but the songs live on forever

Metal

Metal Musician Rock Singer

Died On This Date (February 20, 2003) Ty Longley / Great White Guitarist; Died In Tragic Club Fire

themusicsover 1 Comment

Ty Longley
September 4, 1971 – February 20, 2003

tylongleyTy Longley was born in northwest Pennsylvania.  In 2001, he joined metal band, Great White, one of the top rock acts of the ’80s, as they were beginning to mount a comeback for the new millennium.  Unfortunately, their return to the national headlines was caused by a tragic event that claimed Longley’s life.  While on stage at The Station club in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on February 20, 2003, the band’s pyrotechnics accidentally set off a fire that quickly consumed the venue.  In all, 100 people perished in the fire, including 31-year-old Ty Longley.



Metal Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (February 19, 1980) Bon Scott / Lead Singer Of AC/DC

themusicsover 1 Comment

Ronald “Bon” Scott
July 9, 1946 – February 19, 1980

bon-scott

Bonn Scott was the second lead singer of hard rock juggernaut, AC/DC.  In 1964, Scott formed his first band, the Spektors as their drummer. They eventually morphed into the Valentines, a pop band who scored a bubblegum hit or two in Australia.  For a good laugh, check out their video for “Build Me Up Buttercup.”  That’s Scott on back-up vocals to the right.  After that band broke up in 1970, Scott joined Fraternity, a moderately successful rock band that took him down a more deserved rock path than he was on with his earlier bands.  When Fraternity went on hiatus in 1973, Scott found work as a driver of up-and-coming hard rock band, AC/DC.  At the time, brothers, Angus Young and Malcolm Young who were looking for someone to replace original lead singer, Dave Evans.  Meanwhile, Scott was pestering them about becoming their drummer, but the Youngs soon decided to hire Scott as their lead singer, his gutteral snarl being a better match for their sonic guitars.  The group released their first album, High Voltage in Australia in September of 1974.  By 1979, the band were building a fan base throughout Europe and North America, so when their sixth album, Highway to Hell came out in July of ’79, AC/DC were well on their way to becoming one of the biggest rock band’s of their generation.  The album became their first to crack the U.S. album charts, eventually peaking at #17.  Sadly however, Scott wouldn’t live to enjoy the fruits of the group’s hard work.  On February 19, 1980, he was placed in a parked automobile to sleep off a night of heavy drinking.  When a friend went to check on him some hours later, he found Scott unresponsive, so he was taken to a local hospital where he was listed as dead on arrival.  Bonn Scott died at the age of 33, having choked on his own vomit.  Official documents indicated that he died of acute alcohol poisoning and suffered “death by misadventure.”

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com



Metal Musician Rock Songwriter

Died On This Date (February 19, 2009) Mikka Tenkula / Guitarist For Finnish Metal Band, Sentenced

themusicsover 1 Comment

Miika Tenkula
March 6, 1974 – February 19, 2009

miika-tenkulaMiika Tenkula was the founding lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter for Finnish death metal band, Sentenced. Originally formed as Deformity in 1998, Sentenced released several albums over the next seven years.  The group broke up in October of 2005, and on February 19, 2009, Miika Tenkula died of a heart attack brought on by a then unknown heart defect.  He was 34.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Down (Deluxe Version) - Sentenced

Metal Musician Rock

Died On This Date (February 5, 1998) Tim Kelly / Slaughter

themusicsover No Comments

Tim Kelly
January 13, 1963 – February 5, 1998

Tim Kelly is best remembered as lead guitarist for early ’90s  multi-platinum metal band, Slaughter.  As one if its original members, Kelly played on such hits as “Up All Night” and “Fly To The Angels.”  Kelly taught himself to play the guitar as a child and by the time he was middle-school age, he was playing in bands.  In 1988, he joined up with Mark Slaughter and Dana Strum who had both recently left the Vinnie Vincent Invasion to start their own band, Slaughter.    Over the next few years they released a handful of albums that sold in excess of four million albums combined.  On February 5, 1998, Kelly was killed in a head-on collision with a big rig.  The truck’s driver was under the influence of drugs and was later sentenced to prison.  Tim Kelly was 35 years old when he died.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Slaughter

Metal Rock Singer

Died On This Date (February 2, 2002) Paul Baloff / Exodus

themusicsover No Comments

Paul Baloff
April 25, 1960 – February 2, 2002

paul-baloff

Paul Baloff is best remembered as a two-time lead singer of Exodus, a popular thrash metal band that was formed by Kirk Hammett, before he left to join Metallica.  Baloff sang on the band’s 1982 Demo (which Hammett also played on), and Bonded By Blood.  He was let go by the band in 1986, after which he sang for Hirax and Pirahna.  He briefly fronted a reunited Exodus in 1997.  On February 2, 2002, Paul Baloff died following a stroke.  He was 41.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Exodus

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Americana Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Jon Dee Graham, Influential Austin Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 67

Americana Country Musician Singer Songwriter

Chip Taylor, Acclaimed Songwriter and Americana Artist, Dies at 85

Americana Bluegrass Country Musician Singer Songwriter

Ronnie Bowman, Bluegrass Musician and Songwriter, Dead at 64

Metal Musician Rock

Phil Campbell, Longtime Motörhead Guitarist, Dies at 64