Died On This Date (December 25, 1998) Bryan MacLean / Love
themusicsover Bryan MacLean
September 25, 1946 – December 25, 1998
Bryan MacLean was a songwriter and guitarist best known for his work in the ’60s psychedelic garage rock band, Love. Formed in 1965, the group is known to have influenced such bands as the Damned, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and the Stone Roses. No less than Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant has called Love’s Forever Changes one of his favorite albums of all time. While growing up, MacLean envisioned a career as a traveling folk singer, but after seeing the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night, he set his sights on rock music. Around 1964, he met Arthur Lee and within a year they would evolve into Love, get signed to Elektra Records, and begin releasing a trio of LPs that included Forever Changes, by many accounts, one of rock’s greatest albums. The band’s most significant records were “7 & 7 is,” “Hey Joe,” “My Little Red Book,” and the MacLean-penned, “Alone Again Or.” Love broke up in 1967, and MacLean, who had been struggling with drug addiction set out to turn his life around. He became a devout Christian, but continued to make music over the three decades. In later years, he lent a hand to the career of his half-sister Maria McKee and her band, Lone Justice. His “Don’t Toss Us Away,” is one of the stand-out tracks on their debut album. While planning a comeback in 1998, Bryan MacLean suffered a fatal heart attack on Christmas Day. He was 51.
What You Should Own
Tony Bellamy is best remembered as the one-time lead guitarist for the Native American rock band, Redbone. Formed in 1969, the band achieved its most success during the early ’70s. In 1974 they scored their biggest hit single with “Come and Get Your Love,” which reached the top 5 on the Billboard singles chart. Prior to his days with Redbone, Bellamy played with Dobie Gray and the pre-Moby Grape band, Peter and the Wolves. He left Redbone in 1977 and went on to form his own group, Bimbam. He reunited with Redbone for special events in later years. Tony Bellamy was 69 when he died of liver failure on Christmas Day, 2009. 
Tim Hart is best remembered as a founding member of British electric folk band, Steeleye Span, who released a handful of moderately successful albums while Hart was in the group between 1970 and 1982. He played guitar and sang for the band while writing some of their more traditional sounding songs. In later years, Hart released a handful of solo releases included two children’s albums. In late 2008, he was diagnosed with lung cancer which caused his death on December 24, 2009. Tim Hart was 61 years old when he died.
