Metal

Died On This Date (August 26, 2005) Denis “Piggy” D’Amour / Voivod

Denis D’Amour
September 24, 1959 – August 26, 2005

Denis D’Amour was the guitarist for Canadian thrash metal band, Voivod who were one of the first Canadian thrash bands to gain popularity outside of Canada. They, along with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax were ushered in the thrash metal movement of the mid ’80s. Trained in classical violin, D’Amour later switched to guitar, later adding more of a King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Rush approach to his unique guitar playing. D’Amour was diagnosed with colon cancer in the summer of 2005. Having progressed at an alarming rate, surgery was not an option, so D’Amour died as a result of the cancer on August 26, 2005 at the age of 45.

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Dimension Hatröss - Voivod

Died On This Date (August 14, 2002) Dave Williams / Lead Singer Of Drowning Pool

Dave Williams
February 29, 1972 – August 14, 2002

Dave Williams was the original lead singer of Texas metal band, Drowning Pool.  Formed in 1996, the band built a sizable following thanks to well-received performances at Ozzy Osbourne’s early Ozzfests.  In 2001, the band released their first album, Sinner, which included the hit single and MTV staple, “Bodies.”  That exposure helped the album sell more than one million copies within the first year.   While on tour on August 14, 2002, Dave Williams collapsed and died on the band’s tour bus in Virginia.  Official reports concluded that he died of a heart muscle disease.  He was 30 years old.

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Sinner - Drowning Pool

Died On This Date (August 10, 1993) Oystein Aarseth aka Euronymous / Norwegian Black Metal Musician

Euronymous (Born Oystein Aarseth)
March 22, 1968 – August 10, 1993

euronymous_05Oystein Aarseth, known to fans as Euronymous, was the founding guitarist of Norwegian black metal band, Mayhem.  Formed in 1983, the band went on to become one of the most influential Norwegian bands of the scene.   The band was as controversial as it was popular, due in part, to their violent stage show along with the suicide of lead singer, Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin), and murder of Aarseth.  It was rumored that Aarseth ate part of Ohlin’s brain upon discovering his lifeless body.  He publicly denied that claim.   During his career, Aarseth also opened his own record shop and mail order business as well ran his own label, Deathlike Silence Productions.  On August 10, 1993, Oystein Aarseth died as a result of numerous stab wounds sustained during a violent confrontation with fellow musician Varg Vikernes.  Although he claimed the 23 knife wounds was self-defense, Vikernes was convicted of murder and sent to prison.  He was released on parole in May of 2009.

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De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas - Mayhem

Died On This Date (August 9, 2002) Paul Samson / Heavy Metal Great

Paul Samson
June 4, 1953 – August 9, 2002

With his band, Samson, Paul Samson helped usher in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal of the late ’70s. With contemporaries like Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Girlschool, Samson brought a cleaner, more progressive sound to the metal that originated from the likes of Black Sabbath. Forming the band in 1978, Samson built a steady cult following over it’s six-year existence. At one point, the band was fronted by Bruce Bruce who later changed his name back to Bruce Dickinson and left to join Iron Maiden. Samson’s guitar could also be heard on Ram Jam’s 1977 hit, “Black Betty.” Samson died of cancer while recording a Samson comeback album in 2002.

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P.S.... - Paul Samson

Died On This Date (July 27, 2008) Graeme Crallan / White Spirit; Tank

Graeme Crallan
1958 – July 27, 2008

Grame Crallan on left

Graeme Crallan was a British heavy metal drummer who first came to prominence during the New Wave of British Metal of the mid ’70s. In 1975, he and future Iron Maiden guitarist, Janick Gers formed White Spirit who released one Deep Purple influenced album in 1980.  They parted ways about a year later.  A few years later, Crallan joined another metal band, the more aggressive Tank who’s fate was not much different from that of White Spirit’s.  Graeme Crallan died of head injuries he sustained when he collapsed and fell while walking along a London street.  The cause of his collapse is unknown.

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Tank