Mat Arluck
1970 – November 26, 2009
Mat Arluck was the guitarist for Chicago metal band, Sweet Cobra. Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, the respected guitarist, who also played in Cooler By The Lake and Closing In, continued to play up until about one year prior to his death. Arluck also played bass for Stabbed By Words. Mat Arluck was 39 when he passed away at his parents’ home on November 26, 2009.
Eric Carr (Born Paul Caravello)
July 12, 1950 – November 24, 1991
Eric Carr was a multi-instrumentalist, but primarily a drummer who goes down in rock ‘n roll history as the first replacement for Peter Criss in Kiss. Upon Criss’ official departure from Kiss in 1980, the band held auditions for a replacement. Although he submitted is application a day after the deadline and was the very last to try-out, Carr was selected to continue on with the band under the guise of “The Fox.” Over the course of his career with Kiss, Carr played on such albums as Creatures of the Night, Lick It Up, Animalyze, and Asylum. Carr also sang lead on a handful of songs during Kiss live shows, as well as on a re-recording of “Beth” which had originally sung by Criss. On November 21, 1991, Eric Carr, age 41, died of a brain hemorrhage that resulted from heart cancer which he had been suffering from for some time.
Kevin Dubrow
October 29, 1955 – November 19, 2007
Kevin Dubrow is best remembered as the lead singer of the world famous ’80s metal band, Quiet Riot. The band was formed by guitar great, Randy Rhoads and Kelly Garni in 1973 with Dubrow coming on board shortly thereafter. After Rhoads left to join Ozzy Osbourne in 1980, the band was relaunched as Dubrow and eventually changed back to the name, Quiet Riot. In 1983, the band released Metal Health, and quickly became one of the era’s most popular rock bands thanks to heavy video play during MTV’s explosive early years. Hits like “Cum On The Noize” and “Metal Health” received heavy video and radio airplay, helping them fill arenas and stadiums across the U.S. and beyond. But by 1987, internal fighting and other factors lead to the departure of Dubrow who formed his own band while the others continued on as Quiet Riot with a different lead singer. Unfortunately, grunge would soon rear its ugly head and cast all such hard rock bands aside for the next several years. Dubrow eventually reunited with yet another line up of the band who, in 2006, released the album Rehab, and began touring again. But on or around November 19, 2007, Kevin Dubrow, age 52, died of an accidental cocaine overdose in his Las Vegas home. Although his body wasn’t discovered until November 25th, the coroner estimated his day of passing likely six days earlier.
Mike Baker
September 2, 1963 – October 29, 2008
Mike Baker was the lead singer of ’80s progressive metal band, Shadow Gallery. Formed in 1985 as Sorcerer, the band soon changed their name before signing to independent progressive rock label, Magna Carta Records in 1991. Shadow Gallery, and Baker’s vocals had more in common with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Queensryche than the pop metal bands that were more in fashion at the time. During the late ’90s, the band formed a kinship with like-minded band, Dream Theater, whose James LaBrie sang on Shadow Gallery’s 1998 song, “I Believe.” Mike Baker, 45, died of a heart attack on October 29, 2008.
Criss Oliva
April 3, 1963 – October 17, 1993
Criss Oliva was the lead guitarist of Savatage, the progressive metal band he co-founded with his brother, Jon Oliva. The Clearwater, Florida band formed in the early ’80s and by the release of their second album in 1985, they were starting to make some noise outside of the region. Enough so to get the chance to tour with Megadeth and a multi-album deal with Atlantic Records. Savatage’s 1991 release, Streets: A Rock Opera was a tremendous succes, selling in excess of 1 million copies. Criss Oliva was killed instantly in the early hours of October 17, 1993 when an oncoming car reportedly driven by a drunk driver swerved into his lane and hit his car head on. He was 30 years old.
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