Died On This Date (January 4, 2008) Keith Baxter / 3 Colours Red
themusicsover Keith Baxter
February 19, 1971 – January 4, 2008
Keith Baxter was the drummer for popular ’90s British rock band, 3 Colours Red. Formed in 1995, the band found moderate success with the 1999 release of Revolt which included the band’s biggest hit, “Beautiful Day.” The popularity of that album helped them secure tour dates with the likes of Aerosmith and Marilyn Manson. In 1999, the band split due to internal politics and Baxter went on to form the band, Elevation and later collaborated with Therapy?. 3 Colours Red briefly reformed in 2002. On January 4, 2008, 38-year-old Keith Baxter died of a gastro-intestinal hemorrhage.
Mick Karn is perhaps best remembered as the bassist for British art-rock band, Japan during the late ’70s and early ’80s. The band, which also featured David Sylvian, Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen and Rob Dean where one of the foundations on which the “New Romantic” movement was built – even though they fought to distance themselves from it. They fancied themselves more of the David Bowie, New York Dolls and T. Rex ilk. Albums like Gentlemen Take Polaroids and Tin Drum quickly established them as leaders of the alternative rock heap around the world. After the band broke up in 1982, Karn released several solo albums while collaborating with the likes of Midge Ure, Peter Murphy, Joan Armatrading, Gary Numan, and Kate Bush. He continued to record as recently as 2009. On January 4, 2011, Mick Karn died of a cancer that he had been battling for the previous several months. He was 52.
Gerry Rafferty was a Scottish singer-songwriter who scored several hits throughout the ’70s and ’80s, most notably, “Baker Street” and “Right Down The Line.” Launching his career as a busker in London’s Underground during the late ’60s, Rafferty soon teamed up with future actor, Billy Connolly in a band called the Humblebums. In 1972, he helped form Stealers Wheel who had a hit with “Stuck In The Middle With You.” Six years later he released City To City which included the smash hit “Baker Street,” with one of the most instantly recognizable openings in pop music history. The album will go down in history as the one that knocked the groundbreaking juggernaut, Saturday Night Fever soundtrack out of the #1 slot in America. He released several more albums over the course of the next two decades, but none came close to the success of City To City. In August of 2008, Rafferty reportedly disappeared from a hospital where he was being treated for chronic liver problems, leaving all of his possessions behind. He resurfaced in the media in February 2009, apparently living in hiding and being cared for by a close friend. Other reports indicated however, that he was suffering from alcoholism but otherwise doing fine. What IS known is that he was still making music, having released Life Goes On in August of 2009. In November of 2010, Rafferty was taken to a hospital where he was placed on life support due to liver failure. He was later taken off support and subsequently passed away on January 4, 2011. He was 63.
Kerry McGregor was a Scottish singer-songwriter and actress who found considerable fame when she participated on the popular UK competition program, The X-Factor. She performed in a wheel chair due to injuries she suffered when accidentally falling out of tree at the age of 13. In 1993, McGregor co-founded the band, Nexus and later joined QFX who nearly cracked the Top 20 on the UK charts with their album, Freedom. In 1997, she competed in the Eurovision Song Competition, coming in 2nd place behind Katrina & The Waves. In 2006, McGregor was a finalist on the 3rd season of The X Factor, surviving until the third week of competition. She was mentored by Sharon Osbourne. The season was ultimately won by Leona Lewis. McGregor also appeared in numerous stage shows and television programs throughout her career. In September of 2010, Kerry McGregor was diagnosed with liver cancer. She was 37 when she died of the disease on January 4, 2012.