Patrick O’Brien
1984 – May 29, 2009
Patrick O’Brien was the guitarist for up-and-coming Maryland hardcore band, Cobra Clutch. The band had recently finished its debut album and were in the midst of an east coast tour, including some dates with Murphy’s Law. O’Brien died in his sleep at the age of 24.
John Cipollina
August 24, 1943 – May 29, 1989
John Cipollina is perhaps best known as the lead guitarist for San Francisco psychedelic rock band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, but his great talent was was shared by a list of no fewer than 24 other acts, including the Grateful Dead. He was renowned for the unique sound he developed for his guitar and is considered one of the true architects of the San Francisco psychedelic sound. His impact was later recognized by Rolling Stone who ranked him as the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time. Cipollina died of as a result of chronic emphysema at the age of 45.
Jerry Cole
September 23, 1939 – May 28, 2008
Jerry Cole was one of surf music’s original guitar gods. Besides being a much in demand session player, Cole had his own group, the Spacemen, with whom he released four classic albums of “space age surf music.” As a sideman, Cole played on the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, and the Byrds‘ “Mr. Tamborine Man. He was also part of Phil Spector’s “wrecking crew,” affording him the opportunity to play on countless other songs. Cole could also be heard as part of the house band on TV’s “Shindig” and “Hullabaloo.” He died of a heart attack on May 28, 2008.
Derek Frigo
July 26, 1966 – May 28, 2004
Derek Frigo was the son of jazz musician Johnny Frigo and singer-actress Brittney Browne. He was also the lead guitarist for 80’s glam band, Enuff Z’nuff who had a couple of hits with “New Thing” and “Fly High Michelle.” He was considered by many to be one of the unsung guitar greats of hard rock. Forming in 1984, Enuff Z’nuff signed to Atco Records who released their self titled debut that was loaded with neo-psychedelic pop rock songs. Their music became popular enough to warrant an appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman and numerous visits to the Howard Stern show. Rolling Stone even called them the “hot band of the year” upon the release of their 1991 follow-up, Strength. But despite regular rotation on MTV and critical praise, their albums failed to sell the numbers they deserved, so Atco and then Arista Records dropped them. It was about this time that Frigo left the band and sadly let the effects of drugs and alcohol take control of his life. He moved to Los Angeles where he played with a few local bands and was reportedly working with Stone Temple Pilots on some of their material, but nothing seemed to click for him. Frigo was found dead of an overdose outside the apartment of a friend on May 28, 2004.
Brad Nowell
February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996
Brad Nowell was the guitarist and lead singer for Southern California punk band, Sublime. In a sad twist of fate, Nowell’s death from a heroin overdose on the eve of the release of their major label debut helped it become one of the most successful albums of the year. By the time Nowell was eleven, his parents were divorced, perhaps leading him to the local sounds of punk and hip-hop for an escape. It was at this age that Nowell’s father took him to the Virgin Islands where he was introduced to a heavy dose of reggae music which would become the integral part of the music he would go on to make. After returning home, Nowell was given his first guitar, and never looked back. At twenty, he co-founded Sublime along with fellow Cal State Long Beach students, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh. With a sound that was equal parts punk, ska, reggae and hip-hop, the band quickly became the local rage often playing at bars and parties in exchange for alcohol. The band soon recorded and released 40 Oz to Freedom on their own Skunk Records. That album contained a song called “Date Rape” which found its way to Los Angeles powerhouse alternative station, KROQ who added it into rotation, causing the request lines to explode. The song quickly became one of the most popular songs at KROQ that summer and grabbed the attention of executives at MCA Records who snapped the band up and put them into the studio to record their follow-up album. It was around this time that Nowell began to descend into the depths of substance abuse. Upon the completion of Sublime, the band embarked on a west coast run of dates in preparation of their first European tour. On May 25, 1996, as the band was checking out of their San Francisco hotel, Gaugh went to fetch Nowell only to find him face down in his room, dead of a heroin overdose. MCA Records and the surviving members debated whether to still release Sublime but ultimately decided to go ahead so that potential profits could go to help raise the one-year-old son Nowell left behind. The album went on to sell over 5 million copies.
themusicsover