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Died On This Date (February 3, 2017) Robert Dahlqvist / The Hellacopters

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Robert Dahlqvist
April 16, 1976 – February 3, 2017

Robert Dahlqvist is best remembered as the longtime guitarist for Swedish garage band, the Hellacopters. His tenure with the group ran from 1999 to 2008, and again for a recent live album set to come out at a later date. Born in Uddevalla, Sweden, Dahlqvist learned to play the guitar at a very young age. In 1999, he joined the Hellacopters who were already a popular band across Sweden and beyond. He played on their next several releases over the following decade. The Hellacopters built a loyal legion of fans worldwide due to their fiery loud-guitar, and pounding drum/bass sound that draws influence from the likes of KISS, the Ramones, MC5, and the Stooges, to name a few. While playing with the Hellacopters, Dahlqvist also found time for two side-project bands, Thunder Express and Dundertåget, two bands that were not sonically dissimilar to the Hellacopters. Robert Dahlqvist passed away on February 3, 2017. Cause of death was not immediately released. He was 40.

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Died On This Date (June 4, 2015) Allan Fryer / Lead Singer of Heaven

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Allan Fryer
DOB Unknown – June 4, 2015

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Allan Fryer is perhaps best remembered as the lead singer of popular ’80s Australian heavy metal band, Heaven. Following the death of Bon Scott in 1980, Fryer auditioned to replace him in AC/DC. It was believed he secured the role until a surprise announcement (at least to him) that Brian Johnson had in fact been given the job. Fryer went on to form Heaven whose sound was definitely cut from the same cloth as AC/DC, at least on the early records. They eventually grew into a more NWOBHM sound. Heaven found some success in the US, enough to tour with Dio and Motley Crue in 1982. Throughout their run, the band released four albums and also toured with Judas Priest, KISS, and Iron Maiden. On June 4, 2015, Allan Fryer died following a long struggle with cancer. He was 60.

Thanks to David Plastik for the assist.

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Died On This Date (March 20, 2015) A.J. Pero / Adrenaline Mob; Twisted Sister

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Anthony “A.J.” Pero
October 14, 1959 – March 20, 2015

A.J. Pero was a hard-hitting American drummer who is best remembered for his many years playing with Twister Sister, as well as his recent years behind the drums for Adrenaline Mob. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Pero took to the drums at an early age, and by the time he was in high school, he was playing in local bands. In 1982, he joined Twisted Sister who, within two years, became one of the biggest bands in the world thanks to their hook-laden loud teen anthems and MTV-perfect videos. Although Twisted Sister cringed at the “glam metal” moniker many placed on them, they were heavily influenced by such ’70s glam acts as KISS, New York Dolls, and Alice Cooper. Pero left to group in 1986, but returned for periodic reunions, and then permanently rejoined the group when they officially reformed in 2003. In 2013, while still playing with Twisted Sister, he joined Adrenaline Mob, another hard and heavy band formed and fronted by Russell Allen of Symphony X fame. It was while touring with Adrenaline Mob that A.J. Pero died of a heart attack on March 20, 2015. He was 55 years old.

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Died On This Date (January 15, 2015) Kim Fowley / American Musician, Producer & Manager

themusicsover January 15, 2015 2 Comments

Kim Fowley
July 21, 1939 – January 15, 2015

Kim Fowley was an American producer, musician, singer, songwriter, manager, disc jockey, music publisher, and film maker who is perhaps best remembered for forming and managing the Runaways. And legend has it that he was the one who created the phenomenon of lighting one’s match/lighter at a concert. Born in Los Angeles, Fowley got into the music business during the ’60s, initially producing and publishing novelty hits like “Alley Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles (which was basically just Fowley with mostly anonymous studio musicians) and “Popsicles and Icicles” by the Murmaids. The list of artists he either produce or write/co-write songs reads like a who’s who of ’70s rock and pop. That list includes Gene Vincent, KISS, Warren Zevon, Cat Stevens, Helen Reddy, Alice Cooper, the Byrds, and Kris Kristofferson. In 1975, he met Joan Jett who was looking to put an all-girl band together. A couple of weeks later, he met Sandy West outside of The Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Blvd. Fowley gave Jett’s phone number to West, and the Ruaways were born. In 2010, Fowley was portrayed by Michael Shannon in the film, The Runaways. During his final years, he could be heard sharing his vast knowledge of pop music and pop culture via his regular program on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM. Kim Fowley was 75 when he died of bladder cancer on January 15, 2015.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (October 10, 2013) Jan Kuehnemund / Lead Guitarist For Vixen

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Jan Kuehnemund
November 15, 1961 – October 10, 2013

Jan Kuehnemund is perhaps best remembered as the founding lead guitarist for Vixen, an all-female glam metal band who achieved a worldwide fan base during the late ’80s. Originally formed with Kuehnemund was in high school in 1974, the band quickly split up but then reformed in 1980. After settling in Los Angeles, the group – often referred to as “the female Bon Jovi” started building a sizable following throughout the flourishing Sunset Strip scene. In 1987, they appeared in Penelope Spheeris’ acclaimed rock doc, The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years. That was quickly followed by a recording contract with EMI Records who released their self-titled debut in 1988. The album, which included the Richard Marx-penned hit single “Edge Of A Broken Heart,” rose to #41 on the Billboard charts and was nearly as chart-successful in the UK. Rev It Up followed in 1990, while the band was taking the hair metal world by storm. Throughout those couple of years, the band toured with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Deep Purple, KISS, and Scorpions. The band split up in the middle of 1991 and then reformed a few times over the next several years with Kuehnemund not coming back to the fold until 2001. A version of the band with just Kuehnemund from the original line up released two albums in 2006. The classic late ’80s/early ’90s edition got together for VH1’s Bands Reunited series in 2004. Jan Kuehnemund passed away following a courageous battle with cancer on October 10, 2013. She was 51.

Died On This Date (February 3, 2017) Robert Dahlqvist / The Hellacopters

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Died On This Date (June 4, 2015) Allan Fryer / Lead Singer of Heaven

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Died On This Date (March 20, 2015) A.J. Pero / Adrenaline Mob; Twisted Sister

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Died On This Date (January 15, 2015) Kim Fowley / American Musician, Producer & Manager

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Died On This Date (October 10, 2013) Jan Kuehnemund / Lead Guitarist For Vixen

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