Paul Victor Bernsten

Hello friends,

I’m heartbroken to have to announce that my Uncle, Paul Victor Bernsten passed away early Monday morning after a long battle with cancer. He slipped away in his sleep with family present.

Paul, who was affectionately known by some as “Pope Paul” had a huge early influence on my life and career. He took me to see the Monkees at the Arizona State Fair in 1969. He took me to my first Grateful Dead and Tubes concerts. He was present at all the early Teds shows in the late 70s and most of the Mersey Productions show throughout the 1980s.

In 1979, I borrowed his middle name, “Victor” and added to my first name, “Tony” and Tony Victor was born.

Paul was the unofficial MC at Mad Gardens and provided comic relief between bands for the first 40-50 shows there. His many costume sketches, comedy and poetry was maligned and misunderstood by many but was enjoyed and revered by many others. He was a big part of the early mosaic that inspired the creative and unpredictable atmosphere of Mad Gardens. The many patrons and musicians that got to know him loved him for his gentle intellect and wit.

Paul was an accomplished writer. He covered both the Last Waltz and the closing of Winterland for the Arizona Republic and penned several articles for Relix Magazine. He founded and wrote for a comedy troupe in the mid 1970s. He wrote a screenplay about his tenure as a bell hop at the Point Squaw Peak Resort.

Paul became nocturnal in his later years and haunted the streets of downtown Phoenix at night from his base at the Westward Ho. Many a friend woke up one of the notes that he would so often leave at people’s doorsteps in the middle of the night so that they could start their day with some of his wit and enthusiasm.

Paul was a huge friend and supporter of all the Placebo family businesses and he will be missed by his family, his friends and his fans.

Rest in peace Uncle Paul.

Tony Victor