Hector Zazou was a much respected French composer and producer who has collaborated with Bjork, Mark Isham, Siousxie Sioux, David Sylvian, Suzanne Vega, Robert Fripp, Peter Buck and many more. He was celebrated for his ability to fuse classical influences with electronic music. Hector Zazou, age 60, passed away after after falling ill earlier in the year. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist
Warren Zevon was one of rock’s greatest songwriters. He could write a better song title than most can write full songs. He first gained prominence as part of the same ’70s Los Angeles rock community that spawned the Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Linda Ronstadt, Zevon crafted songs that were beautifully ironic and at times, darkly humorous. He was, as the saying goes, a songwriter’s songwriter. Over the years he gave us such classic tunes as “Send Lawyers, Guns and Money,” “Werewolves Of London,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Hasten Down The Wind,” and “Carmelita.” Throughout most of the ’80s and ’90s, Zevon could be seen from time to time filling in for Paul Shaffer on Late Night With David Letterman. In 2002, Zevon was diagnosed with a cancer that has been linked to asbestos. Instead of seeking traditional treatment, Zevon set out to create his final masterpiece, The Wind. The album featured a list of friends paying him back for the impact he had had on them. That list included Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris and more. A brilliant VH-1 documentary was made of the sessions. October 30, 2002, David Letterman paid an unprecedented gesture to Zevon by devoting that entire one-hour show to his dear friend. Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, just 12 days after the release of The Wind which went on to be certified gold and earn five Grammy nominations, winning two.
Keith Moon was one of rock’s greatest drummers. Playing behind the Who, Moon’s sloppy yet spectacular playing fueled some of the greatest songs in rock history. Moon began playing the drums at the age of 12, and at 16 he was asked to join the Who after Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle witnessed him nearly destroy his drum kit at the audition. That lead to the band doing the same to their instruments at the end of their early shows, a practice that has been imitated by rock bands ever since. Moon was also just as destructive off stage as many a hotel manager can attest to. Legend has it that he was banned for life from Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hilton Hotel chains. Keith Moon died of an accidental overdose on September 7, 1978, just two weeks after the release of the classic Who Are You album. The drug he overdosed on was prescribed to help him in his battle against alcoholism. He died in a flat owned by Harry Nilsson. Mama Cass Elliot died in the same room of that flat four years earlier.
Witchhunter (Born Chris Dudek)
DOB Unknown – September 7, 2008
Chris Dudek, who went by the stage name, Witchhunter was the original drummer for German thrash metal band, Sodom. Formed in 1982, the band would become a major influence on the black metal scene of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Influenced by such bands as Motorhead, Venom, and Accept, Sodom recorded a couple of demos that eventually got them signed to Steamhammer Records. Dudek played in the band until 1992 but reunited to guest with the band on their 2008 release, The Final Sign Of Evil. Apparently suffering for many years with alcohol and drug abuse, Chris Dudek died of liver failure on September 7, 2008.
David McCoy Franklin
DOB Unknown – September 7, 2008
David McCoy Franklin was an entertainment lawyer whose clientele included Miles Davis and Peabo Bryson. In recent years he was a key advisor to Maynard Jackson, the former mayor of Atlanta. He passed away at the age of 65.