If you've been wondering which politician convicted of corruption who shot himself at the end of a
press conference is the subject of Filter's "Hey Man Nice Shot," wonder no more. Perusing the liner notes
of the group's debut album, Short Bus the other day, we noticed that Richard Patrick's publishing
company is called "Buddy Doiwer Publishing." In fact, the song is about none other than the late
Pennsylvania state Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer, who used a .357-caliber Magnum to do the dirty deed on
January 22, 1987. Dwyer pulled the gun from a bag and fired it into his mouth; it was one day before he
was scheduled to appear before a federal judge for sentencing in a bribery-conspiracy scandal. Up until
that moment Dwyer had maintained his innocence on charges of conspiracy to accept campaign
contributions in exchange for allegedly giving a Social Security overpayment recovery contract to John Torquato of Computer
Technology. That deal reportedly involved hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Up until now, Filter's Rich Patrick (who wrote the song) and his partner, programmer Brian Liesegang have been correcting
journalists who thought the song was about Kurt Cobain, but have turned vague and mysterious when asked to explain it.
They told ATN last month that Patrick wrote it after watching a snuff film. Turns out that Patrick was inspired by a
much-copied video of the suicide (shot by a news crew). Without naming names, Patrick told one reporter recently: "It's
about a guy that kind of made a statement, a final one. The song is not a celebration of suicide. He had the guts to stand up for
what he believed. I'm wary about talking about it. I'm worried it's going to turn up in print and I really don't want the guy's
family to have to deal with it. I don't think it would be fair and I certainly wouldn't want us to sell any records at the expense
of this guys family." 

Well, so much for that idea Patrick. The story broke the other day. The July 6 edition of the Tribune Review ran the headline
"Suicide Song Irks Dwyer's family." "Oh no," exclaimed Dwyer's widow, Joanne upon hearing about it. She expressed
concern about its effect on her children and grandchildren, and said she would file a strong protest with Filter's record label,
Reprise Records. "I don't know exactly what I'll say until I make contact," she told the press. 

The song doesn't name the former state treasurer and only vaguely refers to his public suicide. A statement from Patrick and
Liesegang, sent to the media by Reprise Records on July 7, explains it this way: "The song 'Hey Man Nice Shot' is a reaction
to a well-documented public suicide. It is not a celebration or glorification of taking one's own life. The phrase 'hey man, nice
shot' is not a reference to the final act itself, but rather an expression of guts and determination of a person standing up for
what they believe is right. We are extremely sensitive and respectful to the family and friends of Mr. Dwyer. We have both
lost friends to suicide and felt nothing but sympathy and loss for the victims, and those involved in such a tragedy." The release
was signed: "Richard Patrick and Brian Leisgang, Filter." Except that Liesegang spells his name Liesegang, not "Leisgang."
Which makes us wonder who exactly wrote that press release? Could it be a Reprise Records publicist? We hear that
Warner Music Group executives are concerned that Dwyer's wife will sue the Reprise Records and Filter. It that happens, the
suit should be tossed out of court. Dwyer did what he did very purposely before the media, and if an artist chooses to use that
public event as the raw material from which to create a powerful song, more power to them.