Died On This Date (May 21, 2008) Michelle Meldrum / Guitarist for Meldrum, Phantom Blue
themusicsover Michelle Meldrum
September 28, 1968 – May 21, 2008
Michelle Meldrum was a hard rock guitarist who was in Phantom Blue and her own Meldrum. Born in Detroit, Meldrum moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was 13. It was around that time that she picked up the guitar. It was only a matter of time before Meldrum formed her first band, Wargod, followed by Phantom Planet, an all-girl metal band that she co-founded. The band was signed to Shrapnel Records and later, Geffen Records. The band became very popular with metal fans thanks in part to tours with Black Label Society, Sepultura and Danzig. On May 16, 2008, Michelle Meldrum fell into an unexpected coma due to a cerebral hemorrhage. She died three days later due to a cystic growth on her brain. She was 39.
What You Should Own
Ian Curtis was the troubled singer and main songwriter for the Manchester rock band, Joy Division. Even as a young boy, Curtis showed signs of being a gifted writer, and by his late teens, he was turning his focus on becoming a rock performer. By 1978 he was fronting Joy Division. His lyrics were dark, sad and intensely hopeless. On stage, Curtis, who was epileptic, would mimic those fits while dancing. Unless of course he was having an actual seizure on stage. Fans sometimes didn’t know the difference. On May 18, 1980, two weeks after what would be Joy Division’s final show, Ian Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen. Some have speculated that the drugs he took for epilepsy and the exhaustive touring may have contributed to his desire to take his life. Others claim it was his disappointment over his failed marriage. Following the death of Curtis, the other members of Joy Division went on to form New Order.
Bruce Fairbairn was a Canadian trumpet player, but made a huge mark on popular music as a rock producer. Fairbairn hit his stride in the ’80s producing such albums as Loverboy’s Get Lucky, Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, Aerosmith’s Permanent Vacation, and later, Bon Jovi’s New Jersey, Aerosmith’s Pump, Poison’s Flesh and Blood, Van Halen’s Balance, AC/DC’s The Razor’s Edge Kiss’ Psycho Circus, and many more. It was while working on Yes’ Ladder, in May of 1999 that Jon Anderson discovered Bruce Fairbairn’s body in his home. Cause of death was not immediately released.