Ian Morris was a respected musician, songwriter and producer from New Zealand. He is perhaps best remembered as the founding guitarist for early ’80s new wave band, Th’ Dudes. Formed in the late ’70s while the band mates were in college, Th’ Dudes quickly built a sizable following thanks in part to their catchy pop sound that has been compared to the likes of Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. In 1979, the band were named New Zealand’s Group of the Year. The band experienced a resurgence in popularity during the ’90s and again in the mid 2000s, prompting them to reunite and tour from time to time. Outside of Th’ Dudes, Morris earned his living by writing commercial jingles and producing others. He also successfully recorded under the moniker, Tex Pistol. On October 7, 2010, 53-year-old Ian Morris died suddenly and unexpectedly. Cause of death was not immediately released.
John Hanson was the sound man, roadie and sometime rhythm guitarist for Washington DC new wave band, the Slickee Boys. Formed in the mid ’70s, the Slickee Boys soon became heroes of the local underground scene. Hanson was just 16 years old when he went to work for the band as the decade was drawing to a close. Besides acting as the band’s roadie and sound man while on the road, Hanson filled in on rhythm guitar, taking over the slot officially in 1988. The band broke up, for the most part, in 1991 after which Hanson played in such groups as the Septic Twins, the Zones, and the Upsetters. He also worked the soundboard at the legendary DC venue, the 9:30 Club. John Hanson reportedly committed suicide on September 24, 2010. He was 47.
Hilly Kristal
September 23, 1931 – August 28, 2007
Hilly Kristal with Little Steven
Opened in 1973, Hilly Kristal’s CBGB became the epicenter of the punk and new wave movement thanks to his early bookings of such acts as Blondie, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Television and the Ramones. After moving to New York City after serving in the Marines, Kristal became manager of the storied Village Vanguard jazz club where he booked such acts as Miles Davis. In 1968, he co-founded the Central Park’s Schaefer Music Festival which, over the next decade, hosted the likes of the Who, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, the Doors and Aerosmith. In 1973, he opened CBGB – OMFUG, which stood for “Country, BlueGrass, Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers.” He closed the club during a much publicized rent dispute in 2006. Hilly Kristal died of lung cancer at the age of 75.
Phil Seymour was a singer, songwriter and musician who gained a following during the new wave era thanks to such power pop classics as “Precious To Me” as well as “I’m On Fire” from his days fronting the Dwight Twilley Band. Seymour grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met Dwight Twilley, another aspiring musician at a 1967 screening of the Beatles’A Hard Day’s Night. The struck up a friendship and a musical partnership that would eventually get them signed to Shelter Records who in 1975, released their first single, “I’m On Fire” which reached #16 on the Billboard singles chart. They would record just two classic albums together before Seymour went of on his own. Before the release of the first of his two solo albums, Seymour did session work, playing drums on power pop icons 20/20′s debut album, as well as singing backing vocals on Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and “Breakdown.” During the early ’80s, Seymour released two albums, Phil Seymour (featuring “Precious To Me”) and Phil Seymour 2 before the death of label head, Neil Bogart derailed his record company as well as Seymour’s career. In 1984, he joined the Textones, a Los Angeles band fronted by Carla Olson that was alt-country twenty years before the genre had a name. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with lymphoma not long after recording an album and touring with the band. Phil Seymour died as a result of the cancer at the age of 41.
Esther Wong was a Chinese immigrant who landed in Los Angeles in 1949. By the mid ’70s, Wong and her husband were running Chinese restaurant that presented a Polynesian floor show in L.A.’s Chinatown. When business started to slow down by the end of the decade, Wong reluctantly allowed a local promoter to start booking local punk bands on her stage. At the time, most of the city’s venues were banning such acts. The promoter and Wong soon parted company and Wong started bringing music she enjoyed – the more pop leaning new wave. In 1985, the club was seriously damaged in a fire and within a few years, Wong opened Madame Wong’s West in Santa Monica where she continued building her reputation as the “Godmother of Punk.” The list of acts that played Madam Wong’s during their early years includes Guns ‘N Roses, Black Flag, Blondie, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oingo Boingo, Fear, the Ramones, the Go-Gos, and the Police. Esther Wong died of emphysema on August 14, 2005, the day after her 88th birthday.
John Hanson was the sound man, roadie and sometime rhythm guitarist for Washington DC new wave band, the Slickee Boys. Formed in the mid ’70s, the Slickee Boys soon became heroes of the local underground scene. Hanson was just 16 years old when he went to work for the band as the decade was drawing to a close. Besides acting as the band’s roadie and sound man while on the road, Hanson filled in on rhythm guitar, taking over the slot officially in 1988. The band broke up, for the most part, in 1991 after which Hanson played in such groups as the Septic Twins, the Zones, and the Upsetters. He also worked the soundboard at the legendary DC venue, the 9:30 Club. John Hanson reportedly committed suicide on September 24, 2010. He was 47.
Phil Seymour was a singer, songwriter and musician who gained a following during the new wave era thanks to such power pop classics as “Precious To Me” as well as “I’m On Fire” from his days fronting the Dwight Twilley Band. Seymour grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met Dwight Twilley, another aspiring musician at a 1967 screening of the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. The struck up a friendship and a musical partnership that would eventually get them signed to Shelter Records who in 1975, released their first single, “I’m On Fire” which reached #16 on the Billboard singles chart. They would record just two classic albums together before Seymour went of on his own. Before the release of the first of his two solo albums, Seymour did session work, playing drums on power pop icons 20/20′s debut album, as well as singing backing vocals on Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and “Breakdown.” During the early ’80s, Seymour released two albums, Phil Seymour (featuring “Precious To Me”) and Phil Seymour 2 before the death of label head, 
