South Philly punk legend Mikey Wild in hospice care at Penn Medicine

Some sad news from Philly.com:

“Mikey Wild, the old-school Philly punk-musician-turned marker artist, is in hospice care at Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse, says his brother Ben DeLuca.

Wild, born Michael DeLuca, has had lung cancer for nearly three years.

He recently completed a short film with producer/director Issac Williams called ‘Paying the Price,’ and played some shows last year while in remission.’Being mentally challenged, Mikey found his niche in life early on and made the most of it,’ Ben said yesterday.

‘And isn’t it ironic that he’ll spend his last days on South Street where it all started for him in the late ’70s, early ’80s,’ his brother noted, pointing out that Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse is at 18th & South.

Wild, who’s biggest song was ‘I Was Punk B4 U Were Punk,’ is still known to many as the Mayor of South Street.

The Art Blog reports that a celebration of Wild’s music and art will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. June 18 at Pageant: Soloveev Gallery (607 Bainbridge) where some of Wild’s drawings have been displayed in the past.

Keep Mikey in your thoughts.”