ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 21, 2010 I used to be a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. Back in '77, just before the crash, when you could still buy the soon-to-be-banned version of Street Survivors with doomed guitarist Steve Gaines's head on fire, they ruled my turntable. I mean seriously ruled it. I don't care much for the current Skynyrd … Continue reading High school gym teacher who inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd’s name dies
Category: obituaries
Irish guitar hero Gary Moore found dead in a Spanish hotel room
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 6, 2011 The guitar world is in mourning today as the news of Gary Moore's death travels around the globe. The Irish musician—best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and his solo career as a hard rocker-turned-bluesman—passed away early this morning in his room at the luxury Kempinski Resort … Continue reading Irish guitar hero Gary Moore found dead in a Spanish hotel room
Blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins passes away at 97
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 22, 2011 I just put on the CD reissue of Muddy Waters' 1977 Hard Again album, but this time it wasn't to lose myself in the mannish vocals of Waters, or even the sparkling guitarwork of session producer Johnny Winter. This time it was to seek out the boogie-woogie stylings of longtime … Continue reading Blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins passes away at 97
“Thank You For Being a Friend” singer-songwriter Andrew Gold dies at 59
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 7, 2011 L.A. singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Gold, whose hits in the '70s included "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You For Being a Friend", died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on Friday (June 3), exactly two months before his 60th birthday. Gold's career highlights included performing with the … Continue reading “Thank You For Being a Friend” singer-songwriter Andrew Gold dies at 59
Jackass star dies in fiery Pennsylvania car crash
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 20, 2011 Ryan Dunn, one of the stars of MTV’s reality-TV show Jackass and its subsequent feature-length films, died early this morning when the car he was driving crashed in the woods near his home in the West Goshem Township of Pennsylvania. A passenger in Dunn’s vehicle, yet to be identified, also … Continue reading Jackass star dies in fiery Pennsylvania car crash
“Frankenstein” drummer Chuck Ruff from the Edgar Winter Group dies
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 18, 2011 Chuck Ruff--the guy with the coolest name ever who also played drums with the Edgar Winter Group during its mid-'70s heyday--passed away in San Francisco last Friday (October 14) after a long illness. He was 60 years old. Ruff is best known for his shit-hot drumming on the … Continue reading “Frankenstein” drummer Chuck Ruff from the Edgar Winter Group dies
Texas blues great and Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborator Doyle Bramhall dies
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 13, 2011 I just learned via a tweet from guitar great Joe Bonamassa that one of the true heroes of the Texas blues scene, Doyle Bramhall, passed away today at his home in Alpine, Texas. Initial reports say that Bramhall--the father of Eric Clapton guitarist Doyle Bramhall II--died as a result of … Continue reading Texas blues great and Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborator Doyle Bramhall dies
Blues guitar great Hubert Sumlin passes away at age 80
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 4, 2011 By Steve Newton I just learned via a tweet from Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen that blues guitar great Hubert Sumlin passed away this morning, succumbing to heart failure at a New Jersey hospital at the age of 80. It's a huge loss for the music world, as … Continue reading Blues guitar great Hubert Sumlin passes away at age 80
Legendary rock keyboardist Jon Lord of Deep Purple fame dies at 71
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 16, 2012 Sad news out of England. Classicrockmagazine.com just reported that legendary keyboardist Jon Lord of Deep Purple fame passed away in London today (July 16), after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71 years old. Anyone who's listened to rock music since the late '60s has no doubt heard … Continue reading Legendary rock keyboardist Jon Lord of Deep Purple fame dies at 71
Big Jim Sullivan ponders the “forbidden zones” of the guitar
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 10, 2012 I wasn't very familiar with the name Big Jim Sullivan until I started hearing it early last month, after the English session guitarist died on October 2 of complications from heart disease and diabetes at the age of 71. The name started popping up in the rock press, … Continue reading Big Jim Sullivan ponders the “forbidden zones” of the guitar
Bob Welch, former member of Fleetwood Mac and Paris, dead at 66
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 7, 2012 By Steve Newton One of my fave rockers from the '70s, Bob Welch, died today. His body was discovered by his wife at their home in Nashville, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. A suicide note was found, according to Nashville police. I first tuned in to … Continue reading Bob Welch, former member of Fleetwood Mac and Paris, dead at 66
Legendary bass guitarist Donald “Duck” Dunn passes away after gig in Japan
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 13, 2012 By Steve Newton Sad news for fans of blues, soul, and R&B music. Bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, whose bottom end fuelled such classic tracks as Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign" and Otis Redding's "Respect", passed away in his sleep early this morning after a gig at the … Continue reading Legendary bass guitarist Donald “Duck” Dunn passes away after gig in Japan
Rock-guitar legend Ronnie Montrose dies at the age of 64
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 4, 2012 I was shocked to find out, just minutes ago, that one of my top guitar heroes from the '70s, Ronnie Montrose, died yesterday (March 3). He passed away after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. (As I--and most everybody else--learned later, Montrose actually died from a self-inflicted gunshot … Continue reading Rock-guitar legend Ronnie Montrose dies at the age of 64