MUSICIANS WHO DIED IN DECEMBER 2022
MUSICIANS WHO DIED IN DECEMBER 2022
DECEMBER 6
JET BLACK (84) / BORN BRIAN JOHN DUFFY, ENGLISH PUNK DRUMMER, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF PUNK ROCK / NEW WAVE BAND THE STRANGLERS. BLACK WAS ORIGINALLY A JAZZ DRUMMER, WHO STARTED PLAYING IN THE 1950s. THEN HE WAS A SUCCESFUL BUSINESSMAN, SELLING ICE CREAM, ALCOHOL AND HOME BREWING EQUIPMENT. FINANCIAL STABILITY HELPED HIM GO FULL-TIME MUSICALLY AND IN 1974 HE FORMED THE PUB ROCK GUILDFORD STRANGLERS WHO SOON BECAME THE STRANGLERS, ONE OF THE PUNK ROCK PIONEERS. TODAY, AFTER FIVE DECADES THE STRANGLERS ARE STILL POPULAR, THOUGH WITH ONLY ONE ORIGINAL MEMBER, BASSIST JEAN-JACQUES BURNEL IN THE LINEUP. THE STRANGLERS HAD 23 SINGLES AND 19 ALBUMS IN THE UK TOP 40 CHART. THEY SUPPORTED THE RAMONES AND PATTI SMITH ON THEIR BRITISH TOURS (INCLUDING THE FAMOUS 4 JULY 1976 LONDON ROUNDHOUSE GIG). FOR HEALTH REASONS, JET BLACK STOPPED PERFORMING WITH THE STRANGLERS IN 2015, RETIRING COMPLETELY IN 2018, AT 79. HE WROTE TWO BOOKS: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING AND SEVEN DAYS IN NICE, BOTH ABOUT THE STRANGLERS' RIOTS IN FRANCE IN 1981. HE ALSO INVENTED AND DESIGNED A REMOTELY OPERABLE BASS DRUM PEDAL PATENTED AS JET BLACK POWER BASS DRUM PEDAL.
HAMISH KILGOUR (65) / NEW ZEALAND HALL OF FAME MUSICIAN, SONGWRITER, DRUMMER, VOCALIST, GUITAR PLAYER. IN 1978 IN DUNEDIN, WITH HIS BROTHER DAVID FOUNDED THE CLEAN, AN INDIE ROCK BAND WITH PUNK AND PSYCHEDELIC ELEMENTS. THE CLEAN WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT BAND WORKING FOR THE FLYING NUN RECORDS, REPRESENTING THE "DUNEDIN SOUND". THE GUARDIAN WROTE OF THE FLYING NUN RECORDS AS "ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT INDEPENDENT LABELS". THE "DUNEDIN SOUND" INFLUENCED GROUPS LIKE PAVEMENT (WHO ALSO RECORDED FOR THE FLYING NUN RECORDS0, R.E.M., MUDHONEY. IN 2009 UNCUT MAGAZINE WROTE THAT IN THOSE EARLY DAYS THERE WERE THREE INDIE-POP UNDERGROUND CENTERS: OLYMPIA, GLASGOW , DUNEDIN.
DECEMBER 9
HERBERT DEUTSCH (90) / AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSER, INVENTOR AND EDUCATOR. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, TILL HIS LAST DAYS, WAS PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND COMPOSITION AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY. IN 1964 WITH ELECTRONIC MUSIC PIONEER AND THEREMIN DESIGNER ROBERT MOOG WORKED ON FIRST SYNTHESIZER COMPONENTS, CONNECTED MODULES TO FINALLY BUILD THE FIRST ANALOG SYNTHESIZER WHICH WAS MUCH SMALLER AND CHEAPER THAN BEFORE. THEN CAME THE MINIMOOG, EVEN MORE PORTABLE. HERB DEUTSCH DEVISED THE MOOG SYNTHESIZER'S KEYBOARD INTERFACE. HE ALSO WROTE THE FIRST COMPOSITION FOR THE MOOG "JAZZ IMAGES - A WORKSONG AND BLUES" AND PLAYED THE FIRST SYNTHESIZER GIGS AT TOWN HALL AND MOMA IN NYC IN 1969 (JAZZ IN THE GARDEN).
