Tag Archives: Death

00's, 70's, 80's, 90's, Bad Times, Death, Music, Music News, Music Video, Pop, R&B

The King Of Pop Passes (1958-2009)

26 June, 2009 Brian Mc 3 Comments

It’s no news that everyone has heard about the late pop-star Michael Jackson. The King of Pop is no longer with us.

I really was not going to blog about this instance because everyone already is and I was not quite sure what I really had to say about it.

Twitter was overloaded with updates and Facebook seemed to have endless comments but fans as well as people who thought it would be a good time to start with the jokes.

This morning I thought maybe I should just post something about the musician seeing on how he had a pretty big influence on me musically as I grew up.

I was getting a tattoo yesterday when I found out. I was just killing some time during the process and checked Twitter where I started seeing posts that Michael Jackson was taken to the hospital, then rumors of his death followed by statements of the artist falling into a coma. Finally it was confirmed, Michael Jackson died from cardiac arrest.

I did not know what to think at the exact moment it hit me that the pop star passed.

I can tell you one thing, Michael Jackson was the last person I would have ever expected to pass away on a summer day. The news was shocking and it took me a few visits to various websites to finally learn it was the truth. I realize sometimes things get blown out of proportion but this was real.

I was a Michael Jackson fan when I was a kid and I am not ashamed to say it. I am pretty sure everyone was and I do not believe you if you say you did not like any of his material. I rocked the parachute pants, did the moon walk, but never had a sparkling glove.

One of my favorite memories of when I went to Epcot Center at Walt Disney World in the late 80’s was when I saw the 3-D adventure Captain EO. Just a few weeks ago I was actually talking about it to some friends and watched the movie in two segments on YouTube. (Part 1 & Part 2 for those of you that have never seen it and are wondering what I am talking about…)

Then there was Moonwalker a movie/music video that I watched over and over on VHS. Sega actually even created a video game based on the movie that was easily one of my favorite Sega Genesis video games of all time.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the video for “Thriller” on MTV. It was late at night and my Aunt warned me it was going to be scary. I loved every minute of it.

I still have Thriller on my iTunes and always will. It is easily one of my top 100 albums of all time.

Today Michael Jackson’s name is being said a lot. Good things and bad will be talked about him for days to come and just like many other music lovers out there I am saddened by his loss.

I really wish that Micheal Jackson could have toured just one more time not just for the millions of fans, but also for himself. The poor guy really went through lots of hell. Regardless if all those allocations were true or not, the guy changed the way people would listen to music forever. It would have been nice to see Michael Jackson back on the stage doing what he liked to do best…

Sony Comments on the Passing of Michael Jackson (on www.michaeljackson.com):

NEW YORK, NY – June 25, 2009 – Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.

Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: “Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him.”

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: “Michael Jackson’s unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly.”

Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: “Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences.”

Five of Jackson’s solo albums – “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous” and “HIStory,” all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label – are among the top-sellers of all time. During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and “Thriller” as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award.

Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and the epic “Thriller.” Jackson’s sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.

Death, Music, Punk

Stooges Guitarist Ron Asheton Found Dead

6 January, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

Sad day in the rock n roll / punk rock world as founding member Ron Asheton of The Stooges was found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was 60 years old. The official cause of the founding member of The Stooges has not been reported yet but initial discoveries claim it may be from a heart attack.

I had the pleasure of seeing Ron Asheton play last summer when Iggy & The Stooges took stage at the 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival. This was my second viewing of one of the more important punk rock bands and I must say the performance was memorable. Ron Asheton was amazing on guitar along side his pal Mike Watt (who took the place of bassist when the band reunited in 2003) while Iggy Pop went insane in front of the crowd. I am glad I was there to witness that performance.

The Stooges were recently nominated as an inductee into the 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. It’s a shame that Ron Asheton will not be there to see if The Stooges are inducted. There is not a doubt in my mind that they will not be as their place in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Museum is well deserved.

This is a huge loss. He will be missed.

Some videos:

Ron Asheton in The New Order (not the New Order you are thinking of…):

Iggy & The Stooges Live In Cincinnati 1970:

Iggy & The Stooges “The Passenger”:

Links from major music websites reporting on Ron Asheton’s death:

Rolling Stone
Billboard
NME

Death, Music, Rock

Drummer for Jimi Hendrix Found Dead

13 November, 2008 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Taken from foxnews.com:

PORTLAND, Ore. — Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960s and the group’s last surviving member, was found dead in his hotel room early Wednesday. He was 61.

Mitchell was a powerful force on the Hendrix band’s 1967 debut album “Are You Experienced?” as well as the trio’s albums “Electric Ladyland” and “Axis: Bold As Love.” He had an explosive drumming style that can be heard in hard-charging songs such as “Fire” and “Manic Depression.”

The Englishman had been drumming for the Experience Hendrix Tour, which performed Friday in Portland. It was the last stop on the West Coast part of the tour.

