New Rest in Peace Thread - Dedicated to Musicians who brought us Joy

Roy Ayers - Hip Hop sample Immortal.

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The proof

 

Good weekend for Valhalla's rhythm section: RIP Gang of Four / Shriekback bassist Dave Allen, and Blondie drummer Clem Burke.

https://pitchfork.com/news/gang-of-four-bassist-dave-allen-dies-at-69/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/clem-burke-blondie-drummer-dead-obituary-1235311703/

 

Apart from Debbie herself, I wasn't really aware of the identities of the members of Blondie. But there are a few songs of theirs on my permanently-love-it list. I'm sorry to hear of the demise of the drummer. And interested to read about his story.

Around fifty years ago, a colleague advised me: "Read obituaries. You get to learn about all sorts of interesting people." I think he was right. The sad thing, of course, is that one learns about them too late. Perhaps: better late than never.

 

Mr Pere Ubu himself David Thomas, aged 71:

https://pitchfork.com/news/pere-ubu-david-thomas-dies-at-71/

Pere Ubu was heavy rotation for me in the early 80s. Still have the Italian Base Record vinyl re-releases of The Modern Dance and Dub Housing I acquired at the time.

 

Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing first attracted widespread attention with the gay-themed song “I Kissed a Girl,” died in a house fire Thursday. She was 66.

 

Rick Derringer- 77, Great guitarist and producer. I knew him best from his Edgar Winter days in the early '70s.

 

Brian Wilson

 

Sly Stone, 82, on Monday

 

From one dead guy to another - "this song goes out to Brian Wilson" (despite the title referencing an as-yet not-dead contemporary):

 

Brian, R.I.P. forever my friend and make heavenly music!

 

I'm still not over this. I grew up giggling at him being warm and subversive on the radio. To hear him perform his own poetry (really the only way to experience it), it was hard to argue that he wasn't crossing the line into music. It always lifted my day to randomly encounter his work. He just brought something that is often missing from the horrifying rat race.

He was a singular voice and presence. I don't mind admitting that I wept openly on news of his death. Rest in peace and one love, brother.