R.I.P.

R.I.P. JIM MORRISON And BRIAN JONES – Only 27

Posted on by JL

This day in 1969 and in 1971 two everlasting rock superstars passed away. They were both aged 27, as old as several other legends that died that young, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Robert Johnson and Kurt Cobain. The press labelled them the 27 Club.

52 years ago today, on 3 July 1971, the voice/face JIM MORRISON of eternal rock icons The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as
a heart attack. It followed years of drug and alcohol addiction.

54 years ago today, on 3 July 1969, the musical genius BRIAN JONES of The Rolling Stones drowned while under the influence of drugs/alcohol after taking a midnight swim in his private pool. His body was found at the bottom of the pool by his Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin. The coroner’s report stated “Death by misadventure”, and noted his liver and heart were heavily enlarged by drug and alcohol abuse.

Talking about The Stones.

Jim Morrison image: cover of his ‘American Prayer’ album
Brian Jones: cover of bio book by Laura Jackson

RIP – Irish Blues Guitar Hero RORY GALLAGHER Passed Away 28 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

14 June 2023


Rory Gallagher statue in his birthplace, Ballyshannon, Ireland (photo by Dana Martin)

This day 28 years ago, on 14 June 1995 Irish blues rock hero
Rory Gallagher passed away, only 47, following complications
of a liver transplant.

Gallagher recorded/released 11 studio albums.
He sold more than 30 million records worldwide.

A big one to remember the Irish hero.

RORY GALLAGHER: Bio – Discography – Instagram


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R.I.P. TINA TURNER (83)

Posted on by JL

24 May 2023

Legendary soul star TINA TURNER has passed away today at her home in
Küsnacht, Zurich, Switzerland (she had the Swiss nationality) following a long
illness. She was born, named Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee
83 years ago.

Tina started her extraordinary Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame career in 1957, at the age
of 18 singing with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm. She married Turner and together
they became a worldwide successful act as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue later
shortened to just Ike & Tina Turner.

In 1977 she left her violent, cocaine-addicted husband. She started a solo career
but was somehow ignored until 1984 when she scored big-time with her album
Private Dancer. She toured around the world and became a swirling superstar
over the years. She recorded/released 10 solo LPs. Her full discography here

The sad news came via her socials.

TINA – THE BEST

TINA TURNER: Website – Instagram

JOHNNY MARR Remembers His Very Good Friend And Former THE SMITHS Bassist ANDY ROURKE

Posted on by JL

ANDY ROURKE, the highly praised bass player of immortal indie stars THE SMITHS
passed away two days ago, on 19 May, following a long battle with pancreatic cancer
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He was born named Andrew Michael Rourke on 17 January 1964 in Manchester UK, 59 years ago.

Johnny Marr, his very good friend since their childhood, and
The Smiths‘ guitar hero posted this in memoriam on his socials.

R.I.P. MARK STEWART

Posted on by JL

23 April 2023


Young Mark Stewart on the cover of NME in 1978

Very sad news. MARK STEWART passed away at only 62. No cause of
death is communicated. He was the mastermind of new wave/post-punk
crusaders THE POP GROUP (Bristol, UK) and also a much-lauded solo artist
exploring dub, reggae, electronic music, rock and punk. Rest in peace.

Discography The Pop Group here.
Discography as a solo artist here.

On Belgian TV in 1980.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Mark twice and interviewing
him once. He was not only an influential artist but also a warmhearted
and down-to-earth person. I’ll miss him sadly.

A quote from Mark about the early days.

MARK LANEGAN Passed Away This Day – 22 February – Last Year

Posted on by JL

 

One year ago today. R.I.P.

With Screaming Trees – 1996

MARK LANEGAN: Bio – Discography

R.I.P. BURT BACHARACH

Posted on by JL

May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023

A musical genius has passed away. BURT BACHARACH was born 94 years
ago in Kansas City and passed away 2 days ago in his home in Los Angeles.

I guess, most of us music lovers, knew him best through countless – more
than 1000 – artists who recorded/performed the songs he wrote for them.

He composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s,
many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. He’s a six-time Grammy Award
winner and three-time Academy Award winner. His legacy is massive and will
live on as long as there is music. R.I.P.

Bacharach Magic at Glastonbury 2015.

At work.

BURT BACHARACH: Bio – Discography

R.I.P. – TELEVISION Mastermind/Guitarist/Singer TOM VERLAINE Dead At 73

Posted on by JL

29 January 2023

TOM VERLAINE, born Thomas Miller in Denville, New Jersey
73 years ago died yesterday following a brief illness.

He began studying piano at an early age but switched to saxophone in middle school after hearing a record by Stan Getz. Verlaine initially was unimpressed with the role of the guitar in both rock music and jazz but was inspired to take up the instrument after hearing the Rolling Stones’ “19th Nervous Breakdown” during his adolescence.

In 1973 he went to New York and formed groundbreaking new-punk-wave
TELEVISION with Richard Hell as a one-time member. Verlaine‘s guitar play
was astounding and defined the band’s electrical sound.

They only recorded/released 2 LPs. Their innovative 1977 debut Marquee Moon
 and follow-up Adventure a year later. They split up shortly after but reunited later,
1991–1993 / 2001–present.

Verlaine had a successful solo career too with several
albums and collaborated with numerous other artists.

R.I.P.

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TOM VERLAINE: Bio – Discography

Pioneering Guitar Hero JEFF BECK Death At 78

Posted on by JL

12 January 2023

JEFF BECK, one of the genuine and pioneering guitar heroes in rock, passed away
2 days ago at 78, after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis. The news was made public yesterday evening. The exceptional musician was born Geoffrey Arnold Beck in
East Essex, UK in 1944.

He started his career with 60s blues beat band The Yardbirds (who also had Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton in their changing line-ups). In 1967 he started his own band The Jeff Beck Group originally with Rod Stewart as the singer and Ronnie Wood on guitar. The JBG recorded 3 albums.

On the Letterman Show in 1999

As a solo artist Beck released 11 LPs with Loud Hailer as the most recent
one that came out in 2016. He also recorded with many other artists.

Full Discography

The sad statement on his Twitter account.

Jimmy Page‘s reaction.

R.I.P. FRED WHITE – Drummer Of EARTH, WIND AND FIRE Passed Away At 67

Posted on by JL

FRED WHITE, the drummer of famous soul disco band EARTH, WIND & FIRE
passed away on New Year’s Day. He was born 67 years ago today in Chicago.

White’s brother/bandmate Verdine confirmed
the news in a tribute post on Instagram.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Bio – Discography