Tag Archives: death notices

Early King Crimson Member Gordon Haskell Has Died

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Sad news as Gordon Haskell, a one-time member of King Crimson, and vocalist for such classic-era albums In The Wake Of Poseidon (Island, 1970), and Lizard (Island, 1970), has died. He was 74. No cause of death was revealed, but hew had been ill for some time Haskell also had an impressive solo career and was in the proto-prog rock group Fleur De Lys in the mid-1960s. Although his split with Crimson was acrimonious, the band announced his passing with several thoughtful posts today. We send our sympathies to Gordon’s family and friends at this difficult time. 

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NJ Bloodline Vocalist Enrique “Wreak” Maseda Dies

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Sad news as NJ Bloodline vocals Enrique “Wreak” Maseda has passed away. No cause of death has been revealed. The band shared the news on their Facebook page. In a series of messages the band shared their grief at the loss of their friend and sent their support to Enrique’s family. Continue reading →


Legendary Film Score Composer Ennio Morricone Has Died at Age 91

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A giant of the music world has left us as Italian-born Ennio Morricone has died. He was 91. The news was broken to the media in a statement from Morricone’s lawyer and Variety. Morricone was hospitalized last week after falling and breaking his leg. Best known for scoring Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns such as “The Good The Bad, and The Ugly”, the Oscar winner also produced the sounds and music for ‘Days of Heaven,’ ‘The Mission,’ ‘Cinema Paradiso’ and ‘The Hateful Eight.’. His composition “The Ecstacy of Gold” from “The Good The Bad, and The Ugly” has been the opening music for every Metallica show since 1984, and the band even recorded a full metal band version of it and performs it live every so often, their last being “S & M 2” concerts in September of 2019 Continue reading →


Former UFO Guitarist Paul Chapman Has Died, Age 66

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Welsh rock legend and guitarist Paul Chapman, perhaps best known for his work in UFO and Waysted, has died at the age of 66. His passing was confirmed by his son, who wrote on Paul’s Facebook page: “It is with a heavy heart writing this, today is my dads 66th birthday. He passed away earlier this afternoon. He was a brilliant, energetic, loving and most carefree person and the First man I ever loved. Everyone he came in contact with loved him. no ADORED him. will keep everyone posted on his celebration of life. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers as his family grieves and processes everything at this time. I love you Dad. So much.” In Paul’s early career, his first notable band was the Welsh outfit UNIVERSE. Chapman then joined SKID ROW (not to be confused with the 1980s band from New Jersey) in December 1971 replacing Gary Moore as a guitarist. His tenure was fairly short and only lasted until July 1972. His next band was KIMLA TAZ, with whom he was guitarist from December 1972 to May 1974. In recent years, Chapman had been teaching music at his studio in Melbourne, Florida. We send our condolences out to Paul’s family, friends and many fans at this time. Continue reading →


Rock N Roll Originator Little Richard Has Died at Age 87

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Arguably the architect of the Rock music genre that spawned Rock N Roll as a cultural phenomenon, Little Richard, has passed away. He was 87 years old. The musician’s son, Danny Penniman, confirmed the pioneer’s death to Rolling Stone but said the cause of death was unknown. Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia in 1932, Richard’s incredible songwriting, unmatchable singing voice, and flamboyant androgynous, yet taboo-shattering mix of sexual energy and religious music in his personality became the playbook for all young rockers to follow. Rolling Stone Magazine eloquently said his “fervent shrieks, flamboyant garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embodied the spirit and sound of that new art form.” His influence can be felt from The Beatles, to The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Elton John, Billy Joel, Keith Emerson, KISS, Motörhead, MotörheadLed Zeppelin, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, as far back as Elvis, and even into the early stages of Heavy Metal with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Pentagram, his musical touch will be eternal. Starting a string of hits to start his career with ‘Tutti Frutti’, ‘Long Tall Sally’, ‘Rip It Up’ all in 1956,’Lucille’, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ those early hits shaped generations of fans. We send out sympathy to Little Richard’s family, friends, and fans at this time. 

