Fans express ‘intense sadness’ over LeRoi Moore’s passing

Thousands of Dave Matthews Band fans expressed their sorrow online this morning over the death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore.

“What an intense sadness. The world should not lose such people so young,” wrote one fan on the band’s unofficial message board AntsMarching.org. “I feel incredibly sad for his family, and his extended DMB family. They will all be in my thoughts today. Don’t really know what else to say, I’m kind of in shock.”

“Rest in peace LeRoi,” posted another. “I felt like I was flying when I heard you play.”

Fans from Richmond, Hampton Roads, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Martinsburg, W.Va., and elsewhere planned to visit Charlottesville in Moore’s memory over the weekend.

Several fans said they plan to visit the Downtown Mall for an impromptu memorial service Wednesday evening.

The band’s bassist, Stefan Lessard, wrote a short message to fans about Moore on his myspace.com blog.

“I just wanted to take a second to thank everyone for the support and blessings,” Lessard wrote. “It means a lot and I know that Leroi feels the vibrations wherever his soul may be.”

At the band’s performance Tuesday evening at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Dave Matthews announced Moore’s death to the crowd, according to videos of the show posted online.

“Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on today and gave up his ghost,” Matthews said. “We will miss him forever. It’s always easier to leave than be left.”

Matthews went on to describe the first time he heard Moore play saxophone. While at a gig, Moore grew tired of standing, leaned against a cash register to rest and started to play.

“He played the most beautiful version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ I’d ever heard in my life,” Matthews said. “That’s the day I fell in love with him. I’m still in love with him.”