One of the more interesting characters in We Fun is B Jay Womack (aka Bobby Ubangi). He was a mascot of sorts for the ATL music scene that included Black Lips and Deerhunter. Not only was he the surly bouncer at the Drunken Unicorn, but was also a member of bands like The Lids, Gaye Blades and Bobby & The Soft Spots.
During the last stages of filming, B Jay was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. He was given six months to live. He made it almost a year. His good friend (and journalist) Chad Radford started organizing a fund to pay for a green burial which had a price tag of $6,000. This was B Jay’s preference after developing a phobia of cremation.
Chad contacted Matthew Robison and I to see if we wanted to contribute. Within hours we assembled a short film about B Jay using footage that didn’t make it into the movie. We put it online so those writing blogs and emails could attach it. Through emails, benefit concerts, selling t-shirts, and records they raised $10,000 in just a couple of days.
As you will see in the film below, B Jay is trying to read the 23rd chapter of Moby Dick. He wanted it to be played at his funeral. However, he kept getting distracted. (In the end credits of We Fun you can see him read the whole chapter.) Matthew, producer Geoffrey Leek, and I treasure the time we were fortunate enough to spend with him. Hopefully, he felt the same way.
You can purchase B Jay related music at Die Slaughterhaus Records or Rob’s House Records.
