obituary
NEWS: The Maytals’ Toots Hibbert has died, aged 77
THERE’S sad news from the world of reggae today as it was announced that the singer and guiding light with legends Toots & The Maytals, “Toots” Hibbert, has died at the age of 77. He had, it was suspected, been suffering from the novel coronavirus. Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert was born in May Pen, Jamaica, …
NEWS: Silver Apples’ Simeon Coxe dies, aged 82
ONE of the founding fathers of electronica, Simeon Coxe of legendary synth-drone primitivists Silver Apples died yesterday, aged 82, it has been reported. The following statement was issued: “Simeon Coxe of Silver Apples peacefully passed away at 4am on Tuesday, September 8th. He was 82 years old. “He had been battling with a progressive lung condition, pulmonary …
NEWS: Screamadelica star Denise Johnson has died
MORE sad news from the world of music: it has been reported that Mancunian soul voice extraordinaire Denise Johnson has died unexpectedly at the age of 56. She began her singing career in a gospel setting, with that effortless, soaring voice, and moved through a stint with Maze to become one of the defining voices …
NEWS: ‘One-man Beatles’ Emitt Rhodes dies aged 70
IT HAS been reported from the States that the psych-pop singer-songwriter once dubbed ‘the one-man Beatles’, Emitt Rhodes, has died at the age of 70. Californian-born Emitt moved through a brace of teenage bands, The Palace Guard and The Merry-Go-Round, before striking out on his own after the latter outfit disbanded in 1969. He recorded …
NEWS: Fairport founder Judy Dyble dies aged 71
SAD news has been circulating in the world of folk today that Fairport Convention’s early female lead, and later singer with cult British duo Trader Horne, Judy Dyble, has died at the age of 71. Born in London in 1949, Judy rose through the British folk scene and was asked to join the fledgling Fairport …
NEWS: Soundtrack legend Ennio Morricone has died
ITALIAN soundtrack scion Ennio Morricone has died, aged 91, in his birth city of Rome. Morricone’s life almost took an entirely different path: a talented footballer, he signed for his hometown club AS Roma. But it was to be his other talent, the trumpet, which won the day. Stints playing in jazz bands in the …
NEWS: Left Banke bassist and singer Tom Finn dead at 71
IT HAS been reported the founder member and bassist with seminal American baroque pop outfit The Left Banke, Tom Finn, has died at the age of 71. The Left Banke, perhaps unfairly known on British shores for authoring, but not their performance of, “Walk Away Renee” – as taken to the upper reaches of the …
Obituary: Tom Petty
Of all the luminaries of pop music that we have lost in the last couple of years, it is the music of Tom Petty which I have had the longest and most committed relationship with. A radio-friendly American Heartland rocker, Tom Petty was less earnest then Springsteen and more consistently brilliant than Bob Seger. Originally …
Feature: Prince – An obituary
I was peeling the potatoes for this evening’s meal, when my other half came in the kitchen, obviously in a state of shock. She showed me the message on her phone. Fuckin’ hell. Prince has gone. 2016 has been a terrifyingly brutal year for cultural heroes, and some will effect the individual more than others, …