DECEMBER 11
ANGELO BADALAMENTI (85) / AMERICAN COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR, KNOWN FOR HIS COLLABORATION DAVID LYNCH ON FILMS BLUE VELVET, TWIN PEAKS, MULHOLLAND DRIVE, THE STRAIGHT STORY. RECORDED SONGS WITH NINA SIMONE, JULEE CRUISE, SHIRLEY BASSEY, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, DAVID BOWIE, TIM BOOTH, SIOUXSIE SIOUX, MARIANNE FAITHFULL, DOLORES O'RIORDAN.
DECEMBER 13
SOL AMARFIO (84) / GHANAIAN-BRITISH DRUMMER, SINGER, PERCUSSIONIST FOUNDING MEMBER OF AFRO-ROCK LEGEND , OSIBISA, FORMED IN LONDON WITH SAXOPHONIST TEDDY OSEI AND HIS BROTHER, TRUMPETER MAC TONTOH PLUS THREE CARIBBEAN MUSICIANS. THE THREE FOUNDERS PLAYED HIGHLIFE MUSIC IN GHANA IN THE 1950's AS THE STAR GAZERS THEN THE COMETS. OSIBISA LOGO AND ALBUM COVERS WERE DESIGNED BY ROGER DEAN (YES, BUDGIE, ASIA, GENTLE GIANT, URIAH HEEP) AND MATI KLARWEIN (SANTANA, MILES DAVIS) AND THEY ALSO USED HENRI ROUSSEAU'S WORK. PRODUCERS INCLUDED TONY VISCONTI AND JOHN PUNTER.
KIM SIMMONDS (75) / BRITISH (BORN IN WALES) GUITARIST, FOUNDER, MAIN SONGWRITER AND ONLY PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE BLUES ROCK BAND SAVOY BROWN. HE WAS ALSO A PAINTER. FORMED IN OCTOBER 1965 AS THE SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND, THEY PLAYED FIRST GIGS WITH THE CREAM AND JOHN LEE HOOKER. IN 1971 THREE MEMBERS LEFT TO FORM FOGHAT. THE NEW LINEUP INCLUDED DAVE WALKER (THE IDLE RACE, FLEETWOOD MAC, BLACK SABBATH) AND PAUL RAYMOND (CHICKEN SHACK). WITH SAVOY BROWN AND SOLO, KIM SIMMONDS MADE 47 ALBUMS.
BENJAMIN BOSSI (69) / AMERICAN SAXOPHONIST, KNOWN AS A MEMBER OF THE PUNK ROCK BAND ROMEO VOID. VOCALIST DEBORA IYALL AND BASSIST FRANK ZINCAVAGE WITH GUITARIST PETER WOODS AND DRUMMER JAY DERRAH FOUNDED ROMEO VOID IN 1979 AND BENJAMIN BOSSI JOINED THE NEXT YEAR. DEBORA IYALL OFTEN WENT TO MABUHAY GARDENS TO SEE EARLY PUNK BANDS THE NUNS,THE MUTANTS, CRIME, THE AVENGERS AND PATTI SMITH AND WAS INFLUENCED BY PUNK IDEALS AND THE DIY ATTITUDE. BOSSI WAS IN ROMEO VOID 1980-1985 AND IN 1993. HE WAS UNABLE TO TAKE PART IN THE 2004 REUNION IN VH1'S BANDS REUNITED DUE TO HEARING DAMAGE BUT HE WAS PRESENT IN THE STUDIO. BENJAMIN BOSSI PLAYED ON ALL THREE ALBUMS BY ROMEO VOID: IT'S A CONDITION (1981), BENEFACTOR (1982), INSTINCTS (1984) AND ON THE NEVER SAY NEVER EP (1981).
