Rock

Died On This Date (June 16, 1983) Buzz Shearman / Moxy

themusicsover June 16, 2010 5 Comments

Douglas “Buzz” Shearman
March 8, 1951 – June 16, 1983

Buzz Shearman at left

Buzz Shearman was the lead singer of popular Canadian hard rock band, Moxy. Forming in 1974, the band released their self-titled debut the following year. It became a quick hit thanks in part to guest guitar play by Tommy Bolin and the strength of its first single, “Can’t You See I’m A Star.” The new-found airplay helped the band land more and more tour dates throughout Canada as well as the US, where they shared the stage with AC/DC, and eventually Black Sabbath, Styx, Rainbow, the Runaways, and Boston. In 1977, Shearman left the band due, in part, to trouble he was having with his vocal chords. He was replased by Mike Reno, who would later front Loverboy. Shearman returned to Moxy in 1979, and when Bon Scott of AC/DC died in 1980, he was strongly considered for the job that ultimately went to Brian Johnson. On June 16, 1983, Buzz Shearman was killed in a motorcycle accident.

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Musician Rock Singer

Died On This Date (June 16, 1999) Screaming Lord Sutch / Influential ’60s British Rock Singer

themusicsover June 16, 2010 No Comments

David “Screaming Lord” Sutch
November 10, 1940 – June 16, 1999

Screaming Lord Sutch was a vocally challenged ’60s era British rock singer who helped lay the foundation of what would be called garage rock. His recordings are mostly associated with famed UK producer, Joe Meek. On stage, Sutch’s performances included horror theatrics that likely influenced Alice Cooper to do the same. His songs have been covered by such bands as the White Stripes and the Black Lips, despite the fact that his Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends album has been called the worst album of all times in at least two places. The “heavy friends” in this case were Nicky Hopkins, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck and Noel Redding. Reported to suffer from depression, Sutch hung himself on June 16, 1999.

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Musician 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.

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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.

Died On This Date (June 16, 1983) Buzz Shearman / Moxy

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Died On This Date (June 16, 1999) Screaming Lord Sutch / Influential ’60s British Rock Singer

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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

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

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