Continue reading Drummer for Jimi Hendrix Found Dead →

Death

Travis Barker and DJ AM Critically Injured From Plane Crash

20 September, 2008 Brian Mc 2 Comments

Last night around midnight, a plane containing Travis Barker, DJ AM, and 4 others failed to take off at a South Carolina airport and crashed into an embankment outside of the air field.

4 people have been confirmed dead and it was reported that Travis Barker (former drummer of Blink 182) and DJ AM were both injured severely and are listed in critical condition at a local burn unit.

Both pilots of the plane, Travis Barker’s assistant Chris “Little Chris” Baker, and Travis Barker’s bodyguard Charles Still have all been confirmed dead.

Check out articles on Yahoo Music!, MTV News, and WIS News 10 for more information.

A press conference was held earlier this afternoon stating that the plane they were in never left the ground, overran the runway, and caught fire after the plane ran through a fence, antennas, and some lights. The plane burst into flames as it passed over a roadway and crashed into an embankment. Witnesses say that Travis Barker and DJ AM both jumped from the plane right after the crash. Both were stated to have been overcome by flames and were patting each other out.

The cause of the plane crashing is still to be determined.

According to TMZ, Travis Barker sustained severe burns from the waist down. DJ AM suffered facial burns. The two are currently at a burn unit in Augusta, Georgia.

As many of you know, Travis Barker was once the drummer of the now defunct Blink 182. He went on and contributed to Boxcar Racer, +44, and the Transplants. Not keeping to just punk rock bands Travis Barker also has worked with many rap artists such as Bun B, Three 6 Mafia, and The Game.

Adam Michael Goldstein, aka DJ AM, once was in the band Crazy Town and continued his success as a house DJ and providing his scratching skills for bands such as Papa Roach, Madonna, and Will Smith. He also is known for being engaged to Nicole Richie at one time.

Recently the two united to become TRVSDJ-AM, a mash-up project with Travis Barker supplying the beats and DJ AM spinning/scratching records accordingly.

The two had just performed Friday at a free college student aimed festival/block party in the streets of Columbia, South Carolina’s Five Pointsfor thousands of fans and were headed back to California.

Friday’s Five Points block party also featured Gavin DeGraw and Perry Farrell (who were not on the plane that crashed). The event was part of T-Mobile’s “Hello Carolinas” campaign.

I really hope the two are ok. My heart goes out to them and the families of the others on the plane who did not make it.

UPDATE:

According to the doctor attending Travis Barker and DJ AM, they both received second and third degree burns but are both expected to make a full recovery. Travis Barker has some abdominal burns while DJ AM has burns to his hands and a part of his head. Shockingly, they did not sustain any other injuries in the crash.

Through talking to friends and reading other websites. I found out that speculations of the group flying to California to meet up with Chris “Little Chris” Baker’s wife who was pregnant was not true. They were in fact flying to California but not to meet up with Chris “Little Chris” Baker’s wife as she was not pregnant. The plane was chartered by DJ-AM as he had an event to attend in Los Angeles.

Fix Your Face

Death, Music, Rock

Founding Member Of Pink Floyd Passes Away

15 September, 2008 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I just found out some bad news today. I am sure that some of you rock music fanatics already heard this news as pertains to a major band in rock history.

Original member of Pink Floyd Richard Wright passed away today after a battle with cancer. He was 65 years old.

I am not as big of a fan as I used to be of Pink Floyd. When I was a kid (it’s true, I was young once) I discovered my father’s record collection and soon became a fan of Pink Floyd. It was my first taste of a different more psychedelic rock music and I really enjoyed the fact that people I became friends with liked them as well. It gave me something to relate to others with.

Being a fan of Pink Floyd was cool. In the beginning stages I had no idea the songs were drug laced. I soon found up growing up though that they were.

Throughout the years I became a little burnt out over them because I listened to them so much. My friends listened to them so much. When we hung out in the parks the hippies would take out their guitars and play Pink Floyd and all the inebriated would since along…it became a tad too much. In fact I to this day can not even listen to The Wall or Dark Side Of The Moon as I listened to both albums so much growing up I made myself become sick of them.

If the radio plays “Money” or any other song that might be on both of those albums I have to change the station. I just can’t do it. I’d rather listen to Tesla.

That’s not to say I am not somewhat remotely a fan of Pink Floyd. Deep down inside of me there still is some love for Pink Floyd. Once in a while a Pink Floyd track will grace my iPod and I will listen to it (I deleted the two albums I overexerted off my playlists so that I would not be exposed to the songs I grew tired of).

To hear that a musical icon like Richard Wright passed away of course adds some sadness to my day. His name may not have been as well recognized as David Gilmour, Roger Walters, Nick Mason or even the late Syd Barrett, but he was still a major part of that band.

From the Pink Floyd website:

Richard Wright

15 Sep 2008
The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.

The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

Richard Wright
Born 28 July 1943 (65)

For more info about his passing check out articles about it found on Yahoo Music or on the Associated Press.