Alexander M. "Lex" Paneson's Obituary
Alexander "Lex" Paneson of Port Richey, Florida, is finally at peace as of Friday, June 22, 2012. He was 49 years old. Lex is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 19 years, Ellen; father-in-law, John McDonald; son, Alexander; parents, Carole and Alexander Paneson; aunt, Barbara Rooney and uncle, Joseph Rooney; cousins, Joe Rooney and his wife, Pam; cousin, Christine Williams and her husband, Joseph Williams and her husband, Joseph Williams; cousin, Carolyn Fratus and her husband, Scott Fratus; cousin,, Melissa Page and her husband, Larry Page; and countless loving nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.Alex sold cars in his hometown of Waltham Ma. shortly after high school, at "West End Chevrolet" from 1983 to 1986, he was also the Drummer for the Boston Based band "IN THE RED" gigging and playing shows in and around Boston Ma. when he and cousin Joe Rooney moved to Florida to start a hard rock band. Alex purchased his first home in Hudson FL in 1986 and the 2 began assembling members to form the band "FIRSTBORN", in early 1993 Guitarist Chris D'Amico, and Bass Player Martin Wilder joined Lex & Joe, to form the Band that went on to record 2 albums, (Self Titled in 1993,Eye for Power in 1994),and play over hundreds of live shows, in May of 93 at one of the now infamous Locker Room Shows, Lex met his future wife Ellen McDonald, the 2 have been together since, the band won "Best Heavy Metal Band" in 1993 at the "Tampa Bay Metal Awards" a weekend long event, in which the band also played, Alex was nominated for "Best Drummer" at the event, the band then went on to win "Best Metal Album" Firstborn's 2nd independent release "Eye for Power" at the 1994 "Tampa Bay Metal Awards" alex went back to selling car's in the off time between albums and started a new band with former Guitarist Chris D'Amico, the band was called KRUM BUM, the band recorded 2 albums w/ Producer Tommi Chills, the band included Jeremy Bornstein on Bass, mainly a studio project of Alex and Chris, but the band did preform a few shows locally, Lex tied the knot to his love, Ellen McDonald and the two were married in Oct of 95, and Ellen and Lex welcomed there miracle baby Alexander Jr. to the world in May of 2000, after "Little Cannon" was born The FIRSTBORN Band re-united and recorded there 3rd album "Killer Within" with guitarist Darian Ruger and Bass Player David "Mother" Meehan, after gigging around Florida for a few years the band again split up again, until reuniting with original member Chris D'Amico and Former Avatar Bassist Brian Moast, the band went back into the studio to record EVILUTION with longtime Producer and friend, Tommi Chills , at Chills Studio, the project was over 3 years in the making, but finally went to Studio in 2009, the band was invited to tour with Death Metal Band "DEICIDE" with longtime friend Glen Benton giving the band a big opportunity to tour all there Florida dates, but shortly after signing on to do the tour Alex was Diagnosed with Melanoma Cancer, and was unable to do the tour, the band replaced Lex and completed the tour, but going on without the "Rock" was the end , the band agreed to not preform until Lex was able to rejoin the band and sadly that never happened. Alex Then began the road to fighting this disease, Lex was able to go to Providence R.I. to receive treatments for a new clinical trial that helped extend his life for an extra two years...If it wasn't' for all the donations, from family and friends this trip would not have been possible for him. However, because of all of the many people that loved him, he was able to go and receive the treatments and for this his family will be forever grateful, "We want to thank everyone for their support and kind words for Lex, We want everyone to know he fought right to the end, he never gave up, he loved you all!! he was so strong, he was so many things to us, a Loving son, a good husband ,a respected Big Brother a great father to his son, a Trusted Best Friend, a funny Cousin, the most Honest and trustworthy person on this earth, and a Rock of a Drummer!, a beautiful person that helped and changed the lives of so many!! you are at peace my brother...We love, and will miss you so much!!"
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