Musician

Died On This Date (February 2, 2012) Phil Brown / The Records

Phil Brown
September 13, 1953 – February 2, 2012

Phil Brown was the bassist for the English power pop band, the Records.  After earlier being considered to play in Free and Mott the Hoople, Brown was hired by the Records.  Formed during the late ’70s, the band went on to build a formidable cult following with some loyalists going as far as calling them the “British Big Star.” Drawing inspiration from the likes of Badfinger and the Raspberries, the Records began putting out records in 1979.  That year’s Shades In Bed included the catchy single, “Starry Eyes,” which went on to become one of power pop’s most enduring songs.  Although signed to Virgin Records, the band failed to catch on beyond cult status in the US, and split up in 1982.  After the Records, Brown collaborated with Kirsty MacColl, Mark Nevin, and Jane Aire.  He formed his own band, the Hurt in 1984, and later played in Hollywood Killers.  In 2001, Phil Brown was diagnosed with an undisclosed degenerative illness which ultimately took his life on February 2, 2012.

Thanks to Belinda Rawlins at Bubbles In The Think Tank for the assist.

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Smashes, Crashes and Near Misses - The Records

Died On This Date (February 1, 2012) Mike Kelley / Influential Visual Artist & Musician

Mike Kelley
1954 – February 1, 2012

Mike Kelley was a respected visual artist as well as a founding member of Detroit underground noise rock band, Destroy All Monsters.  Formed while Kelley was an art student in 1973, the band built a sizable cult following even though they never released a proper album.  Kelley left the group in order to attend California Institute of the Arts in 1976. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth released a 3-CD anthology of the band in 1994.  Perhaps Kelley’s most notable contribution to popular music however, came by way of the iconic cover art he created for Sonic Youth’s 1992 album, Dirty (see below).  Mike Kelley was 57 when he apparently took his own life on February 1, 2012.

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Dirty (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] - Sonic Youth

Died On This Date (January 29, 2012) Tony Tecumseh / Founder of ’60s Psych Band, Afterglow

Tony Tecumseh
DOB Unknown – January 29, 2012

Tony Tecumseh was the founder, guitarist a lead singer of influential ’60s psychedelic pop band, Afterglow.   Tecumseh, who was a Modoc Indian, was a direct descendent of Winema.  Formed during the mid ’60s, Afterglow recorded their self-titled debut album,in San Francisco during 1967.  They were, at the time, a popular draw at parties, school dances and such throughout Northern California, and they opened for such acts as the Turtles and the Beau Brummels.   Unfortunately, Afterglow broke up shortly after the release of Afterglow, which went on to become highly coveted by collectors of psych rock.  The album was re-issued by Sundazed Records in 1995.  The band reunited in 2007 but Tecumseh was unable to participate due to health issues, while a PBS documentary about the band is expected to air in 2012.  Tony Tecumseh was 71 when he passed away on January 29, 2012.

Thanks to Paul Moshay for the assist.



Died On This Date (January 26, 2012) Clare Fischer / Legendary Arranger, Composer & Jazz Musician

Clare Fischer
October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012

Clare Fischer was a pianist, composer and arranger who, besides having his own respectable career as a musician, arranged music for some of pop music’s biggest stars.  Fischer was still a child when he first started making music, and after graduating from college and serving in the Army, he pursued a career in music.  During the late ’50s, he took on his first gig of note as the pianist and arranger for popular vocal quartet, the Hi-Los.  It was his work with the group that helped establish them as a major influence on the likes of the Manhattan Transfer, Brian Wilson, and Quincy Jones.  It was around that time that he also arranged music for jazz greats Cal Tjader, Donald Byrd, and George Shearing among others.  Fischer began recording his own albums in 1962.  His output includes First Time Out, Surging Ahead, and Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante Present 2+2 , for which he won a Grammy.  Throughout his career, he was recognized with 11 Grammy nominations and two wins.   In 1985, Fischer began writing arrangements for Prince.  Albums on which they collaborated include Under A Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge.  Other artists he arranged for include Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Robert Palmer.  On January 26, 2012, Clare Fischer died as a result of a heart attack he suffered some three weeks prior.  He was 83.

Thanks to Ken McCullagh for the assist.

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Clare Fischer

Died On This Date (January 25, 2012) Mark Reale / Founder of Riot

Mark Reale
June 7, 1955 – January 25, 2012

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

Mark Reale was a guitarist who is best remembered as the founder of and creative force behind influential hard rock band, Riot.  Born in New York City, Reale began putting the group together in 1975.  Two years later, they released their acclaimed debut album, Rock City.  Before they knew it, they were touring with the likes of KISS, Molly Hatchet, AC/DC, Sammy Hagar, and Rush.  In 1981, they released Fire Down Below which is considered their masterpiece and one of the defining metal albums of the early ’80s.  Reale disbanded Riot in 1984 and started another band, Narita, but reformed it a couple of years later.  Riot continued to perform and record through the fall of 2011 when they released their latest album, Immortal Soul.  Mark Reale, was 56 when he died from complications of Crohn’s Diseased on January 25, 2012.  Former band mate Rhett Forrester was the victim of an unsolved carjacking/murder in 1994, while original lead singer, Guy Speranza died of pancreatic cancer in 2003.

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Fire Down Under - Riot