撰文：黃聲麟
2018-08-18 21:25
「人的一生會發生很多事，但這些事不是用來定義他們，而是令人變得更堅強」。美國拉斯維加斯藝術家戴夫（Dave Dave）日前傳出死訊，被外媒廣泛報道，證實他上月15日與世長辭，終年42歲。戴夫一生歷盡滄桑，自小父母離異，6歲時險被父親燒死，皮膚超過九成燒傷，從此變成殘障人士，每日與痛苦為伴。
戴夫在復健時認識了已故巨星米高積遜（Michael Jackson），成為他人生轉捩點。二人成了忘年之交，戴夫更形容米高積遜對他來說就像父親。當戴夫發現自己的藝術天賦時，對方不斷支持他去追夢，他才能排除萬難成為一位身殘志堅的知名藝術家。
戴夫的父親在他6歲時企圖燒死他，獲救後超過九成皮膚燒傷，從此變成殘障人士，每日與痛苦為伴。（美聯社）
戴夫早年受訪時，憶起父親查理斯（Charles Rothenberg）在他眼中，本來是「世上最好的父親」，但與母親離婚後卻性情大變。戴夫表示父親當時在紐約一間餐廳工作，儲了1萬美元（約7.8萬港元）帶6歲的他到加州玩，「在路途上，他（父親）計劃殺死我」。
旅程中查理斯在電話與前妻爭執後，便餵安眠藥給戴夫吃，在兒子昏睡後便將煤油淋滿整間酒店房，點火後躲到街上電話亭，冷眼看着親生兒子獨留火海。戴夫奇蹟地逃過一劫，惟全身逾九成皮膚燒傷，從此變成殘障人士，童年就在復健及植皮手術中度過。他指自己仍未忘懷，「當這樣的事發生在你如此年幼時，你會傾向無視它，但我清楚記得被劇痛折磨的感受」。
大難不死後的一年，戴夫認識了巨星米高積遜，他表示已忘記二人如何結識，但自見面一刻起就已變成一段「終生友誼」。雙方關係親密，米高積遜更罕有地經常邀請戴夫到其住處「Neverland」遊玩，而戴夫就大讚對方為人出色，更認為他就像自己父親一樣。戴夫19歲時，米高積遜看到他在湖邊畫畫，盛讚他是「世上最好的畫家」，正正就是這種支持和鼓勵令他可放膽追夢，走上藝術家之路。
戴夫希望可透過「Lifted」系列鼓勵人們重新振作，然後再將這種鼓舞宣揚開去。（「davedavehq」IG圖片）
縱使身體殘障，戴夫卻從不當自己是病人，更憑天份加努力，成為了蜚聲國際的藝術家。他表示「藝術」從19歲起便自然浮現在腦海中，靈感及作品意義都源於生活，其「Lifted」系列畫作便是一例，自己一直遵從天性去研究社會，並發現世界近年間一直在他眼前崩潰。他希望透過畫作鼓勵人們振作，再將這種鼓舞宣揚開去，在群體裏形成正面循環。
可惜天妒英才，戴夫上月在拉斯維加斯與世長辭，終年42歲，死因仍待警方調查。戴夫的友人曾透露他需要長期服用止痛藥，懷疑近期天氣炎熱致其皮膚嚴重灼痛，誤服過量止痛藥而死。
戴夫曾在受訪時提到：「人的一生會發生很多事，但這些事不是用來定義他們，而是令人變得更堅強」。人終有一死，戴夫的生命縱短而燦爛，其身殘志堅的精神將會長存。
（Las Vegas Review Journal／每日郵報）
Michael Jackson's 'son' Dave passes away
Michael Jackson and Dave Dave were friends for 30 years.
Dave Dave, 42 who was very close to late King of Pop, Michael Jackson's secretly passed away on July 14 at his home located in Las Vegas, Nevada. A lot of artists speak about struggle and suffering but only very few know the real suffering and Dave Dave, the Las Vegas artist, is one of them. His father was cruel and tried to kill the young soul when he was just 6.
Dave's original name was David Rothenberg but he later changed it to Dave Dave because he didn't want his father's name or criminality around him. After the tragic burning incident, most of Dave's childhood was consumed in healing and skin grafting. Although, a year later he had another life-changing moment, meeting the late King of Pop Michael Jackson.
He didn't remember how he met Michael Jackson, whether it was initiated by his family or because of Jackson's camp, but the relationship hit off from the moment both of them encountered each other.
Dave said, "I wanted to meet him, and he wanted to meet me, and that just turned into a lifelong relationship that never ended, It was amazing being friends with Michael Jackson. He was an amazing person," to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
At the age of 19, Dave started creating art and Michael Jackson was nothing but supportive of him and his ideas. When Michael Jackson saw Dave painting near the lake at King of Pop's home, he said to Dave, "you are the greatest artist in the world."
Michael Jackson and Dave Dave became very close friends, more like father-son. However, the late King of Pop didn't pay for Dave's medical procedures as his mom had insurance which secured every single doctor's visit expense. MJ did offer the kid tremendous passionate help for the following 30 years. Dave Dave even went to Michael Jackson's memorial service and talked about their fellow friendship there.
Michael Jackson was a father to Dave. He befriended Dave when he was just seven years old. "He took me into his life. He opened up his arms to me and accepted me as a very good friend of his. And throughout the years he never let me go. Michael was like a father to me," said Dave is his official blog.
Dave further said, "He was a great person. He never hurt a soul and I'm happy to have been his friend all these years. Michael offered a lot of emotional support for me. Michael was there for me whenever I needed to talk to him. He opened up Neverland to me as a means to get away. Metaphorically he was always like a father that I never had."
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