Died On This Date (December 14, 2011) Ed Roman / World Renowned Guitar Maker

Ed Roman
DOB Unknown – December 14, 2011

Ed Roman was a fiercely independent Las Vegas guitar builder whose creations were lovingly played by Ted Nugent, John Entwistle, Billy Gibbons, Ace Frehley, and Rick Derringer, to name just a few.  Roman began playing the guitar as a youngster growing up in Connecticut where he found early inspiration in the Ventures.  He began building guitars in 1976 and eventually settled in Las Vegas where he opened his world famous guitar shop.  The list of faithful customers also includes Lita Ford, Leslie West, Keith Urban, and Marie Osmond.  Ed Roman was 61 when he passed away on December 14, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released, although he had reportedly been ill.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.



Died On This Date (August 2, 1983) James Jamerson / Bassist On Many Early Motown Hits; The Funk Brothers

James Jamerson
January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983

jamersonBorn in South Carolina, James Jamerson moved to Detroit where learned to play the bass in high school.  He soon started playing in the local jazz and blues clubs and by the early ’60s, he was working at Berry Gordy’s studio.  He, along with some of popular music’s greatest musicians were called the Funk Brothers and they can be heard on nearly every Motown record throughout the ’60s.  Jamerson played on literally hundreds of Motown songs including such hits as “My Girl” (the Temptations), “You Can’t Hurry Love (the Supremes), “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Gladys Knight), and “What’s Goin’ On” (Marvin Gaye).   It has been said that Jamerson played on more #1 pop hits than the Beatles, who own that actual record.   Many of the world’s greatest bass players have pointed to Jamerson as their main influence.  That list includes John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, and Jack Bruce.  Jamerson and Motown parted company in 1973 after which, he found work playing on such disco hits as “Boogie Fever” and “Don’t Rock The Boat.”   A longtime drinker,  James Jamerson died of cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia at the age of 47.



Died On This Date (June 27, 2002) John Entwistle / The Who

John Entwistle
October 9, 1944 – June 27, 2002

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John Entwistle was best known as the bass player for the Who.  His loud and fast style of playing was as important to the group as the voice of Roger Daltrey; the songwriting and guitar of Pete Townshend; and the sloppy but essential drumming of Keith Moon.  If one of those parts were missing, the magic of the Who would have never happened.   Entwistle also played the trumpet, piano, and french horn; wrote great songs and sang.  Playing the bass like a lead guitar, would influence such greats as Geddy Lee, Phil Lesh, Flea, Tommy Stinson and Billy Sheehan.   He even went as far as being the first known bassist to use Marshall stacks in concert, a practice normally reserved for guitarists.  The Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman once described Entwistle as “the quietest man in private but the loudest man on stage.”  Entwistle stayed with the Who during their 30+ year run, staying busy during band hiatuses with his own side projects or on tour with Ringo Starr.  But he apparently had a difficult time managing his own money and some have said that each time the Who reunited, it was out of the love that Daltrey and Townshend had for him – their way of helping him out of financial straits.  It was one day before the start of one of these tours that Entwistle was found dead in his Las Vegas hotel room.  It was June 27, 2002, and John Entwistle was dead of what was ruled a heart attack caused by a relatively small amount of cocaine.  It should be pointed out that the Who were such a powerful four-piece live band, that it took an added keyboardist and a second guitarist to, in later years, take the place of John Entwistle and original drummer, Keith Moon.

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Who's Next (Deluxe Edition) - The Who

Died On This Date (September 7, 1978) Keith Moon / The Who

Keith Moon
August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978

Keith Moon was one of rock’s greatest drummers.  Playing behind  the Who, Moon’s sloppy yet spectacular playing fueled some of the greatest songs in rock history.  Moon began playing the drums at the age of 12, and at 16 he was asked to join the Who after Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle witnessed him nearly destroy his drum kit at the audition.  That lead to the band doing the same to their instruments at the end of their early shows, a practice that has been imitated by rock bands ever since.  Moon was also just as destructive off stage as many a hotel manager can attest to.  Legend has it that he was banned for life from Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hilton Hotel chains.   Keith Moon died of an accidental overdose on September 7, 1978, just two weeks after the release of the classic Who Are You album.  The drug he overdosed on was prescribed to help him in his battle against alcoholism.  He died in a flat owned by Harry NilssonMama Cass Elliot died in the same room of that flat four years earlier.

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Tommy (Deluxe Edition) - The Who