Billy Ruane died on Tuesday. A key figure in the Boston music scene, both as a booker and as a fan, he was also known as a performer — either invited or when he was excited, usually as a genial stage crasher.
A vigil was held late Tuesday night at the Mid-dle East club, the venue he brought rock to, booking its very first shows in the ’80s. But music was more than a business to him. A passionate, dedicated music fan, the 52-year-old was often seen dancing wildly by the stage, lighting up a room wherever he went.
