Dennis Sheehan had been U2‘s tour manager since 1982. Joining the European tour prior to the release of War, Sheehan went on to become not only a trusted colleague of the band, but a dear friend as well. Throughout his career, Sheehan also worked with Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, and Stone the Crow.Just hours after the band kicked off a string of dates in Los Angeles, Sheehan reportedly died of cardiac arrest in his hotel room.
Thanks to John Harrison at OOII Swim Club for the assist.
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Ray Manzarek was the co-founder and keyboardist for legendary rock band, the Doors. Born in Chicago, Manzarek moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA film school during the early ’60s. It was there that he met Jim Morrison who told him he had written some songs and sang him a rough version of “Moonlight Drive,” and the Doors was born. In January of 1966, John Densmore and Robby Krieger were added to the mix, and the group soon became the house band at The London Fog in Hollywood. Unfortunately, the group did very little to bring new patrons into the dingy bar so they were eventually fired only to be picked up by the Whiskey a Go Go the very same day. Their first gig at the Whiskey was opening for Them which got them some notice, and lead to a contract with Columbia Records. After languishing there for a few months they asked to be released from their contract and were soon signed by Jac Holzman to Elektra Records. The band’s first album, simply titled The Doors debuted in January of 1967 and soared to #2 on the Billboard charts on its way to selling over 12 million copies. The album included the band’s biggest single, “Light My Fire.” The Doors went on to become one of the most important rock bands all time thanks to their brilliant compositions and Morrison’s dynamic stage presence. After Morrison’s untimely death in 1971, the band forged on as a trio until calling it quits in 1973. In later years, the Doors occasionally reformed for special engagements. Outside of the band, Manzerek released several solo albums and formed a group he called Nite City. He also collaborated with the likes of X, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Iggy Pop. On May 20, 2013, Ray Manzarek died from bile duct cancer. He was 74.
If there was such a thing as a “5th Door,” Danny Sugarman would likely have been it. Besides being the Doors’ second manager, Sugarman wrote the two definitive books on Jim Morrison and the band, No One Here Gets Out Alive (1980, with Jerry Hopkins) and Wonderland Avenue: Tales Of Glamour And Success (1989) . Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sugarman was a rabid fan of the band, and when given the opportunity at the age of 13 to respond to fan mail on their behalf. He quickly became a close friend and confidant of Morrison’s. After Morrison’s death, the band and original manager, Bill Siddons parted ways so Sugarman took over managerial duties. He also served as consultant on Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic, The Doors. Also that year, he married Fawn Hall of Oliver North/Iran-Contra affair fame. Besides the above-mentioned books, Sugarman authored The Doors (1983), The Doors: The Illustrated History (1983), and Appetite For Destruction: The Days Of Guns N’ Roses (1991). He also managed Iggy Pop at one point. Danny Sugarman died of lung cancer on January 5, 2005. He was 50.
Eddie Serrato December 5, 1945 – February 24, 2011
Eddie Serrato was the original drummer for the legendary Michigan garage band, ? and the Mysterians. It is he you can hear playing on their classic hit, “96 Tears.” Formed when Serrato was recruited from a local Mexican band in 1962, ? and the Mysterians went on to be called by some as the world’s first punk band – if not exactly that, they were without a doubt one of the first Latin rock bands to score a #1 pop hit in America. The success of that record – which has been covered live or recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Garland Jeffreys, and Aretha Franklin – was enough to get the band a nationally televised performance on American Bandstand. The group released several more moderately successful records throughout the rest of the ’60s, many of which were co-written by Serrato. He left the band 1968, with ? and various configurations of the Mysterians, both with and without him, continuing to perform well into the 2000s. Serrato himself went on to produce Tejano music during the latter part of his life. On February 24, 2011, Eddie Serrato died of a heart attack at a local hospital where he had been recuperating from an undisclosed surgery. He was 65.
Alex Kirst was a rock drummer who is best remembered for his time playing in Iggy Pop’s band. Prior to working with Pop, he played in L.A. glam rock band, the Nymphs. After the Nymphs disbanded during the early ’90s, Krist, along with his brother Whitey Kirst, played in a band called the Trolls who backed Pop on his Skull Ring and Beat ’em Up albums. On January 13, 2011 Alex Kirst was alegedely struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking along a road near his home in the deseart outside of Los Angeles. Hew was 47. Sources say a passerby spotted Kirst on the road and contacted the police thinking he was passed out drunk.
Dennis Sheehan had been U2‘s tour manager since 1982. Joining the European tour prior to the release of War, Sheehan went on to become not only a trusted colleague of the band, but a dear friend as well. Throughout his career, Sheehan also worked with Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, and Stone the Crow. Just hours after the band kicked off a string of dates in Los Angeles, Sheehan reportedly died of cardiac arrest in his hotel room.
If there was such a thing as a “5th Door,” Danny Sugarman would likely have been it. Besides being the Doors’ second manager, Sugarman wrote the two definitive books on 
Eddie Serrato was the original drummer for the legendary Michigan garage band, ? and the Mysterians. It is he you can hear playing on their classic hit, “96 Tears.” Formed when Serrato was recruited from a local Mexican band in 1962, ? and the Mysterians went on to be called by some as the world’s first punk band – if not exactly that, they were without a doubt one of the first Latin rock bands to score a #1 pop hit in America. The success of that record – which has been covered live or recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Garland Jeffreys, and Aretha Franklin – was enough to get the band a nationally televised performance on American Bandstand. The group released several more moderately successful records throughout the rest of the ’60s, many of which were co-written by Serrato. He left the band 1968, with ? and various configurations of the Mysterians, both with and without him, continuing to perform well into the 2000s. Serrato himself went on to produce Tejano music during the latter part of his life. On February 24, 2011, Eddie Serrato died of a heart attack at a local hospital where he had been recuperating from an undisclosed surgery. He was 65.
Alex Kirst was a rock drummer who is best remembered for his time playing in Iggy Pop’s band. Prior to working with Pop, he played in L.A. glam rock band, the Nymphs. After the Nymphs disbanded during the early ’90s, Krist, along with his brother Whitey Kirst, played in a band called the Trolls who backed Pop on his Skull Ring and Beat ’em Up albums. On January 13, 2011 Alex Kirst was alegedely struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking along a road near his home in the deseart outside of Los Angeles. Hew was 47. Sources say a passerby spotted Kirst on the road and contacted the police thinking he was passed out drunk.
