R.I.P.s

[Low D]

Elder statesman of British blues, guitarist & bandleader Spencer Davis has died, aged 81 years.

[Low D]

Texas singer/songwriter Johnny Bush, a whose rowdy honky-tonk hit “Whiskey River” became a signature song for his friend Willie Nelson but whose own career was interrupted by a neurological condition that robbed him of his voice for years, died Oct. 16 at a hospital in San Antonio. He was 85.

[Low D]

Another great Texan - Jerry Jeff Walker, 78. His 1973 live album ¡Viva Terlingua! Is still one of my favourite albums.

[Pogues to Niagara]

World Cup and European Cup winner, Nobby Stiles. Keep dancing

[Low-ish D]

Sean Connery!

I mean, he was 90, but I just sort of thought he'd always be with us.

[firehazard]

Sean Connery!

I mean, he was 90, but I just sort of thought he'd always be with us.

It was also a shock to learn that he was the same age as my mother. He always seemed ageless.

RIP Mr Bond.

[Low D]

Justin Townes Earle, only 38 years old.

Oh my. That's far too young, very sad news indeed. We saw him at the Cambridge folkfest a few years ago now...

RIP

I'm just realizing now how young he was first time I saw him play. He did 8 full length albums in 9 years in constantly evolving styles.

He was a monster picker. Had a sledgehammer tatooed on his right thumb, apparantly, a reference to Guy Clark's characterization of his picking style.

It has been announced that JTE did in fact die of an accidental drug overdose from Fentanyl-laced cocaine (a situation better described as "poisoning", to shift some blame from the addict to the manufacturers of deadly "mislabeled" drugs).

"Even though Justin was very outspoken and concerned about the opioid epidemic and the dangers of the 'legal' drugs fed by the pharmaceutical companies, he became the victim of a deadly dose of fentanyl. Illicit drugs laced with fentanyl are causing an enormous rise in overdoses, turning cocaine usage into an even deadlier habit. It only takes a few salt sized granules of fentanyl to cause an overdose. And in most cases, happens so fast that intervention likely could not reverse it."

https://exclaim.ca/music/article/justin ... newsletter

[Low D]

Charlie Pride, "the first Black country star", dead at age 86 from complications of COVID-19.

[firehazard]

RIP Kirsty MacColl. 20 years ago today. You'll always be remembered and loved.

[Low D]

John Fletcher, best known as "Ecstasy", the vocalist with 80s hip-hop trio Whodini has died at the young age of 56.

Vocalist, songwriter & guitarist extraordinaire Leslie West of "Mountain" fame has also died after a heart attack suffered on the Solstice. He was 75. For my money, he remains one of the most lyrical players of all time.

[Low D]

2020 snatched one more before it was done - Gilligan's Island fans who identify with Mary Anne are mourning the death of Dawn Wells, 82, of complications from COVID-19.

[Low D]

One of the great Hammond B3 players, Canadian keyboardist Michael Fonfara has died aged 74 after a battle with cancer.

Notable for his work as a member of The Electric Flag and Rhinoceros in the 1960s, Rough Trade and Lou Reed's backing band in the 1970s (recording with Reed through into the 90s) and The Downchild Blues Band, from 1990 to the present.

[firehazard]

Sylvain Sylvain, New York Dolls guitarist, aged just 69. RIP.

[Frances]

Sylvain Sylvain, New York Dolls guitarist, aged just 69. RIP.

I remember buying the Dolls album from a bargain bin in TG&Y (five and dime). Elvis Lives t-shirts were on sale, so I would’ve been ten (or eleven) years old.

RIP




New York Doll the Arthur Kane doc:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqbFcNB3Mo

[Low D]

Sylvain Sylvain, New York Dolls guitarist, aged just 69. RIP.

Very sad, including for the selfish reason that now I'll never see them. When they came through in the mid-00s, i didn't go, assuming they were washed up (not realizing there was a well-reviewed new album), only to hear reports after that it was a fantastic show. Oh well, that's on me, and Sylvain is off to the big reunion where the booze is free, the drugs are never poisoned, and the venue doesn't actually collapse as you play.