Earthcore founder Spiro Boursine remembered as a man with a devoted heart for delivering good times
THE BROTHER of Spiro Boursine says the Earthcore boss was “all about the event” and “never bought a house or a decent car” or “owned a suit”, while revealing the promoter had been the victim of relentless trolling, bullying, and death threats.
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THE brother of Earthcore boss Spiro Boursine said the promoter had a muddled mind for business and a devoted heart for delivering good times at his popular outdoor rave events.
“My brother was passionate about people. He wanted to please people. That was his main driving force,” Spiro’s older brother, Steven, told the Herald Sun.
“It wasn’t about himself. It was about putting on a spectacle, and giving people something new. He believed in the good things to come, and the next wonderful event.”
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Spiro Boursine, 45, (also known as Spiro Boursinos) died in custody after police restrained and handcuffed him following an altercation at the Antique Bar in Elsternwick last Saturday.
His death came amid reports of debts owed from previous events and run-ins with several music industry figures.
But Steven Boursine said his brother was a victim of relentless trolling, bullying, death threats and social media hate campaigns.
He said the evil barrage sent Spiro to a dark, increasingly paranoid place.
“There was a lot of hate and bullying. There were a lot of death threats,” Steven Boursine said.
“I believe it really affected him. Sure, he could be a bit abrupt and uncouth. But what he lacked in those areas, he made up for it in heart. He really did think people were good.”
Steven said Spiro struggled to keep Earthcore in the black, adding: “He tried to fulfil his obligations. He was always trying to make amends with what he didn’t do exactly right.”
Steven said the family often bailed Spiro out of financial troubles.
“We were never involved in his business life,” Steven said.
“If he made a mess of things … we helped a lot. There were hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in trying to make things right, and help him out.
“He had a wonderful brand and a strong following. I don’t think he ever planned to get in trouble financially.”
Spiro Boursine was raised in a suburban street off the Nepean Highway between Moorabbin and Cheltenham. His family still lives in the home where he grew up.
“The day he was born, I remember the nurse telling my mother he wouldn’t let go of the cot. He had such a strong grip on it,” Steven said.
“We knew he would become a mover and shaker whatever he did. He had purpose.”
That plan was promoting events. He staged his first rave at Fun Factory in 1992, and the so-called bush doof Earthcore was born the following year.
“He was always an innovator and he wanted do something different,” Steven Boursine said.
“He was somebody who wanted to leave his mark on the world.
“But he wasn’t an entrepreneur out for the bucks. He never bought a house or a decent car. He never owned a suit. He was all about the event.”
Steven says Spiro’s motivation was similar to their father, Nick, a former school principal at a local college.
“(Spiro’s) passion for his events were like my father’s for school,” Steven said.
“It was all in, it was about the event, and pleasing the people.”
The circumstances surrounding Spiro’s death are still being investigated by police.
Steven doesn’t believe his brother would have acted violently in his final moments.
“I can vouch for his character, knowing him and being his older brother,” Steven said.
“He wasn’t a violent person. He might’ve got a bit passionate and carried away. He had his moments where he’d get paranoid because some people were against him.”
Steven added quietly: “I think that did contribute to his end.”
The family has appealed to anyone who has information, or video, of the incident at Antique Bar to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Steven said he “wasn’t privy” to his brother’s “lifestyle,” but said: “I wouldn’t call him a heavy drug user. He drank a little bit, but it wasn’t excessive.
“But he didn’t have the metabolism to deal with a great amount of stress. That was his problem.”
The family are shattered at Spiro’s death.
His mother Christine is “coping as well as she can,” and Spiro’s fiancee, Bianca, is “heartbroken.”
Nick, who is being treated for Alzheimer’s disease, has not been told of the tragedy.
“We’re trying to keep him out of the loop,” Steven said.
“We think it might cause his demise. I couldn’t bear mum having two funerals in one year.”
Steven said the happiest he ever saw his brother was at an Earthcore event 20-or-so years ago.
“It was the zenith of his happiness. He was standing there, watching a crowd really enjoying themselves. He turned to me, smiled, and said: ‘I created this.’”
Spiro had the same joy when he called Steven late last week.
“He said to me: ‘We’ve found a venue for the (next Earthcore) event — finally’,” Steven said.
“He was very happy. Extremely happy.
“He was going for celebration drinks at the bar.”