Died On This Date (April 18, 1991) Martin Hannett / Producer; Factory Records
themusicsover Martin Hannett (aka Martin Zero)
May 13, 1948 – April 18, 1991
Martin Hannett was an English musician, producer and label head. He has been recognized for producing (as Martin Zero) the first ever independent punk record, the Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch, released in January of 1977. But it was his groundbreaking production work with Joy Division that earned him (and the band) his most acclaim. In 1978 he co-founded the highly influential Factory Records with Tony Wilson. Factory was home to such acts as Joy Division, New Order and The Durutti Column. By the early ’80s, Hannett’s career was being hindered by his exsessive abuse of alcohol and heroin. He died of heart failure on April 18, 1991 at the age of 42.
What You Should Own
Bernard Edwards was a bass player and prolific producer. In the mid ’70s, Edwards formed Chic, a disco group that had a massive hits with “Le Freak” and “Good Times.” Edwards went on to produce hits for some of pop music’s biggest names throughout the ’80s and ’90s. That list includes Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Power Station, Robert Palmer, Debbie Harry, Johnny Mathis, and Duran Duran. While in Tokyo for a concert in 1996, Edwards became ill. He was found dead in his hotel room. Cause of death was determined to be pneumonia.
