Tag Archives: death notices

American Singer-Songwriter and Acting Icon Dolly Parton, Has Died

Posted on by

John 5 and Dolly photo provided courtesy of Adrenaline PR.

The stage lights dim today all over the world as music icon Dolly Parton has died. She was 80 years old. News of her passing was shared in a video message from her nephew, with Dolly’s blessing. She was reportedly in ill health in the last few years. An iconic force in music, acting, pop culture, and philanthropy for six decades. Her passing follows her beloved husband and manager, Carl Dean, who died in 2025 after almost 60 years of marriage. Transcending Country music to Gospel, Blues, Musicals, and Rock, she crossed ages and other boundaries with her voice. She was increasingly philanthropic towards the end of her life, focusing on children’s care and quality of life, fighting cancer, education, and COVID relief in Tennessee. Writing over 3000 songs in her lifetime, she has been the recipient of nearly every music award possible, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry, Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Grammy Hall of Fame (for “I Will Always Love You”) Gospel Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and her 2022 induction into The Rock And Roll Fame. Following her Rock Hall honor she put out an album of Rock covers with collaborators and songs by Rob Halford of Judas Priest, John 5, Duran Duran, Melissa Ethridge, Lizzo, Nikki Sixx, Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo, Prince Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Sting, Journey, Heart, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones, Richie Sambora, Peter Frampton, Chris Stapleton, Miley Cyrus, Pink, Brandi Carlisle and more. RIP Queen. Continue reading →


Brent Hinds of Mastodon, Died One Year Ago

Posted on by

 

It’s hard to believe, but Brent Hinds, formerly a creative force in Mastodon, died one year ago today. He was just 51. He died in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta when a motorist did not yield to Hinds, who was on his Harley-Davidson Motorcycle. Although the split with the band under acrimonius circumstances earlier in 2025, Hind co-founded the band in 2000 and appeared on all eight of their albums, won a Grammy awards, and made a huge impact, especially with his composing and lead guitar playing on albums such as the classic debut Remission, Leviathan (both Relapse Records), Blood Mountain, Crack The Skye and The Hunter (2011) for Reprise Records. In the wake of his death, there have been countless tributes to “Dirty B,” a public memorial at the intersection where he died, murals all over Atlanta celebrating his life and music, and a public walk to memorialize him. Our own Wil Cifer also wrote a tribute to Brent which you can read here. RIP.   

Continue reading →


Longtime ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard, Has Died

Posted on by

Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died after several years of illness. He was 77. Beard “was in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members at his side” on Aug. 17th. Beard joined guitarist and singer Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top barely a year after Gibbons formed the group from the ashes of his previous band, the Moving Sidewalks. Beard also recruited late ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill into the band. The bands’ iconic power trio lineup was intact for over 50 years, a rarity in classic Rock circles. Beard has appeared on all 15 of ZZ Top’s studio albums, from 1971’s ZZ Top’s First Album to 2012′s La Futura. The band, known for their great Blues-inspired boogie rock shifted to Pop in the eighties. Funny enough, Beard was the one member of ZZ TOP not to ever rock their trademark long beards. According to Rolling Stone, He was replaced by the band’s longtime tech team member John Douglas, who also filled in for an ailing Beard on a 2002 European tour. Beard returned in September 2025 but has reportedly been absent from all of ZZ Top’s 2026 tours, this time replaced by Michael Monahan. Beard’s death leaves Gibbons as the only surviving classic-era member living, as Hill died in July of 2021. Hill was replaced by the band’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis.

You can read a statement from the family below. RIP

Continue reading →