Here's another one - Gary Moore was a fairly recent passing that hit hard. I was a big fan when he started out doing the hard rock/metal stuff around the "Corridors Of Power" album (as well as Thin Lizzy's earlier "Black Rose") in the early 80's, and between Moore, Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen, that was my big three guitarists of that era. I got to see Moore only twice, once opening for Rush during his Victims Of The Future tour and in '87-ish during his Wild Frontier US club tour. My friend and I where such big Moore fans, we bought 10th row seats through an agency to the Rush show only to see Moore, than left early in Rush's set because we hated Rush at the time. I kind of lost interest as he meandered through the last 15 or so years with a number of mostly blues-based retreads although fortunately, he was fairly prolific and jumped back and forth between genres and every few years, one of his albums would stick with me (SCARS was particularly impressive). Still, it was kind of a shock just months before he died to come across a slew of recent live clips on YouTube of Moore playing small clubs and bars look grossly overweight and unhealthy. When news hit of his passing, it was comforting to read so many musicians and fans giving him props for his playing and influence through the decades.
Brian Jones (I was 14 at the time) Jimi Hendrix (15) Bob Marley (26) Jeff Buckley (42) Thomas Mera Gartz (57)
For me, it has to be Davy Jones. I have been a huge Monkees fan since age 13(1986) and I have been fortunate to have met all four Monkees. I met Davy last, 4 months before his passing. He was at a convention in Cherry Hill, NJ in October 2011. I was feeling under the weather and almost did not go to the show. Had I not been there, I never would have met one of my musical heroes. I was very starstuck when I met him for some reason, and all I could really say was asking about Bill Chadwick (his friend and writing partner) and my favorite Davy Monkees track ("If I Knew"). He actually sang a couple lines for me and I was mesmerized. I thanked him for signing my Pisces LP and for all the music he gave to us. He replied with "My pleasure". Davy was a true friend of the fans and always did his best to meet and greet, take photos etc. Although I only spent 5 minutes in his presence, everything I had read and felt about Davy was true (which is an awesome thing). Many of my other musical heroes disappointed me when I had the chance to meet them. I miss his positive spirit. His music got me through some rough times and my only regret when meeting him was not having told him that. He had so much presence and vitality, it's still hard to believe he is gone. But, there are the Monkees episodes, the movie Head and lots of great music. RIP David T. Jones.
Shocking as Lennon's death was it had nowhere near the impact on me that Marvin Gaye's senseless shooting had. Dying at the hands of a parent, especially as an adult, seems unthinkable. Marvin had seemed to be getting things together, he was back in the States having hits and proving he was still a creative force. It seems the drugs and hangers on were just biding their time. A total waste. Joe Strummer going so young left me sad as well.
John Lennon. More than anyone, for real. It bothered me that at the time most kids in my school didn't seem to care and were even making fun of the shooting. Dudes were all broken up when Bonham passed away from his own habitual activities just 2 months earlier, but John Lennon getting shot wasn't a tragedy for them.
I think they were caught completely unaware, and ended up asking anyone they could for their thoughts on the news, which turned out to be various kiddie pop stars of the early 21st century who clearly had little idea who George was, but they had to try and pretend that he was a great hero to them, it was embarassing.
One of the best guitar solos ever. For me deaths that had an impact on me are: John Lennon Mark Linkous Johnny Cash
It does my heart good to see Sid Vicious up there between Curt Cobain and George Harrison, getting the recognition he deserves at last !!
Zappa. Can't tell why but that's the first name that popped up when I read the thread's title. I was in high school when he died and Sheik Yerbouti was becoming one of my fav records back then.
Rita MacNeil: 1944-2013 With her voice, talent and nice persona, she made me proud to have Nova Scotian roots.
Well, to be honest I don't tend to feel personally about people I don't actually know. Not that I'm indifferent, just that it doesn't hit me hard. Still, two "celebrity" deaths that did give me pause were: Freddie Mercury. AIDS was still this big unspoken secret, and not well understood. And Freddie was more alive than anyone else on the planet. His performance was second to none, and he was the consummate showman. Most of all though, it was obvious that he was one of a kind, there'll never be anyone as good as him again - and at the same time, Queen were finished too. I've still not been able to listen to their albums with other singers. Irrationally, no Freddie meant no more Queen. The other was my favorite author - JG Ballard. It still hurts a little that I'll never get to read new work from him again. Cobain's death was probably the most annoying. Sorry to write that, but it just p*ssed me off. A boatload of talent wasted, and no-one around him was able to do anything...... that's about it really......
I was saddened to learn of the death of Mud's Les Gray & Dave Mount at the time. Mud were my 'entry' into music back in late 1973 so having my early heroes expire touched a nerve. Others that touched me were Marc Bolan, John Bonham and then Phil Lynott and Brian Connolly but really by 1980 I'd distanced myself from this hero-worshipping we do of people who we have no real connection with, basically I grew up. They were only peripherals to the core of my life i.e. family & friends. Once I lost my first family member and then my first dog I realised this devotion seemed so comical. All the time spent obsessing over little details of an artist's career that you could easily have spent with those who really matter.
