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Died On This Date (January 15, 2018) Dolores O’Riordan / The Cranberries

themusicsover January 15, 2018 0 Comments

Dolores O’Riordan
September 6, 1971 – January 15, 2018

Dolores O’Riordan, who fronted the popular Irish alternative rock band, the Cranberries, died unexpectedly in a London hotel on January 15, 2018. Cause of death of the 46-year-old was not immediately released. Born in County Limerick, Ireland, O’Riordan was just five years old when she began singing, and by the time she was in her teens, she was writing her own music. In 1990, O’Riordan responded to an ad by a band called The Cranberry Saw Us who were looking for a new singer following the departure of their original one. She got the job and the band soon changed its name to the Cranberries and signed to Island Records. They went on to find critical and commercial success throughout the ’90s with such albums as Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We, No Need To Argue, and To The Faithful Departed. After the band went on hiatus in 2003, O’Riordan recorded two solo albums and collaborated with the likes of Zucherro, Jam & Spoon, and Jah Wobble.

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Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 4, 2018) Ray Thomas / The Moody Blues

themusicsover January 4, 2018 0 Comments

Ray Thomas
December 29, 1941 – January 4, 2018

Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Ray Thomas, a founding member of the English rock band, the Moody Blues passed away on January 4, 2018 at the age of 76. Cause of death was not immediately released. Thomas was just nine years old when his father taught him to play the harmonica, and by the time he was 16, he had already quit school by two years and had set his music career in motion. He had also taken up the flute, later, his primary instrument, by that time as well. His first band of note was called El Riot and the Rebels who opened a gig for the Beatles in 1963. The following year, he and fellow band mate, Mike Pinder recruited Denny Laine, Graeme Edge and Clint Warwick, and the Moody Blues was born. The band’s first album, The Magnificent Moodies was released in 1965. Having a Merseybeat/R&B sound then, which was very popular in the UK, the album produced a #1 UK hit and #10 US hit with the band’s cover of “Go Now.” Warwick and Laine soon exited, and in 1966, a new era for the band was born with the addition of John Lodge and Justin Hayward. The group’s sound became more orchestral and complex. The first resulting album was 1967’s Days of Future Passed, which propelled the band to fame across Europe and North America. Songs like “Tuesday Afternoon,” and in particular, “Nights in White Satin,” laid the foundation for what would be called Prog Rock. Thomas’ flute solo in “Nights in White Satin” is considered a watershed moment for the genre. He was later nicknamed “The Flute,” for obvious reasons. Health concerns and the Moody Blues’ move into more of a synth sound during the ’80s lead to Thomas’ retirement in 2002, but he did show up on a recording here and there in later years. In 2013, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. And December 13, 2017 – less than a month before Thomas passed away, it was announced that the Moody Blues would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Class of 2018.

What You Should Own

Metal Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 13, 2017) Warrel Dane / Lead Singer of Sanctuary & Nevermore

themusicsover December 13, 2017 0 Comments

Warrel Dane (Born Warrel Baker)
March 7, 1961 – December 13, 2017

Second from left, with Sanctuary. Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Acclaimed American Metal singer, Warrel Dane, who fronted both Sanctuary and Nevermore, died of a heart attack while working on a solo album in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was 56. Born in Seattle, Washington, Dane trained as an opera singer before ultimately finding his way to Metal. His first band of note, Sanctuary, signed with Epic Records in 1987. Their debut album, Refuge Denied, was notable for being produced by Dave Mustaine, who was just growing into his own with Megadeth. It was released in 1988. Although the band’s follow up, Into The Black, received some exposure via a video on MTV, it was the early ’90s, and they fell victim to the newfound popularity of grunge. Rather than give in to label wishes for them to shift their sound toward grunge, Dane left the band in 1992 and formed Nevermore which leaned more progressive than Sanctuary’s thrash sound. Nevermore signed with Century Media who went on to release their seven studio albums over the next 15 years. In 2011, the band went on hiatus while Sanctuary reunited and released their most successful album to date, 2014’s The Year the Sun Died. They went on to release two more studio albums before Dane’s passing.

Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 12, 2017) Pat DiNizio / The Smithereens

themusicsover December 12, 2017 0 Comments

Pat DiNizio
October 12, 1955 – December 12, 2017

Pat DiNizio, 2nd from left. Photo by Deborah Feingold via allmusic.com

Pat DiNizio, who was the founding lead singer and primary songwriter for American garage rock band, the Smithereens has passed away at the age of 62. Announced on the band’s Facebook page, no cause was attributed to his death. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, DiNizio formed the Smithereens after putting an ad in a local paper looking for a drummer to record on his demo tape. The year was 1980, and by the middle of the decade, the band was signed to Enigma Records who released their debut, Especially For You, in 1986. Propelled by “Blood and Roses,” “Strangers When We Meet,” and “Behind a Wall of Sleep,” the album reached #51 on the US album charts. With there garage-infused power pop, and a pounding loudness that surpassed many hair metal bands of the era, the Smithereens went on to score several more rock hits throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s.

What You Should Own

Musician Pop Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (November 21, 2017) David Cassidy / Former Teen Idol

themusicsover November 21, 2017 0 Comments

David Cassidy
April 12, 1950 – November 21, 2017

David Cassidy, who became one of the biggest teen idols of the ’70s passed away after being hospitalized with kidney and liver failure. He was 67. Born into a show business family – his father was actor and singer Jack Cassidy, his mother, actress, Evelyn Ward – Cassidy began his career as a stage actor. He made his Broadway debut when he was just 18. At 20, he was offered the superstar-making role of Keith Partridge, on a new television show musical comedy that was loosely based on real life family pop band, the Cowsills. His stepmother, Shirley Jones who his father married after divorcing Cassidy’s mother, played his mother on the show. The program was hugely popular, and Cassidy – who played the band’s front man, quickly became a teen idol around the world. During the course of the show, the Partridge Family released eight studio albums and several compilations and singles. Cassidy and Jones, backed by session players, were the only cast members on those recordings. Their single, “I Think I Love You,” reached number one on the Billboard Singles Chart in August of 1970. What followed for Cassidy were countless magazine covers, concerts in front of 30,000+ screaming fans, and television appearances across every network. His solo albums during the mid- to late-70s even outsold those by the Partridge Family. Unfortunately for Cassidy, he wanted to be seen as a true rock star in the vein of Mick Jagger, but his adoring fans wouldn’t let him escape his bubble-gum teen idol image. While the hysteria eventually died off, Cassidy continued to record, perform live, and act in one form or another for the rest of his life. In his final years, he continued to endear himself to his most loyal fans, by adding question and answer segments at the end of his concerts.

Died On This Date (January 15, 2018) Dolores O’Riordan / The Cranberries

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (January 4, 2018) Ray Thomas / The Moody Blues

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Died On This Date (December 13, 2017) Warrel Dane / Lead Singer of Sanctuary & Nevermore

Died On This Date (December 12, 2017) Pat DiNizio / The Smithereens

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (November 21, 2017) David Cassidy / Former Teen Idol

What You Should Own

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