Bert Weedon was a popular British guitarist during the 1950s and 1960s. Although he leaned more easy listening that rock, he was a direct influence on the likes of Brian May, Keith Richards, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townshend – many of whom learned to play from his Play In A Day tutorials. Weedon was just 12 when he decided he wanted to be a professional musician, and by his late teens, he was already fronting his own band and sharing the stage with Stephane Grappelli and George Shearing. During the ’50s, he played in the BBC Show Band, played on several early British rock and roll records as a session man, and accompanied American stars when they played in London and beyond. In that capacity, Weedon performed with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Judy Garland, to name a few. Bert Weedon was 91 when he passed away on April 20, 2012.
Jim Marshall, or has he was commonly known throughout the rock world, “The Lord of Loud,” was the founder of Marshall Amplification. It was while he owned a London music shop in the early ’60s that Marshall and a young apprentice began tinkering with designs that would soon become the Marshall amp. The idea was born out of complaints from such young customers as Pete Townshend and Ritchie Blackmore that they couldn’t get the sound they were looking for out of their own amps. With s new prototype in hand, Marshall launched Marshall Amplification in 1962 and ran the company ever since. Over the decades, Marshall amp loyalists have included almost every notable rock guitarist the world has ever known. Marshall, along with Leo Fender, Les Paul, and Seth Lover, has been called one of the four forefathers of rock music. Jim Marshall was 88 when he passed away on April 5, 2012.
Ken Russell was a celebrated British director who courted controversy in both film and television for his use of sexuality and the church within his themes and imagery. Russell made a huge mark on popular music as well with his 1975 rock film Tommy, based on the Who’s album of the same name. The landmark movie starred the band’s Roger Daltrey as Tommy, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, and John Entwhistle, along with Ann-Margret, Jack Nicholson, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, and Elton John. The film earned Margaret a Golden Globe as well as an Academy Award nomination, and Townshend an Academy Award nomination for the film’s score and adaptation. It’s most memorable scenes include Turner as the Acid Queen, John as the Pinball Wizard, and of course, Margaret writhing erotically in a pool of baked beans. The movie spent a record 14 weeks at number one and continued to be a box office draw for well over a year. Following Tommy, Russell again directed Daltrey in Lisztomania, which portrayed 19th century composer, Franz Liszt as the first classical pop star. The film also features Ringo Starr and Rick Wakeman who composed the score. Other notable films by Russell include Altered States, The Devils, and Women In Love for which he won an Oscar. Ken Russell passed away on November 27, 2011. He was 84.
Roger “Syd” Barrett
January 6, 1946 – July 7, 2006
Syd Barrett was, most famously, a founding member and singer of Pink Floyd. Though only active in music for about seven years and heard on just two Pink Floyd albums, Barrett left an indelible mark on rock music and influenced countless followers. Even such contemporaries as Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Marc Bolan and David Bowie have acknowledged much respect for his work. Post-Barrett Pink Floyd albums, Wish You Were Here and Dark Side Of The Moon paid tribute to the man. Barrett left Pink Floyd in 1968 for what many believe was mental illness (perhaps schizophrenia) worsened by heavy drug use. After two solo albums, Barrett retired to a quiet and mostly secluded life of painting and gardening. In fact many were surprised to learn that was still alive when his passing was announced in 2006. Syd Barrett died of pancreatic cancer on July 7, 2006.
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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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Bert Weedon was a popular British guitarist during the 1950s and 1960s. Although he leaned more easy listening that rock, he was a direct influence on the likes of Brian May, Keith Richards, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townshend – many of whom learned to play from his Play In A Day tutorials. Weedon was just 12 when he decided he wanted to be a professional musician, and by his late teens, he was already fronting his own band and sharing the stage with Stephane Grappelli and George Shearing. During the ’50s, he played in the BBC Show Band, played on several early British rock and roll records as a session man, and accompanied American stars when they played in London and beyond. In that capacity, Weedon performed with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Judy Garland, to name a few. Bert Weedon was 91 when he passed away on April 20, 2012.
Ken Russell was a celebrated British director who courted controversy in both film and television for his use of sexuality and the church within his themes and imagery. Russell made a huge mark on popular music as well with his 1975 rock film Tommy, based on the Who’s album of the same name. The landmark movie starred the band’s Roger Daltrey as Tommy, Pete Townshend, 
Syd Barrett was, most famously, a founding member and singer of Pink Floyd. Though only active in music for about seven years and heard on just two Pink Floyd albums, Barrett left an indelible mark on rock music and influenced countless followers. Even such contemporaries as Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, 