DECEMBER 15
DINO DANELLI (78) / AMERICAN JAZZ DRUMMER (AT 17 PLAYED WITH LIONEL HAMPTON), A FOUNDING MEMBER AND DRUMMER OF THE GARAGE ROCK / BLUE-EYED SOUL BAND THE YOUNG RASCALS (LATER THE RASCALS) FORMED WITH THE CLASSICAL PIANIST FELIX CAVALIERE, EDDIE BRIGATI (VOCALS, PERCUSSION), GENE CORNISH (GUITAR, HARMONICA, BASS), IN 1964 AND STAYED WITH THEM TILL 1972. 1966-1968 THEY PLAYED SOUL MUSIC AND HAD NINE SINGLES IN THE TOP 20 OF THE BILLBOARD HOT 100, RECORDING THREE #1 HITS: "GOOD LOVIN'" (1966), "GROOVIN'" (1967) AND "PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE" (1968, #1 FOR FIVE WEEKS). ALSO "HOW CAN I BE SURE?" (#4 IN 1967), "A BEAUTIFUL MORNING" (#3, 1968), "A GIRL LIKE YOU" (#10, 1967). IN 1997 THE RASCALS WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, INTO THE VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME IN 2005 AND INTO THE HIT PARADE HALL OF FAME IN 2010. DANELLI FORMED BULLDOG WITH CORNISH (1972-1975), LATER WORKED WITH THE LESLIE WEST BAND, FOTOMAKER, STEVEN VAN ZANDT. THE RASCALS HAD BRIEF REUNIONS IN 1988, 2010, 2012-2013. DANELLI WAS ALSO A PAINTER AND RECORD COVER DESIGNER.
DECEMBER 16
RICK ANDERSON (75) / AMERICAN ROCK BASS GUITARIST, FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PROTO-PUNK / GLAM ROCK BAND THE TUBES FORMED IN 1972. IN 1973 PLAYED WITH NEW YORK DOLLS, IGGY POP, LED ZEPPELIN. IN 1978 HEADLINED KNEBWORTH WITH FRANK ZAPPA AND PETER GABRIEL, IN 1983 TOURED WITH DAVID BOWIE. THEIR 1975 DEBUT ALBUM THE TUBES (PRODUCED BY AL KOOPER) INCLUDED BIG HIT "WHITE PUNKS ON DOPE" LATER COVERED BY NINA HAGEN AND PARODIED BY RIC OCASEK'S BAND N.W.H. AS "WHITE COPS ON DOPE". IN 1983 MADE A TOP-TEN SINGLE "SHE'S A BEAUTY".
DECEMBER 18
TERRY HALL (63) / BRITISH SKA, PUNK, NEW WAVE SINGER, SONGWRITER, THE LEAD VOCALIST OF THE 2 TONE / SKA REVIVAL / ROCKSTEADY LEGEND THE SPECIALS AKA THE SPECIAL AKA FORMED IN COVENTRY IN 1977 AND FOLLOWING THE RUDE BOY / MOD STYLE. THEY HAD #1 SINGLES "TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG" (1980) AND "GHOST TOWN" (1981). STARTED IN A LOCAL PUNK BAND SQUAD, TERRY HALL THEN JOINED THE AUTOMATICS, LATER THE COVENTRY AUTOMATICS WHO BECAME THE SPECIAL AKA LATER THE SPECIALS. THEY HAD SEVEN UK TOP TEN SINGLES (1979-1981). THEN TERRY HALL, DAVID BONE AND LYNVAL GOLDING LEFT THE SPECIALS TO FORM FUN BOY THREE.
