Died On This Date (April 19, 2012) Greg Ham / Men At Work
themusicsover Greg Ham
September 27, 1953 – April 19, 2012
Greg Ham was an Australian musician who made an indelible mark on pop music by way of his flute work with popular ’80s new wave band, Men At Work. It is Ham’s flute riffs that can be prominently heard in the band’s mega hit, “Down Under.” The album from which it came, 1982’s Business As Usual, topped the charts in both the US and Australia as it sold upwards of 15 million copies worldwide. Formed in 1978 by Colin Hay, the band brought Ham on shortly thereafter to handle saxophone, flute, and keyboard duties. He remained with the outfit until 1985 but then rejoined in 1996. He continued to play with the band until recently. Away from Men At Work, Ham worked as an actor on the Australian television series, While You’re Down There. He also taught guitar at a Melbourne primary school. On April 19, 2012, Greg Ham was found dead in his home. Cause of death was not immediately released. He was 58.
Thanks to Anne Bentley for the assist.
What You Should Own
Ritchie Teeter was a rock drummer who made is mark playing behind the Dictators during some of the band’s glory years. With a sound and vibe that was not that far removed from the Ramones, MC5, the Stooges, or the New York Dolls, the Dictators built a dedicated following that remains loyal to this day. Teeter joined the band following the release of their first album, Go Girl Crazy, and can be heard playing on 1977’s Manifest Destiny and 1978’s Bloodbrothers. Both are considered essential for any respectable early New York punk collection. Teeter went on to play in Twisted Sister in late 1980/early 1981, but never appeared on any of their albums. He did participate in later Dictator reunion shows, though not much is known about his more recent life. It appears that Teeter retired from the business some time ago, or he at least kept a very low profile. Ritchie Teeter was 61 when he died of esophageal cancer on April 10, 2012.
Scott Riccuiti was a respected Boston, Massachusetts area singer-songwriter and guitarist who had been entertaining folks throughout the area going back to at least the mid ’80s. As a member of Childhood, Riccuiti successfully competed in Boston battle-of-the-bands, culminating in their victory in radio juggernaut, WBCN’s Rock ‘n Roll Rumble in 1987. That lead to respectable video play on MTV for the band. Childhood ultimately disbanded in 1993. Other groups in which Riccuiti played included Pistol Whipped, A Pony For My Birthday, Huck, and Preacher Roe. And other acts he performed with on stage over the years include Shana Morrison and