RIP Filthy Mike
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I think this thread is a beautiful tribute to one hell of a guy and I hope his sister and Mom get to read it.
I have sent Alissa, his sister, a link to this thread and suggested she read it to understand how truly loved Mike is/was….
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I never met Mike and didn’t know him personally but we chatted on IG and this forum. He was so helpful and such a kind soul. This is heartbreaking. Rest In Peace Mike.
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R.I.P.
Filthy
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A song for Filthy feel free too listen. Popped in my head nothing professional but out of the heart
Incredible. This is quite special @Heavy_blue
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Here’s another from Mike’s trip out to Golden. He brought me a mug and some special beers from the Coors brewery he was working at. Beers are long gone but never letting go of that mug even if it’s a Steelers mug
He also gave me a Merz heavy tee that I already cherished, a bit more now.
Love you Mike.
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After reading these very sad news, I'd like to add my condolences to the many already posted.
My good thoughts are with Mike's parents and relatives, I'm sorry for your loss and wish you peace and strength.I only had a few direct exchanges with Mike, but, like likely everybody who is on this forum, I felt I knew him. He was just literally always present, a prolific poster with a most profound love of denim in general and the IH brand in particular. I always found he was generous, a good - if troubled - soul, and what I believe is called a "genuine guy".
It's terrible to lose him. He will be remembered, without any doubt, by this worldwide community to which he so extensively contributed.
R. I. P. Mike. Farewell.
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RIP Filthy
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This is so sad. I send my condolences to the family and loved ones. I remember @Filthy notoriously boiling his jeans and always posting fade pics with his sandals. This is such a gut punch to the community. He will be missed. RIP Mike.
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I was shocked and saddened when Giles told me the awful news about Mike yesterday, and am still at a loss for words. The tributes on this thread demonstrate what a lovely, lovely man he was - kind, generous, passionate about lots of things (especially Iron Heart) and adoring of his cat, Pickles.
He was loved, and will be missed enormously.
@Filthy:
I think Pickleses favorite thing besides begging for food is kisses
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Rest easy, Filthy.
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aw Mike
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For Filthy…
When I started on the forum around 2013 Mike was already there. At that point his forum nick was @FilthyBloodJunkie. I remember raising my eyebrows at that. It didn’t sound good at all. It wasn’t either, Mike had a long history of serious drug abuse.
Which points to something interesting regarding this thing of ours. We present ourselves in all kinds of ways here, as well as in other forms of social media. We may misrepresent, lie, or hide things. We may be open about some things but not others, or we may indulge keyboard warrior oneupmanship. Ironically, Mike did none of those things. His old nick was accurate. He used to be a junkie. He didn’t need to cover that up. He was always Mike, whatever his forum nick, at least until he settled on «Filthy». At which point he was already a legend.
So who was Filthy? He loved cats. He loved his Mum. He loved Iron Heart, zombies, vaping and pepperoni pizza. He was the most irreverent motherfucker I’ve met. And he was certainly the gentlest and kindest of us. He would help anyone here if he could, and he often did. Many of you will be familiar with the blue totes you get from Self Edge when you buy something. I lost my one that I got with my first pair of IH, mentioned it and he sent me one of his all the way PA to Norway. He secretly included an amazing silver skull ring of his that I had admired. Must be worth a few hundred dollars. He did it as a surprise. Madness.
Speaking of which, we know Mike died suddenly at the age of 44. Those of us that interacted with him for any period knew he was open about his mental illness. He would commonly laugh and joke about his suicide. It wasn’t an “if” but a “when” for him. For my part I accepted that, but secretly hoped, and believed, it would never come to that. He was too full of love and laughter, surely. Maybe it didn’t. Maybe his recently diagnosed heart condition took him. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter. He’s gone now and we’re much, much poorer for it.
Mike and I had our last communication a while back. Sometime in October or November. He was not in a great mood and was being negative about a lot of things not least the migration of the forum to a new platform. He wrote with some self deprecating bitterness that the “legend of Filthy” could die with the old forum and he wouldn’t be back. He didn’t live long enough to see that it won’t happen. It won’t be allowed to happen. I for one will remember Filthy, the man and the legend. The forum will remember him. Mike was one of the most beautiful people I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting and I loved him.
Goodbye mate. “We’ll always have cameltoe paradise”.
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the “legend of Filthy” could die with the old forum and he wouldn’t be back.
He told me this too, and that he only told you and no one else. Also asked me not to tell anyone so he could become a legend of the old IH forum. Guess he got what he wanted there, but more than he could have imagined.
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I'm so sorry to hear about Filthy's passing. He was one of the iconic members of the Iron Heart community. I loved reading about his bonkers exploits trying to shrink shirts, wash jeans, etc. The stuff of legend.