MARTIN DUFFY (55) / ENGLISH MUSICIAN WHO PLAYED KEYBOARDS, GUITAR, DRUM MACHINE, TURNTABLE AND SAMPLES. BEST KNOWN FOR HIS COOPERATION WITH PRIMAL SCREAM AND FELT. BORN IN BIRMINGHAM AND RAISED ON PUNK ROCK, TWO-TONE, THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN. JOINED INDIE ROCK FELT IN 1985 AND STAYED TILL THE END OF 1989 WHEN FELT SPLIT. DUFFY PLAYED ON THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS BY PRIMAL SCREAM. THEN WORKED WITH THE CHARLATANS AFTER THEIR FOUNDING MEMBER KEYBOARDIST ROB COLLINS WAS KILLED IN A DUI ACCIDENT IN 1996. IN 2004 MARTIN DUFFY WAS IN A SUPERGROUP THE CHAVS WITH TIM BURGESS OF THE CHARLATANS AND CARL BARÂT OF THE LIBERTINES. WORKED ALSO WITH PAUL WELLER, HEIDI BERRY, BETH ORTON, SHACK, THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS. IN 2014 DUFFY MADE A SOLO ALBUM THE ASSORTED PROMENADES.
DECEMBER 20
IAIN TEMPLETON (75) / BRITISH DRUMMER (PLAYED ALSO PERCUSSION, BACKING VOCALS) WHO PERFORMED WITH THE LIVERPOOL BANDS THE LA'S IN 1988, SHACK (1991-1992), THEN WHEN THEY REFORMED IN 1998 AND HE WAS ON THEIR THIRD ALBUM H.M.S. FABLE (WITH MARTIN DUFFY WHO DIED TWO DAYS AGO) INCLUDED IN THE BOOK 1001 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE. ALSO ON SHACK'S ALBUMS WATERPISTOL (1991 /1995), HERE'S TOM WITH THE WEATHER (2003), THE CORNER OF MILES AND GIL (2006) AND THE MAGICAL WORLD OF THE STRANDS BY MICHAEL HEAD AND THE STRANDS (1997). IN FEBRUARY 2008 PLAYED WITH ANOTHER LIVERPOOL BAND, THE PALE FOUNTAINS REFORMED BRIEFLY BY THE HEAD BROTHERS.
DECEMBER 21
HARVEY JETT (73) / AKA "BURLEY", AMERICAN GUITARIST, WHO PLAYED LEAD GUITAR, BANJO, PIANO AND SANG WITH BLACK OAK ARKANSAS (1965-1974). IN 1963, WHEN JETT WAS ABOUT 14, HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE COUNTRY ROCK BAND THE KNOWBODY ELSE, FORMED WITH HIS SOUTHERN BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS. THEY STOLE THEIR FIRST PA SYSTEM FROM A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, FOR WHICH WERE SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS AT THE TUCKER PRISON FARM, A SENTENCE SOON SUSPENDED. AT THAT TIME THEY WERE MAINLY INFLUENCED BY ROCK, COUNTRY, BLUES, GOSPEL, THE BEATLES AND THE BYRDS. STAX RECORDS SIGNED THEM IN 1969 AND THEY MOVED TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE AND RELEASED THE SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM WHICH WENT PRACTICALLY UNNOTICED. THEY GOT INTO PSYCHEDELIA AND EASTERN SPIRITUALISM, MOVED TO LOS ANGELES. IN 1970 WERE SIGNED TO ATCO RECORDS AND CHANGED THEIR NAME TO BLACK OAK ARKANSAS. WERE ACCUSED OF USING SATANIC MESSAGES BY FUNDAMENTALIST RELIGIOUS GROUPS. ELVIS PRESLEY INVITED BOA TO GRACELAND AND SUGGESTED THEY COVER THE LaVERN BAKER 1955 HIT "JIM DANDY" AND IT WAS THEIR BIGGEST SUCCESS (1973 ALBUM HIGH ON THE HOG). BY THAT TIME BOA PLAYED BIG HALLS, STADIUMS AND FESTIVALS, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA JAM ALONG EMERSON LAKE & PALMER, DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH, SEALS AND CROFTS, EAGLES, EARTH WIND & FIRE, RARE EARTH WITH THE AUDIENCE OF 250,000. AFTER THE NEXT ALBUM STREET PARTY, HARVEY JETT LEFT BLACK OAK ARKANSAS.
