Some people switch employers and think very little of it. It represents the end of an era, or the beginning of a new and exciting opportunity. “Some people” aren’t former Def Jam Records co-owner Rick Rubin, who straight up buried his past employer in the ground.
When the word DEF, a term so synonymous with his past work at Def Jam, began to lose its edge amongst the cultural clutter (it had recently been included in Webster’s dictionary, oh the horror!) of the mid 90s, a disgruntled Rubin seized the moment and put a stop to the madness. How did he do this? Well, the only way he knew how: killing it and burying the memory in a cemetery.
A plot was bought and a mock funeral, which sounded like one hell of a party, was held. At the end of the ceremony, DEF’s fate was sealed in the ground amongst the rotting dead of Hollywood's elite. Like this guy, Johnny Ramone!
What now remains is this unique monument (or simple plaque) which is hidden in the back of the famous Hollywood Forever cemetery.
It's a bit hard to find, located in the South East Quadrant behind some shrubbery, but if you find this strapping young lad in his chair, the grave is right across the street.
Aesthetically similar to its neighboring counter parts (sans dead people buried below) the grave is awesome for its blatant, right to the point message– DEF, Laid to rest August 27, 1993. No stupid made-up birth year, no corny inspirational quotes, this basically screams "This DEF shit is over.” Rick Rubin has prevailed once again.
HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?
On a fateful morning in 1993, and in an attempt to celebrate the "birth" of his new record company American Recordings', 30 year old Rick Rubin decided the world needed to rid themselves of the word DEF.
Like all self indulgent rock stars of the 90s, Rick did this in stylish and grandiose manner. Much to the dismay of the public, he hired a New Orleans themed jazz band to lead 1500 "mourners" to the grave site. It was there, amongst a guest list of celebrities that included Tom Petty, Rosanna Arquette and Slayer, and employees of American Recordings', where the Reverend Al Sharpton eulogized DEF, lowering a casket filled with flowers and record albums into the ground forever.
After the funeral, the whole group followed a motorcade to a local bowling alley to celebrate the new label, which was forging a new musical identity following the signing of Johnny Cash. Awesome.
