Rock

Died On This Date (June 15, 2007) Richard Bell / Played With Janis Joplin & The Band

themusicsover June 15, 2010 No Comments

Richard Bell
March 5, 1946 – June 15, 2007

Richard Bell was a Canadian pianist and guitarist who played Janis Joplin’s Full Tilt Boogie Band in the late ’60s, and in the ’90s incarnation of the Band. But more remarkably, Bell began playing the piano at the age of four. As a session player, Bell has worked with such greats as Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, John Sebastian, and Bruce Cockburn. Richard Bell died of a form of cancer at the age of 61.

Blues Musician Rock Singer

Died On This Date (June 14, 1995) Rory Gallagher / Irish Blues Rock God

themusicsover June 14, 2010 3 Comments

Liam Rory Gallagher
March 2, 1948 – June 14, 1995

Rory Gallagher(1) — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Rory Gallagher was an Irish blues rock guitar great who sold more than 30 million albums and is considered one of the greatest musicians Ireland has ever produced. Gallagher first began making waves with his mid ’60s blues rock trio, Taste. The band began building a solid reputation in London and soon found themselves opening for such bands as Cream and Blind Faith. By the early ’70s, Taste had broken up and Gallagher was now leading a trio under his own name, making some of his best and most popular albums. In 1972, the trend-setting Melody Maker magazine named him Top Musician Of The Year. It was during this period that Gallagher was being strongly considered for the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple AND Canned Heat. By the ’80s however, Gallagher was falling deeper into drug and alcohol addiction, and his musical output suffered from it. He made his final performance in January of 1995, and was in such bad health, he soon needed a liver transplant. Unfortunately, an infection developed following the surgery, and he died at the age of 47.

What You Should Own

27 Club Musician Producer Rock

Died On This Date (June 14, 1989) Pete de Freitas / Echo and the Bunnymen

themusicsover June 14, 2010 1 Comment

Pete de Freitas
August 2, 1961 – June 14, 1989

Member of the 27 Club

Besides being a respected producer, Pete de Freitas was best known as the drummer for the popular ’80s band, Echo & the Bunnymen. It was with Echo & the Bunnymen that de Freitas reached an international audience, thanks to such post-punk hits as “The Cutter” “Lips Like Sugar,” and “The Killing Moon.” They took the US by storm in 1984 with the release of Ocean Rain thanks in part to heavy video rotation on MTV. Sadly, de Freitas passed away on June 14, 1989 of injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident while on his way home from filming Julian Cope’s “China Doll” video.

What You Should Own

Musician Rock

Died On This Date (June 14, 2009) Bob Bogle / The Ventures

themusicsover June 14, 2010 3 Comments

Bob Bogle
DOB Unknown – June 14, 2009

Bob Bogle was a Tacoma masonry worker before he co-founded the great rock instrumental band, the Ventures in 1958. The band went on to sell more than 100 million albums, making them the most successful instrumental band in history. In 2008, they were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and have been called “the band that launched 1000 bands.” The instantly recognizable fiery guitar play of the unassuming Bogle has been a huge influence on countless guitar players, whether then knew his name or not. The Ventures’ first hit was their 1960 cover of Johnny Smith‘s (by way of Chet Atkins) “Walk Don’t Run,” which began the band’s run of 38 chart topping albums over the next twelve years. Bob Bogle died of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma at the age of 75.

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Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (June 4, 1980) Charles W. Miller / War

themusicsover June 14, 2010 13 Comments

Charles W. Miller
June 2, 1939 – June 4, 1980

Charles Miller is best remembered as an original member of one of the premier ’70s funk bands, War. Raised in the Los Angeles area, Miller began playing a variety of instruments while still in high school, eventually settling on the saxophone and flute. While in college he began finding local gigs, even landing a recording sessions with Ray Charles and live performances with Brenton Wood. He eventually hooked up with Harold Brown, Papa Dee Allen, and Howard E. Scott and formed a band called Night Shift, which would soon be re-christened War by Eric Burdon and include Lee Oskar. War’s fusion of jazz, funk, R&B and Latin coupled with the raw British vocals of Burdon made a hit out of their 1970 single, “Spill the Wine.” In 1975, the band, sans Burdon, released Why Can’t We Be Friends? which included the Miller sung hit, “Low Rider,” one of the most popular songs to come out of the era. Charles Miller was murdered in a botched robbery just two weeks before his 41st birthday. The crime has never been solved.

Special thanks to Harold Brown, Howard E. Scott, & Lee Oskar

Died On This Date (June 15, 2007) Richard Bell / Played With Janis Joplin & The Band

Died On This Date (June 14, 1995) Rory Gallagher / Irish Blues Rock God

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (June 14, 1989) Pete de Freitas / Echo and the Bunnymen

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (June 14, 2009) Bob Bogle / The Ventures

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (June 4, 1980) Charles W. Miller / War

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