DECEMBER 23
MAXI JAZZ (65) / BORN MAXWELL FRASER IN BRIXTON IN 1957, BRITISH MUSICIAN, SINGER-SONGWRITER, RAPPER, DJ, PLAYED TRIP HOP, TRANCE, ELECTRONICA, BEST KNOWN AS THE LEAD VOCALIST OF FAITHLESS (1995-2011 AND 2015-2016). IN 1984, AS A DJ FOUNDED THE SOUL FOOD CAFE SYSTEM, THEN WORKED FOR THE PIRATE RADIO STATIONS REACH FM LONDON (1985-6) AND LWR (1987). TO RELEASE THE SOUL FOOD CAFE BAND, IN 1992 STARTED HIS OWN RECORD LABEL NAMU RECORDS. HIS BAND SUPPORTED JAMIROQUAI, SOUL II SOUL, GALLIANO, JASON REBELLO. WORKED WITH JAH WOBBLE ON HIS ALBUM THE INVADERS OF THE HEART AND PERFORMED WITH THE WOBBLE COLLECTIVE. IN 1995 MAXI JAZZ FOUNDED FAITHLESS WITH ROLLO, SISTER BLISS, JAMIE CATTO. THEY HAD BIG HITS LIKE "INSOMNIA", "GOD IS A DJ", "WE COME 1", "ONE STEP TOO FAR" (WITH ROLLO'S YOUNGER SISTER DIDO) "MUHAMMAD ALI" (ABOUT A BIG HERO AND INSPIRATION FOR MAXI JAZZ), PROTEST SONG "MASS DESTRUCTION" (A HIT SONG WITH LYRICS QUOTED IN THE US SENATE). FAITHLESS WORKED WITH ROBERT SMITH OF THE CURE, CAT POWER, LSK, AND AFTER JAZZ LEFT, JAZZIE B OF SOUL II SOUL AND POETS SULI BREAKS, GEORGE THE POET AND CALEB FEMI. MAXI JAZZ FINALLY LEFT FAITHLESS IN 2016. HE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH JAMIE CATTO ON 1 GIANT LEAP AND MADE AN ALBUM WITH HIS BAND MAXI JAZZ AND THE E TYPE BOYS.
MADOSINI (78) / BORN LATOZI "MADOSINI" MPAHLENI, SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIAN PLAYING OLD XHOSA INSTRUMENTS LIKE UHADI, MHRUBHE, ISITOLOTOLO. SHE WORKED WITH SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIANS, BRAZILIAN LEGEND GILBERTO GIL, UK ALTERNTIVE ROCK SINGER PATRICK DUFF, CAPE JAZZ MUSICIAN HILTON SCHILDER. AS AMA THONGO MADE AN AFRICAN / JAZZ FUSION ALBUM. WITH POET PEDRO ESPI-SANCHEZ PLAYED AT MUSIC, STORYTELLING AND POETRY FESTIVALS AND MANY WOMAD FESTIVALS. MADOSINI'S MUSIC DENOTED THE ORIGINS AND EARLIEST ROOTS OF JAZZ IN AFRICA. SHE DIED TWO DAYS BEFORE HER 79TH BIRTHDAY.
