Rock

Died On This Date (March 9, 2007) Brad Delp / Lead Singer For Boston

Brad Delp
June 25, 1951 – March 9, 2007

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

Brad Delp was the unmistakable voice of Tom Scholz’s arena-rock band Boston, one of the break-out acts of the 1970s.  Born in 1951, Delp was one of countless teenagers who, after witnessing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, knew that rock ‘n roll was to be his life’s calling.  Delp first began working with Scholz in the latter’s 1969 band, Mother’s Milk.  The group was soon renamed Boston and released its self-titled debut in 1976.  With hits like “More Than A Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” and “Foreplay/Long Time,” the album propelled the group into the international spotlight and, with over 17 million copies sold, became the biggest selling debut album in history.  It still stands as one of the iconic releases of the era.  It’s quick follow-up, Don’t Look Back sold an astonishing four million in just its first month, and went on to sell seven million.  The group’s Third Stage followed in 1986, and in 1991, Delp left the group to form RTZ.  Delp and Scholz reunited in Boston in 1994, but as would be expected, they never achieved the success of their first releases.  It should be noted that Delp wrote or co-wrote several of Boston’s songs over the years.  In later years, he performed in various groups or projects.  On March 9, 2007, Brad Delp shocked friends, family, and fans by taking his own life when, on the eve of his wedding, he lit two charcoal barbecues in a sealed bathroom.  He was 55 when he died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Boston - Boston

Died On This Date (March 8, 1973) Ron “Pigpen” McKernan / Grateful Dead

Ron McKernan
September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973

Member of the 27 Club

Ron “Pigpen” Mckernan is best remembered as a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he mostly played the keyboards.  It was during his early days singing and performing at San Francisco area coffeehouses and record stores that he met Jerry Garcia, which lead to his membership in the Zodiacs, which begat Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions, which begat the Warlocks, which ultimately became the Grateful Dead.  It was McKernan who sang such early concert staples and “Turn on Your Lovelight” and “In The Midnight Hour,”  including its legendary 48-minute version at Woodstock.  An abuser of alcohol, McKernan was diagnosed with congenital biliary cirrhosis in 1970.  His health worsened over the next couple of years and his final concert with the Dead was on June 17, 1972.  He ultimately died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage on March 8, 1973 at the age of 27.

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American Beauty (Bonus Track Version) [Remastered] - Grateful Dead

Died On This Date (March 8, 1995) Ingo Schwichtenberg / Helloween

Ingo Schwichtenberg
May 18, 1965 – March 8, 1995

Ingo-SchwichtenbergIngo Schwichtenberg was the founding drummer for speed metal pioneers, Helloween.  Formed in Germany in 1984, the band has released numerous charting albums all over the world.  Schwichtenberg’s drumming proficiency has been an influence to many metal drummers to follow.  In 1993, he was fired from the band for reasons that stemmed from his dependency on drugs and alcohol as well as an apparent mental disorder.  After parting ways with Helloween, Schwichtenberg continued on a downward spiral which lead to him jumping to his death in front of an oncoming subway on March 8, 1995.  He was 29 years old.

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Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour (Live In Sao Paulo) - Helloween

Died On This Date (March 7, 1971) Harold McNair / Jazz Flute Great

Harold McNair
November 5, 1931 – March 7, 1971

harold-mcnairHarold McNair was a respected jazz flautist and saxophonist who followed a less-than-traditional way to jazz greatest.  Born in Jamaica, McNair spent the early years of his career making Island music.  He also sang Calypso.  McNair recorded his first album, 1960’s Bahama Bash, in Miami, Florida, and in 1960, he moved to Europe where he toured with Quincy Jones before settling in London.  He also played on the scores of several Paris films and television programs.  Soon, McNair joined up with  Charles Mingus, but the quartet was quickly derailed thanks to a U.K. musicians’ strike.  McNair released several albums throughout his career, and played on recordings by the likes of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Blossom Dearie, Donovan, and Ginger Baker.  Harold McNair died of lung cancer on March 7, 1971.  He was just 39 years old.

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Died On This Date (March 6, 2010) Mark Linkous / Sparklehorse

Mark Linkous
September 9, 1962 – March 6, 2010

Mark Linkous was the multi-instrumentalist leader of alternative rock group, Sparklehorse, who became an critics’ darling cult band after the release of their debut album, Vivadixiesubmarine- transmissionplot, in 1995.  Prior to that, he was a member of the Dancing Hoods, who he co-founded  in the mid ’80s.  In 1996, while on tour with Radiohead, Linkous overdosed Valium, antidepressants and alcohol, causing him to lay unconscious with his legs pinned underneath him for fourteen hours.  He literally died for two minutes when rescuers tried to straighten his legs which had been cut off from circulation for the duration of his unconsciousness.   The incident left him with permanent damage to his legs.  In 2009, Linkous collaborated on a Dark Night of Soul with famed indie producer Danger Mouse and iconic film director, David Lynch.  The multi-media project also includes performance by  Flaming Lips, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, Frank Black, Iggy Pop and more.  He was recently working on a new album due out in late 2010.  On March 6, 2010, Mark Linkous died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  He was 47.

Thanks to Craig Rosen of Number1Albums

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Good Morning Spider - Sparklehorse