The vigil for Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller is expected to attract perhaps thousands of people to Blue Slide Park, the East End playground that was one of Miller’s favorite spots in the city. We’ll follow along with the vigil once it gets started, through the posts of fans and PG staffers who are in the park.
9:45 p.m.: “We love you, Mac!”
A good place to wrap this up: A quick video from PG photojournalist Jessie Wardarski and this note from PG music critic Scott Mervis:
When the police asked the crowd to disperse, they chanted “4-1-2!” and “One More Song!” They were granted “2009,” the solemn closing track of his new album “Swimming.” Once it ended, the crowd all went silent and raised their candles for two or three minutes.
Someone broke the silence, yelling, “We love you, Mac!”
Fans light candles and sing to Rapper Mac Miller’s music during a vigil held after the 26-year-old’s death on Friday. @PGVisuals @PittsburghPG #pittsburgh #MacMiller #vigil pic.twitter.com/cVvkrIBdbj
— Jessie Wardarski (@JKayWardarski) September 12, 2018
9:25 p.m.: A moment of silence
Mourners pause the music and raise candles for a moment of silence for #MacMiller pic.twitter.com/pmLzCWEB3w
— Andrew Goldstein (@angolds) September 12, 2018
9:10 p.m.: One of several
8:50 p.m.: Mac’s family is represented
A Pittsburgh moment! Mac Miller’s Grandma comes to thank the huge crowd at the memorial vigil for her famous grandson stopping to take hugs. #MacMiller #Pittsburgh #KDKA on @KDKA pic.twitter.com/7pJ0LSI1UP
— PamSuranoKDKA (@PamSurano) September 12, 2018
Thanks to our news partners at KDKA-TV, we get a look at Miller’s grandmother, who attended the vigil.
8:40 p.m.: Mac and music
8:30 p.m.: Mourning by candlelight
Andrea Grimm, of the North Side, holds a candle during a vigil for rapper #MacMiller at Blue Slide Park. pic.twitter.com/h0K519RRCL
— Matt Freed (@mattfreedpghpg) September 12, 2018
8:15 p.m.: A quick look at the mood in the park
PG reporter Andrew Goldstein says the mood is “mostly jovial.”
The more than 1,000 people who came to Blue Slide Park Tuesday night made the Squirrel Hill playground look like a concert venue, singing along to rap lyrics, holding candles and dancing.
Though the atmosphere was mostly jovial, the reason for the gathering was less happy.
The group came together to commemorate the life of Mac Miller, who died Friday in a suspected overdose in his San Fernando Valley home.
Miller, whose real name was Malcolm McCormick, was from Point Breeze and graduated from Allderdice High School in 2010.
The vigil was attended by friends and fans from near and far.
Lyneel Brimage, who was a classmate of Miller’s at Allderdice, said even when he was in high school he knew Miller was going to make it big.
"Before he made it, he had that swag about him," Mr. Brimage said. "You knew he was going to be a star.
8:05 p.m.: Before and after
Artist Camerin “Camo” Nesbit spent a little over two hours working on this stunning portrait of Mac Miller that he intends to have fans sign. #MacMiller pic.twitter.com/bA7soC8ayi
— Scott Mervis (@scottmervis_pg) September 11, 2018
Artist Camerin Camo Nesbit of Homewood spray paints a mural of rapper Mac Miller during a vigil following Miller’s death Friday. @PGVisuals @PittsburghPG #MacMiller pic.twitter.com/mytG06q8m5
— Jessie Wardarski (@JKayWardarski) September 11, 2018
Two looks at a mural by Camerin “Camo” Nesbit.
8 p.m.: Blue Slide video
PG photojournalist caught these clips at different points during the vigil:
Musician Isaiah Small, 22, plays several piano tributes for rapper Mac Miller during a vigil at Frick Park. Miller died Friday at the age of 26. @PittsburghPG @PGVisuals pic.twitter.com/Zc2A2MjWIj
— Jessie Wardarski (@JKayWardarski) September 11, 2018
A DJ plays rapper Mac Miller’s music during a vigil held for Miller who died at age 26 on Friday. @PittsburghPG @PGVisuals pic.twitter.com/Z6B4I3LrYJ
— Jessie Wardarski (@JKayWardarski) September 11, 2018
7:50 p.m.: Corey O’Conner joins the mourners
Our community has come together to mourn the loss of a great Pittsburgher. Rest easy Mac Miller.
— Corey O'Connor (@CoreyOConnorPGH) September 11, 2018
Thank you to the vigil organizers. #BlueSlidePark pic.twitter.com/ofxNWWL64q
7:40 p.m.: A hard week in Pittsburgh
A week Pittsburgh will never forget. Rest in peace Mac Miller, your music is beyond words and artistic doesnt do your work justice. Pittsburgh will find peace again, especially with the love I felt at Blue Slide Park tonight. Still wosh this was a nightmare. Unbelievable #412 pic.twitter.com/iLxt6gL3ew
— Master Bruce (@ricky21fedell) September 11, 2018
7:30 p.m.: Addiction is a theme among fans
7:25 p.m.: It feels like it
it has not stopped raining in pittsburgh since mac miller died
— Lauren Caimano (@lauren_caimano) September 11, 2018
7:20 p.m: Blue Slide Park is jammed
Blue Slide Park is filled with thousands of fans for the Mac Miller Vigil. pic.twitter.com/tj4YZyxJew
— Scott Mervis (@scottmervis_pg) September 11, 2018
7:15 p.m.: All walks of life
6:55 p.m.: Speakers begin
Mac Miller’s grandma speaking at his vigil has my heart in pieces 😭 she’s even wearing a blue slide park hoodie
— carly (@cdtrick) September 11, 2018
This was bound to be a personal vigil, given that Miller grew up in and around the park where it is being held.
6:45 p.m.: Portrait completed
5:20 p.m.: Rhymes in the park
Fans of rapper Mac Miller, who died of an apparent overdose at the age of 26, gather for a vigil at Blue Slide Park in Frick Park Tuesday, Sept. 11 2018, in Squirrel Hill. @PGVisuals @PittsburghPG #vigil pic.twitter.com/4L1rho1f2F
— Jessie Wardarski (@JKayWardarski) September 11, 2018
A steady stream of Miller’s music is the constant backdrop as the crowd builds.
5 p.m.: Already a crowd
A substantial crowd has already formed at Blue Slide Park 2 hrs before speakers are supposed to start at the #MacMiller vigil pic.twitter.com/oATYo4rpwm
— Andrew Goldstein (@angolds) September 11, 2018
By 5, the crowd on the playground is starting to build.
4:35 p.m.: A different kind of painting
Artist Zachary Rutter paints a portrait of #MacMiller at Blue Slide Park before a vigil Tuesday. “I’ve been here since 11am,” said Rutter. pic.twitter.com/WiyUeYrH8i
— Matt Freed (@mattfreedpghpg) September 11, 2018
Artist Zachary Rutter arrived in the park this morning, and began working on a portrait of Miller.
Earlier Tuesday: Painted, as promised
The city repainted Blue Slide Park for Mac Miller’s vigil.
— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) September 11, 2018
From @scottmervis_pg: https://t.co/4KDeHBomTB pic.twitter.com/gVje4w027X
As details about the vigil were announced, city officials said they’d repaint the blue slide prior to the event, something they do periodically as the paint wears off. By Tuesday morning, the slide was ready to go.
First Published: September 11, 2018, 10:50 p.m.