DECEMBER 25
LUTHER "GUITAR JUNIOR" JOHNSON (83) / AMERICAN BLUES GUITARIST, SINGER AND SONGWRITER. AT 16 MOVED WITH HIS FAMILY FROM MISSISSIPPI TO CHICAGO. IN THE 1960s WITH MAGIC SAM AND BIG MAMA THORNTON, 1972-1980 WITH MUDDY WATERS. IN 1977 MADE AN ALBUM WITH THE BLUES GUITAR LEGEND JIMMY JOHNSON. AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGENDARY BLUES BAND APPEARED WITH JOHN LEE HOOKER IN THE FILM THE BLUES BROTHERS. MOVED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AND FORMED HIS OWN BAND THE MAGIC ROCKERS (AFTER MAGIC SAM). ALSO FRONTED THE NIGHTHAWKS AND MADE THREE ALBUMS WITH THEM. IN 1985 WON A GRAMMY AWARD FOR THE BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM (BLUES EXPLOSION). MADE THREE ALBUMS ON TELARC RECORDS.
DECEMBER 27
HARRY SHEPPARD (94) / AMERICAN JAZZ VIBRAPHONIST STARTED CAREER IN NYC WITH THE SOL YAGED QUINTET. IN 1958 PLAYED WITH COLEMAN HAWKINS, LESTER YOUNG, BILLIE HOLIDAY. WITH BENNY GOODMAN IN THE 1960S, WORKED ALSO WITH DUKE ELLINGTON, BEN WEBSTER, ROY ELDRIDGE, CLARK TERRY, AL COHN, ZOOT SIMS, CHARLIE SHAVERS, RED ALLEN, COZY COLE, GEORGIE AULD, BARBRA STREISAND, DOC SEVERINSEN AND LANA CANTRELL, THE WINNER OF THE SOPOT INTERNATIONAL SONG FESTIVAL IN POLAND IN 1966.
JO MERSA MARLEY (31) / JAMAICAN REGGAE ARTIST, SON OF STEPHEN MARLEY, GRANDSON OF BOB MARLEY, NEPHEW OF ZIGGY MARLEY. SINGER WHO STUDIED STUDIO ENGINEERING AND APPEARED ON A GRAMMY-WINNING ALBUM STRICTLY ROOTS BY MORGAN HERITAGE. ASTHMA ATTACK.
PAT BRIGGS ( ) / AMERICAN ROCK SINGER AND LEAD VOCALIST OF THE INDUSTRIAL BAND WITH GLAM ROCK INFLUENCE PSYCHOTICA, HE FORMED IN 1994 WITH TOMMY SALMORIN OF THE PUNK BAND YOUTH GONE MAD. AT FIRST THEY COVERED PUNK BANDS LIKE BOW WOW WOW OR X-RAY SPEX AND WERE STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY NINA HAGEN, KLAUS NOMI, DEVO. PSYCHOTICA TOURED WITH IGGY POP IN SPRING 1996 AND THE SUMMER 1996 WAS SPENT TOURING WITH LOLLAPALOOZA, OPENING FOR THE RAMONES, RANCID, SOUNDGARDEN, THE SCREAMING TREES, LATER FOR TOOL. IN 1997 THEY REGROUPED USING GRETA BRINKMAN ON BASS AND PETE ASARISI ON DRUMS. PAT BRIGGS APPEARED IN THE RIOT GRRRL FILM ALL OVER ME ALONG WITH GARY LUCAS AND MARY TIMONY.
DECEMBER 28
BLACK STALIN (81) / BORN LEROY CALLISTE, CALYPSONIAN SINGER AND SONGWRITER, FIVE TIME WINNER OF THE CALYPSO MONARCH TITLE (1979, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1995) AND IN 1999 THE CALYPSO KING OF THE WORLD. HIS SONGS OFTEN CRITICIZED THE OPPRESSION OF THE EUROPEAN COLONIALISM. IN ONE OF HIS WINNING SONGS "BUN 'DEM", BLACK STALIN WANTED ST. PETER TO SEND CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, CECIL RHODES, MARGARET THATCHER, RONALD REAGAN STRAIGHT TO HELL, BOY! IN 2007 HE GOT A HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES, ST AUGUSTINE.