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Falling In Reverse Guitarist Derek Jones Has Died, Age 35

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Sad news to report at this hour as we have learned that Falling in Reverse guitarist Derek Jones has died at the age of 35. No cause of death is available at this time. Derek’s passing was confirmed by FIR singer Ronnie Radke in ap ost on social media. Radke Tweeted the news of Jones’ passing, writing, “I’ll never forget when you picked me up from jail in your old tour van to start Falling in Reverse. Your spirit will be interwoven through the music I write forever. Rest in peace Derek Jones. My heart is broken.” The message was accompanied by four photos of the late guitarist, who formally joined the band in 2010 and has been featured on all four of Falling in Reverse’s albums. Falling in Reverse’s, most recent album, their fourth, Coming Home, came out in 2017. We send our sympathies out to Derek’s family, friends, and fans at this difficult time.Continue reading →


Jimmy Webb – Rock N Roll Fashion Icon Has Died, Age 62

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A legend of Rock N Roll has died. Jimmy Webb, who dressed four generations of rockers and fans from his East Village boutique Trash and Vaudeville. He was 62. At press time there has been no official cause of death. Jimmy spent many years as the manager and primary buyer for Trash and Vaudeville before opening his own boutique, I Need More, in 2017 on Orchard St. Over the years Webb had styled for MTV, Rolling Stone, and Vogue, and regular customers/clients were a Who’s Who of punk and rock, including Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry, Slash and many more. One of the holdovers from the 1980s punk and metal spirit of the era, he helped define that class of that era, and Jimmy continued to innovate and create looks synonymous with the rock, punk and metal ethos. We met Jimmy several times over the years, notably when we interviewed his friend Doyle on his tour bus in 2018. Continue reading →


Metallica ‘Mourns The Death of “Lulu” Co-Producer Hal Willner

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Metallica has paid tribute to producer Hal Willner, who died Tuesday (April 7) at age 64. His spokesperson, Blake Zidell, said Willner had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but had not been formally diagnosed. Willner was an award-winning producer who worked closely with Lou Reed, and many other artists. He was also the co-producer on Metallica’s collaborative Lulu album, with Reed. Continue reading →


Bill Rieflin, Drummer for REM, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and King Crimson, Dead at Age 59

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Bill Rieflin, who had a four-decade career as a drummer across Punk, Alternative Rock, Industrial Metal, and Progressive Rock has died. He was 59. Initial reports of his passing made no mention of a cause of death, but his Wikipedia page reported a battle with cancer, confirmed by his friend, session drummer Kevin Chamberlin. Most recently Bill was the drummer for King Crimson and the news was reported by KC founder Robert Fripp in a very sad and touching memorial via Facebook. Fripp wrote that Rieflin’s wife, Tracy, called him with the news. “Tracy told Toyah (Fripp’s wife) and me that the day was grey, and as Bill flew away the clouds opened, and the skies were blue for about fifteen minutes. Fly well, Brother Bill! My life is immeasurably richer for knowing you.” Rieflin’s career began in his hometown of Seattle, where he drummed with a variety of local acts, notably the punk rock group The Blackouts. The band’s final EP was produced by Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, with whom Rieflin became friends with. Jourgensen recruited the Rieflin to join Ministry when Blackouts broke up, and Rieflin played on the band’s 1988 album The Land of Rape and Honey, an industrial music iconic album in the genre. He continued as a member of the group through the mid-90s, contributing to five of the band’s LPs. Following his departure from Ministry in 1996, he played with KMFDM, New York experimental band Swans and folk group Angels of Light. Rieflin also played on Nine Inch Nails’ 1999 double album The Fragile. Also that year, he released his debut solo album, Birth of a Giant. It was during this time that a publicist introduced him to R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. The drummer would then join and contribute to R.E.M.’s final three albums — 2004’s Around the Sun, 2008’s Accelerate and 2011’s Collapse Into Now. Rieflin had previously collaborated and remained friends, announced that the drummer had joined King Crimson in 2013. Rieflin would tour with the group and appear on five of their ensuing live albums, released between 2015-18. He had been absent from the group since taking an indefinite sabbatical in 2019. Bill was an incredible drummer and kind soul. Not many artists can say they wrote and performed with three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts (King Crimson, R.E.M., and Nine Inch Nails) as Bill did.  Many artists paid tribute to Bill, including fellow Seattle musician Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. We send out condolences to Bill’s family, friends and many fans at this time.Continue reading →


Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Industrial Music Icon, Had Died at Age 70

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Sad news to pass on as avant-garde icon and Industrial Music pioneer Genesis Breyer P-Orridge has died. S/he – h/er was 70 years and passed away following a three year battle with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The news was confirmed last night to Pitchfork and then shared to social media by Dais Records co-founder (and P-Orridge’s manager) Ryan Martin. As a founding member experimental bands Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, h/er five decades as a musician, poet, performance artist, and occultist was best known for h/er influential work in the industrial music genre and was often referred to as the “Godparent of Industrial Music.” Not just a genius creator of music and art, but a constant provocateur and defying of cultural norms and the status quo of the establishments of governments, religion and more, we will never see a once-in-a-lifetime talent and personality like this again. We send our condolences out to h/er familiy, friedns and fans at this time. Continue reading →