The Music's Over

but the songs live on forever

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Subscribe

Posts Tagged ‘AC/DC’

Died On This Date (May 17, 1999) Bruce Fairbairn / Producer

Posted by themusicsover on May 17, 2010

Bruce Fairbairn
December 30, 1949 – May 17, 1999

Bruce Fairbairn was a Canadian trumpet player, but made a huge mark on popular music as a rock producer. Fairbairn hit his stride in the ’80s producing such albums as Loverboy’s Get Lucky, Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation,   and later, Bon Jovi’s New Jersey, Aerosmith’s Pump, Poison’s Flesh and Blood, Van Halen’s Balance, AC/DC’s The Razor’s Edge Kiss’ Psycho Circus, and many more.  It was while working on Yes’ Ladder, in May of 1999 that Jon Anderson discovered Bruce Fairbairn’s body in his home.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Posted in Musician, Producer, Rock | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (May 17, 1999) Bruce Fairbairn / Producer

Died On This Date (February 19, 1980) Bon Scott / Lead Singer Of AC/DC

Posted by themusicsover on February 19, 2010

Ronald “Bon” Scott
July 9, 1946 – February 19, 1980

bon-scott

Bonn Scott was the second lead singer of hard rock juggernaut, AC/DC.  In 1964, Scott formed his first band, the Spektors as their drummer. They eventually morphed into the Valentines, a pop band who scored a bubblegum hit or two in Australia.  For a good laugh, check out their video for “Build Me Up Buttercup.”  That’s Scott on back-up vocals to the right.  After that band broke up in 1970, Scott joined Fraternity, a moderately successful rock band that took him down a more deserved rock path than he was on with his earlier bands.  When Fraternity went on hiatus in 1973, Scott found work as a driver of up-and-coming hard rock band, AC/DC.  At the time, brothers, Angus Young and Malcolm Young who were looking for someone to replace original lead singer, Dave Evans.  Meanwhile, Scott was pestering them about becoming their drummer, but the Youngs soon decided to hire Scott as their lead singer, his gutteral snarl being a better match for their sonic guitars.  The group released their first album, High Voltage in Australia in September of 1974.  By 1979, the band were building a fan base throughout Europe and North America, so when their sixth album, Highway to Hell came out in July of ’79, AC/DC were well on their way to becoming one of the biggest rock band’s of their generation.  The album became their first to crack the U.S. album charts, eventually peaking at #17.  Sadly however, Scott wouldn’t live to enjoy the fruits of the group’s hard work.  On February 19, 1980, he was placed in a parked automobile to sleep off a night of heavy drinking.  When a friend went to check on him some hours later, he found Scott unresponsive, so he was taken to a local hospital where he was listed as dead on arrival.  Bonn Scott died at the age of 33, having choked on his own vomit.  Official documents indicated that he died of acute alcohol poisoning and suffered “death by misadventure.”

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com



Posted in Metal, Musician, Rock, Singer, Songwriter | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Died On This Date (November 13, 2009) Maurice Jones / Artist Manager & Promoter Of Live Aid

Posted by themusicsover on November 13, 2009

Maurice Jones
DOB Unknown – November 13, 2009

Maurice Jones began his career as an artist manager, overseeing the career of English rock band, Slade.  He eventually started his own promotion company, helping popularize such bands as Def Leppard, the Eurythmics, AC/DC, and Simple Minds.  In 1984, Jones joined forces with Bob Geldolf and Midge Ure to promote Live Aid, the massive fund raising concerts that were held in Philadelphia and London and seen by an estimated 400 million people world wide.  The concerts featured the biggest acts in popular music at the time.   After the success of Live Aid, Jones went on to create the Monsters Of Rock festival that ran for many years outside of England’s Castle Donnington and other locations from time to time.  The festivals featured the biggest names in hard rock music.  Maurice Jones was 64 when he died of cancer on November 13, 2009.



Posted in Manager, Promoter | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (November 13, 2009) Maurice Jones / Artist Manager & Promoter Of Live Aid

Died On This Date (November 8, 2003) Guy Speranza / Riot

Posted by themusicsover on November 8, 2009

Guy Speranza
1956 – November 8, 2003

guyGuy Speranza was the original lead singer for New York heavy metal band, Riot.  Formed in 1973, the band struggled to make it and were on the verge of breaking up when, in 1981 the began to find their audience thanks to what was to be called the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that began to break heavy metal into the mainstream.  They began touring with such popular metal acts as AC/DC and Molly Hatchet, and were soon signed to Capitol Records.  Speranza sang on Riot’s first three albums, but left the after the release of their Capitol debut in 1981.  He later retired from music and moved to Florida where he became an exterminator.  Guy Speranza, 47, died of pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2003.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Fire Down Under - Riot

Posted in Rock, Singer | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (November 8, 2003) Guy Speranza / Riot

Died On This Date (October 8, 1990) Barrie “BJ” Wilson / Procol Harum

Posted by themusicsover on October 8, 2009

Barrie “B.J.” Wilson
March 18, 1947 – October 8, 1990

B.J. Wilson was an English drummer best remembered for his work with Procol Harum.  He joined the group however, just after they recorded their hit, “Whiter Shade Of Pale.”  Besides leader Gary Brooker, Wilson was the only consistent band member from 1967 until they broke up in 1977.  As a session player, Wilson can be heard playing on Frankie Miller’s Double Trouble, AC/DC’s Flick The Switch, and the film score of Rocky Horror Picture Show.  He also toured in Joe Cocker‘s band during the early ’80s and was the drummer on his hit record “With A Little Help From My Friends.”  Barrie Wilson passed after battling an undisclosed illness at the age of 43.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Procol Harum

Posted in Musician, Rock | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Died On This Date (October 8, 1990) Barrie “BJ” Wilson / Procol Harum