DECEMBER 29
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD (81) / BORN VIVIENNE ISABEL SWIRE, ENGLISH FASHION DESIGNER, BUSINESSWOMAN, POLTICAL ACTIVIST. THE MOST FAMOUS PUNK ROCK DESIGNER WHO MADE PUNK ROCK AND NEW WAVE FASHIONS MAINSTREAM TRENDS. SHE MADE CLOTHES AND SOLD THEM IN THE BOUTIQUE SEX SHE RAN WITH MALCOLM McLAREN AT 430 KING'S ROAD, LONDON. AT SOME POINTS THE SEX EMPLOYEES WERE THE FUTURE SEX PISTOLS, GLEN MATLOCK AND SID VICIOUS, CHRISSIE HYNDE WHO FOUNDED THE PRETENDERS AND IT WAS THE MEETING PLACE FOR SOME OTHER EARLY LONDON PUNK ROCKERS LIKE ADAM ANT, MARCO PIRRONI, SIOUXSIE SIOUX, STEVE SEVERIN PLUS THE REST OF THE BROMLEY CONTINGENT.
EDUARD ARTEMYEV (85) / SOVIET / RUSSIAN COMPOSER OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND FILM SCORES, FAMOUS FOR THE MUSIC HE COMPOSED FOR THE FILMS BY ANDREI TARKOVSKY: SOLARIS, MIRROR, STALKER AND FOR ANDREI KONCHALOVSKY (SIBERIADE, 1979) AND NIKITA MICHALKOV. ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND SYNTHESIZERS. STARTED IN 1960, WROTE HIS FIRST SYNTHESIZER COMPOSITION IN 1967. ARTEMYEV'S THEME FROM SIBERIADE WAS COVERED BY THE RUSSIAN TRANCE GROUP PPK AND GOT TO #3 IN THE UK SINGLES CHART.
DECEMBER 31
ANITA POINTER (74) / AMERICAN SINGER-SONGWRITER, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE VOCAL GROUP THE POINTER SISTERS. SHE SANG R&B, SOUL, JAZZ, POP, ROCK, COUNTRY. AT HIGH SCHOOL PLAYED ALTO SAXOPHONE, LATER WORKED AS A SECRETARY, BUT IN 1969 FORMED THE POINTER SISTERS WITH HER YOUNGER SISTERS BONNIE AND JUNE, THEN ALSO RUTH. THEIR FIRST HIT, TITLED FUTURISTICALLY "YES WE CAN CAN" CAME IN 1973 (#11 ON THE BILLBOARD HOT 100). MORE BIG HITS WITH THEIR FIRST GOLD SINGLE "FIRE" (#2 IN 1979, A BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN COVER), "HE'S SO SHY" (1980, BILLBOARD'S #3), "SLOW HAND" (1981, #2), A SUPER HIT "I'M SO EXCITED" (1982). AFTER A FEW GOLD DISCS, THE 1983 ALBUM BREAK OUT REACHED TRIPLE-PLATINUM, WITH FOUR #10 SINGLES "JUMP (FOR MY LOVE)", "AUTOMATIC", "NEUTRON DANCE" AND A REMIXED VERSION OF"I'M SO EXCITED".
JEREMIAH GREEN (45) / AMERICAN ROCK DRUMMER, WHO PLAYED WITH MANY INDIE ROCK BANDS BUT ESPECIALLY WITH MODEST MOUSE (1993-2003 AND 2004-DECEMBER 2022). HIS MAIN INFLUENCES WERE THE CURE AND THE POST-HARDCORE BAND FROM D.C. FUGAZI WHO MADE HIM START A BAND. SON OF AN ABUSIVE ALCOHOLIC, GREEN SUFFERED A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER, HAD SEVERE DEPRESSION, STOPPED PLAYING, FINALLY DIED OF CANCER.
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