Red Cross is a song that Ian wrote and which first appeared on his album "A Rose Revolution". I met Ian in 2006, I believe, and we quickly developed a friendship. We bonded over our love of music - the blues - and a mutual admiration, but mostly, I think, because we got along so well. Though I honestly can't imagine anyone not getting along with Ian. By the time I met him, Ian was incredibly well developed as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer but most importantly as a person. He exuded fearlessness and positivity while simultaneously being vulnerable and emotionally wide open. It was a combination of traits that I hadn't really known in anyone before meeting him. Though still young, Ian seemed to have already transcended the ego trip that many ambitious musicians aren't ever able to escape. Not only did Ian seem to be creating music for the shear joy and necessity of it, he was using his powers to encourage and draw out the best in other musicians and in those around him; qualities that he went on to share with a wider and wider community in the years to come. As I prepped to go into the studio in late 2007 with my band, Wellbottom, I had been listening to Ian's record "A Rose Revolution" quite a bit. There were so many good songs and stylistic variety on the record. Red Cross was an infectious, bluesy little groove that I couldn't get out of my head. Ian's vocals on it were so cool - the wailing leads and the high harmonies - and his guitar playing was blazing. One day I asked him what the song was about and he told me "I don't really know" and he just laughed. I think he just kind of let the song come through him and he left the meaning to be derived by the listener - a real mind blow for me at the time. A while later I asked him if I could record the song and in his infinite generosity he said "of course!" - so record it we did, and it remains one of my very favorite songs. We played it a lot for a couple of years and it's one of the only songs I didn't write myself that sort of felt like my own. Thinking about it now, it felt like Ian kind of gave me the song. And that pretty much sums up the way Ian lived; sharing is gifts and tricks and wisdom with anyone who was open to receiving them. And in doing so his energy multiplies and lives on in the hearts and creations and positivity of the people that he touched. I am humbled and honored to be a small star in that ever expanding galaxy. - Colin Lake