but the songs live on forever

August 28, 2011

Journalist

Died On This Date (August 28, 2011) Dan Sicko / Journalist Who Chronicled Detroit Techno Scene

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Dan Sicko
DOB Unknown – August 28, 2011

Dan Sicko was a respected music journalist and author whose work has appeared in such magazines as Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Urb, and Wired.   A tireless advocate for techno music, Sicko also lectured on the subject at UCLA and the University of Michigan, among others.  In 1999, he published Techno Rebels: The Renegades of Electronic Funk, which introduced many to the influential Detroit techno scene of the ’80s.  Dan Sicko was 42 when he died from complications of ocular melanoma.



Journalist

Died On This Date (August 28, 2011) Tom Hibbert / Respected British Journalist

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Tom Hibbert
May 28, 1952 – August 28, 2011

Photo by Paul Rider

Tom Hibbert was an English journalist who found fame for his sometimes less than flattering pieces on rock musicians throughout the ’80s and ’90s.   After dropping out of Leeds University during the ’70s, Hibbert played in a handful of local bands before giving up his rock star dreams and moving on to a life in journalism.  Over the course of his career, he wrote music and pop culture columns for the New Music News, Q, and Smash Hits where he ridiculed the likes of Paul McCartney, Johnny Rotten, and David Bowie.  Perhaps his biggest moment came in 1987, when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher employed Hibbert to interview her in an attempt to appeal to young voters.  The plan backfired as the interview revealed such decidedly non-hip nuggets as her favorite singer being Cliff Richard, and song being “How Much is That Doggie in the Window.”  Hibbert spent the last decade of his life in ill health and ultimately died from complications of diabetes on August 28, 2011.  He was 59.

 

Thanks to Kelly Wilson at New Releases Now! for the assist.



Metal Musician Rock

Died On This Date (August 28, 2012) Johnny Giosa / Drummer For The BulletBoys

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Johnny Giosa
DOB Unknown – August 28, 2011

Johnny Giosa was a rock drummer from Los Angeles, CA (by way Pennsylvania) who is perhaps best remembered as a recent drummer for the revitalized ’80s metal band, BulletBoys. Over the course of his career, Giosa played with several other acts and still found time to model, act, and style hair, reportedly “for the stars.”  During the early morning hours of August 28, 2011, Johnny Giosa was killed when his car swerved into a pillar along the 405 freeway.  Cause of the accident was not immediately released.  Giosa was 42.

Thanks to David Plastik at eRockPhotos for the assist.



Country Rock Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 28, 2012) George Green / Longtime John Mellencamp Writing Partner

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George Green
January 28, 1952 – August 28, 2011

George Green was a successful songwriter who is most often associated with John Mellencamp for whom he wrote the lyrics for such pop hits “Hurts So Good,” and “Crumblin’ Down.”  A boyhood friend of Mellencamp, Green’s collaborations also include “Thundering Hearts,” “Rain On The Scarecrow,” and “Minutes To Memories.”  Throughout the years, Mellencamp has recorded over a dozen songs co-written with him.  Green also has had his songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, Kenny Chesney, Ricky Skaggs, Hall & Oates, Vanessa Williams, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Dwight Yoakam, to name a few.   George Green was 59 when he died of lung cancer on August 28, 2011.



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