Died On This Date (December 13, 2017) Warrel Dane / Lead Singer of Sanctuary & Nevermore

Warrel Dane (Born Warrel Baker)
March 7, 1961 – December 13, 2017

Second from left, with Sanctuary. Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Acclaimed American Metal singer, Warrel Dane, who fronted both Sanctuary and Nevermore, died of a heart attack while working on a solo album in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was 56. Born in Seattle,  Washington, Dane trained as an opera singer before ultimately finding  his way to Metal. His first band of note, Sanctuary, signed with Epic Records in 1987.  Their debut album, Refuge Denied, was notable for being produced by Dave Mustaine, who was just growing into his own with Megadeth. It was released in 1988.  Although the band’s follow up, Into The Black, received some exposure via a video on MTV,  it was the early ’90s, and they fell victim to the newfound popularity of grunge. Rather than give in to label wishes for them to shift their sound toward grunge, Dane left the band in 1992 and formed Nevermore which leaned more progressive than Sanctuary’s thrash sound.  Nevermore signed with Century Media who went on to release their seven studio albums over the next 15 years.  In 2011, the band went on hiatus while Sanctuary reunited and released their most successful album to date, 2014’s The Year the Sun Died.  They went on to release two more studio albums before Dane’s passing.

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Died On This Date (May 21, 2016) Nick Menza / Former Drummer of Megadeth

Nick Menza
July 23, 1964 – May 21, 2016

nick-menzaNick Menza was an American metal drummer who is best remembered for playing in Megadeth during a period that many consider their greatest.  Born into a musical family – his father was Don Menza, longtime sax player for Buddy Rich – Menza started playing drums at the age of two.  He began playing professionally at 18 and soon found work as a session player covering many genres of music. His most notable early gig was on recordings for John Fogerty. In 1989, Menza was asked to join Megadeth although he had played with the band live on occasion going back a year prior.  His contributions to Megadeth were felt immediately.  Menza played on the band’s next for studio albums, including the two that many consider the band’s greatest, Rust In Peace and Countdown to Extinction.  On stage, he added a new force to band’s live show, most notably due to his skills on the double bass drum kit.  Menza left Megadeth due to knee problems in 1998.  He went on to play in bands over the years until his most recent, OHM.  It was with OHM that he was playing at a club in Studio City, CA when he died unexpectedly of  heart failure on May 21, 2016.  He was 51.

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Died On This Date (May 2, 2013) Jeff Hanneman/ Founding Guitarist For Slayer

Jeff Hanneman
January 31, 1964 – May 2, 2013

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

Jeff Hanneman was a founding guitarist for influential thrash metal band, Slayer. Formed in Los Angeles in 1981, the band quickly broke through and went on to sell upwards of 20 million albums.  Slayer’s impact on thrash is such that the band, along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth are simply referred to as The Big Four.  Born in Oakland, California, Hanneman eventually settled in Southern California where he initially took a shine to punk  rock.  By the early ’80s, Heanneman was taking note of  metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, so when he ultimately joined forces with Kerry King to form Slayer, he helped introduce the fast aggression of punk to metal.  Jeff Hanneman was 48 when he died of liver failure at a hospital near his home.

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



Died On This Date (April 18, 2013) Storm Thorgerson / Created Several Iconic Album Covers

Storm Thorgerson
February 28, 1944 – April 18, 2013

storm-thorgersonStorm Thorgerson was a renowned graphic artist whose catalog includes some of rock music’s most famous album covers. Born in Middlesex, England, Thorgerson went to high school with Syd Barrett and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame.  He eventually joined a graphic arts collective called Hipgnosis which created many popular album cover designs until closing shop in 1983.  He then went on to form his own design house, Storm Studios.  Arguably, Thorgerson’s most famous cover is the one he designed for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.  Often surreal in nature, his canon of work includes the covers of most of the Pink Floyd albums; the Cult‘s Electric; Led Zeppelin‘s Presence and In Through the Out Door; Peter Gabriel‘s three self-titled albums; as well as visually stunning covers for Muse, Phish, Megadeth, Catherine Wheel, Black Sabbath, the Cranberries, Genesis, Alan Parsons and many more.  Thorgerson also directed popular videos by the likes of Bruce Dickinson, Nik Kershaw, Paul Young, David Gilmour, and of course, Pink Floyd.  He suffered a stroke in 2003 but recovered and went back to work.  Sometime later, he was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately died from it on April 18, 2013.  Storm Thorgerson was 69 when he passed away.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour at Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.

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Died On This Date (April 10, 2013) Tim Carr / Former A&R Executive at Capitol, Dreamworks & Geffen

Tim Carr
DOB Unknown – April 10, 2013

tim-carrTim Carr was a songwriter, producer, and A&R executive who made perhaps his biggest mark on the music business while at Capitol, Dreamworks and Geffen Records.  While at Capitol, Carr was instrumental in signing such bands as the Beastie Boys and Megadeth to the label.  Throughout his career he also worked with such acts as Lush, Babes In Toyland, David Byrne, and Information Society.  Prior to his record company work, Carr, who was living in Minneapolis, wrote music reviews for the local press and put on a local music festival.  During the early 2000s, he moved to Thailand where he was worked with local rock singer, Sek Loso.  He was also working on a music documentary.  According to various sources, Carr’s body was discovered in his home by his landlord with at least one apparently fatal stab wound to the chest.  Other circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately released.  Tim Carr was 57 when he passed away.

Thanks to Benjie Gordon of The Hair Up There for the assist.