know his music via THE RED KING or CORVUS CORAX, may not know he was also an talented bass player whose musical legacy extended much further back than his younger friends and fans may be aware of. Anyone who is interested in his musical work-- this early 90's project is welcome to contact me for a CD. Free of charge, of course, as I have a few left in my archives. Window Pain was definitely more in the "Heavy Gothic" genre...Johann's musical journey was a long one...he was a prolific composer, and I was blessed and honored to play drums for The Red King. I'll never forget the performance in Portland for "Convergence", it must be 10 years ago.... if you were there, it was quite memorable.





I remember sitting in his shed reading Edgar Allan Poe over his music for his uncle's benefit. He could play hauntingly beautiful guitar for hours. I haven't seem him since we moved to Hong Kong. His house was the last place we stayed in Portland before we moved overseas. He was always a gracious host. When he lived in Sihanoukville I arranged for a shipment of wormwood and other spices to be sent to him for his absinthe.

A lot of people pass a lot of judgement on him. I will always remember the tall man who talked me down from suicide more than once. Who asked my opinion on his music. Who made me mix tapes (which I still have) and who always wanted to play music. I will miss him so much, no matter what others may think of him. Thanks for sharing this memory. Still trying to make sense of losing so many close friends since leaving America. I guess it comes with the territory.
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Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambod

Post by bolueeleh »

looks like kid rock
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Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambod

Post by General Mackevili »

Looks like he moved his absinthe operation to Otres Beach some time ago, and was even writing a "survival guide" for Cambodia last year.

I guess he didn't read it. Image

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Rest in Peace.
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Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambod

Post by boozyoldman »

Whatever the precise details of his departure from this vale of tears, it surely seems Cambodia has lost the very sort of character that is and was
sorely needed.
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Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambod

Post by willyhilly »

Indeed boozyoldman.
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Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambod

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Police Said “Heart Attack” Was the Cause, Residents Disagreed

Sihanoukville: Body of a foreigner was found by the side of the road around 6:35 am on 13 October 2016 along the road leading on Otres 1 located in commune 4, Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk province.

Police said the deceased named John William Cleereman, American, a tourist.

After having examined the body, police said the foreigner man died from heart attack. However even though the cause of his death was confirmed by both police and doctors, residents in the areas doubted about his dead and suspected that it was a murder, because the body was found in the small pond about 4 to 5 meters from the road. People said, if he had heart attack while he was riding his bike, the body would be lying on the road and there is no reason that he would be riding in the middle of the night for exercise.
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Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambod

Post by isashisha »

RIP RED KING! must say, im equally surprised finding this written about him as hearing of his death. 'we'...meaning here in the states...didnt know until just very recently with little/no details other 'motorcycle accident'. johann is/was VERY well known...as a performer, musician, avid absinthe maker (has his own brand stashed in portland still) and raconteur extraordinaire. he wasnt just some drunk foreigner visiting there lol and had in fact been living there off/on for a good amount of years travelling to the states and back. the past few years living there full time after opening his own absinthe distillery/cafe. any details regarding his passing would be much appreciated. his west coast friends had his memorial on the 21st. long live the red king! https://www.facebook.com/synabsinthe
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Re: RE: Re: American Johann Bran Cleereman Found Dead Near Bicycle On Side of the Road Near Otres Beach in Sihanoukville

Post by General Mackevili »

isashisha wrote:RIP RED KING! must say, im equally surprised finding this written about him as hearing of his death. 'we'...meaning here in the states...didnt know until just very recently with little/no details other 'motorcycle accident'. johann is/was VERY well known...as a performer, musician, avid absinthe maker (has his own brand stashed in portland still) and raconteur extraordinaire. he wasnt just some drunk foreigner visiting there lol and had in fact been living there off/on for a good amount of years travelling to the states and back. the past few years living there full time after opening his own absinthe distillery/cafe. any details regarding his passing would be much appreciated. his west coast friends had his memorial on the 21st. long live the red king! https://www.facebook.com/synabsinthe
Sorry for your loss, and thanks for the extra info about him.
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