Died On This Date (February 24, 2011) Eddie Serrato / Drummer For ? And The Mysterians

Eddie Serrato
December 5, 1945 – February 24, 2011

Eddie Serrato was the original drummer for the legendary Michigan garage band, ? and the Mysterians. It is he you can hear playing on their classic hit, “96 Tears.”  Formed when Serrato was recruited from a local Mexican band in 1962, ? and the Mysterians went on to be called by some as the world’s first punk band – if not exactly that, they were without a doubt one of the first Latin rock bands to score a #1 pop hit in America.   The success of that record – which has been covered live or recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Garland Jeffreys, and Aretha Franklin – was enough to get the band a nationally televised performance on American Bandstand.   The group released several more moderately successful records throughout the rest of the ’60s, many of which were co-written by Serrato.   He left the band 1968, with  ? and various configurations of the Mysterians, both with and without him, continuing to perform well into the 2000s.  Serrato himself went on to produce Tejano music during the latter part of his life.  On February 24, 2011, Eddie Serrato died of a heart attack at a local hospital where he had been recuperating from an undisclosed surgery.  He was 65.

Thanks to Su for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Cameo Parkway: The Best of ? & the Mysterians, 1966-1967 - ? & The Mysterians

Died On This Date (February 24, 2011) Clare Armory / Singer For Excepter

Clare Armory
1975 – February 24, 2011

Clare Armory was a vocalist and dancer for New York City underground experimental noise merchants, Excepter.   Formed in 2002, the group built a sizable following thanks in part to their noise-riddled improvisational live shows and recordings.  Many fans and critics considered them to be at the top of the Brooklyn noise heap which also included the likes of Animal Collective.  Excepter released several records over the past few years on such labels as the highly regarded experimental Load Records, and Animal Collective’s own Paw Tracks label.  Clare Armory was 35 when she passed away from cancer on February 24, 2011.

What You Should Own

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Presidence - Excepter