Thomas “Sean” Bonniwell
August 16, 1940 – December 17, 2011
Sean Bonniwell was the founder and front man of the influential ’60s garage band, the Music Machine. Initially called the Ragamuffins when formed in 1965, the group quickly changed their name and went on to help define a fuzzy offshoot of psychedelic rock that would eventually lead to punk rock and what is known today as garage rock. In 1966, the Music Machine released their debut album, (Turn On) The Music Machine which included the Top 20 hit, “Talk Talk,” and its follow-up single, “The People In Me.” The group soon disbanded with Bonniwell going on to secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records as Sean Bonniwell Music Machine. He released what would essentially be the Music Machine’s last album in 1967, and put out one last album as T.S. Bonniwell on Capitol Records before retiring from the music business. After reportedly selling everything and driving around the United States for a number of years, Bonniwell released his autobiography, Talk Talk (later re-released as Beyond The Garage) in 1996. He returned to music in 2000 as a guest vocalist on the debut self-titled album by the Larksmen. Sean Bonniwell was 71 when he passed away on December 17, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
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