Died On This Date (November 22, 1997) Michael Hutchence / INXS

Michael Hutchence
January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997

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Michael Hutchence was the internationally famous and charismatic front man for INXS, one of the most popular bands of the ’80s.  Formed in Australia in 1980, the band became stars of their native land by the time their third album, Shabooh Shoobah, was released in 1983. Thanks to infectious tracks like “The One Thing” and “Don’t Change,” the album would prove to be a minor hit in the U.S. as well.  By 1985, the band were international superstars thanks to the powerful dance rock of albums, The Swing and Listen Like Thieves. The band’s blend of alternative rock and dance along with Hutchence’s swagger and good looks proved to irresistible to MTV, further cementing their place in rock stardom.  During the late ’80s, Hutchence found himself cast in significant roles in a couple of motion pictures, Dogs In Space and Frankenstein Unbound.  He also became tabloid fodder due to his relationships with popular actresses, models and singers of the day.  The band continued recording and touring through the ’90s, but were not quite repeating the success they found earlier.  On November 22, 1997, Michael Hutchence, 37, was found dead in a hotel room in Sydney, Australia.  Officials ruled the death a suicide by hanging, but the fact that he was found naked and hadn’t left behind a suicide note, some close to him have speculated that he died accidentally during autoerotic asphyxiation.

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Died On This Date (November 22, 2008) Alan Gordon / Co-Wrote “Happy Together”

Alan Gordon
April 22, 1944 – November 22, 2008

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Alan Gordon was a songwriter many popular songs during the ’60s and ’70s.  The list of those who have recorded his songs or co-written with him is staggering.  It includes, Three Dog Night, the Turtles, Tammy Wynette, Alice Cooper, Bobby Darin, Freddy Fender, the Ojays, Frank Zappa, and the Lovin’ Spoonful.  Two of the biggest hits co-written by Gordon and writing partner, Garry Bonner, were “Happy Together” (the Turtles) and “Celebrate” (Three Dog Night).  Alan Gordon was 64 when he died of cancer on November 22, 2009.



Died On This Date (November 21, 1995) Matthew Ashman / Adam & The Ants; Bow Wow Wow

Matthew Ashman
1960 – November 21, 1995

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Matthew Ashman was one of the great true guitarists of the new wave era.  He brought in a gritty rockabilly sound thanks to his big Gretsch hollow body guitar. He first came on to the scene during the late ’70s when he was asked to play guitar in Adam Ant’s band, Adam & the Ants.  After the release of the band’s first album, 1979’s Dirk Wears White Sox, Sex Pistol’s manager Malcolm McLaren convinced Ashman and the rest of the band to leave Ant and work with him and his 14-year-old new wave prodigy, Annabella Lwin.  The band they formed with Bow Wow Wow who would prove to be influential on such U.S. bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Their biggest hit came in 1982 with a cover of “I Want Candy,” oringinally recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965.  Bow Wow Wow broke up in 1983, so Ashman continued on with different bands over the next several years, but nothing reached the success he had seen with Bow Wow Wow.  On November 21, 1995, Matthew Ashman, 35, died of complications from diabetes.

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Died On This Date (November 19, 2007) Kevin DuBrow / Quiet Riot

Kevin Dubrow
October 29, 1955 – November 19, 2007

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Kevin Dubrow is best remembered as the lead singer of the world famous ’80s metal band, Quiet Riot.  The band was formed by guitar great, Randy Rhoads and Kelly Garni in 1973 with Dubrow coming on board shortly thereafter.  After Rhoads left to join Ozzy Osbourne in 1980, the band was relaunched as Dubrow and eventually changed back to the name, Quiet Riot.  In 1983, the band released Metal Health, and quickly became one of the era’s most popular rock bands thanks to heavy video play during MTV’s explosive early years.   Hits like “Cum On The Noize” and “Metal Health” received heavy video and radio airplay, helping them fill arenas and stadiums across the U.S. and beyond.  But by 1987, internal fighting and other factors lead to the departure of Dubrow who formed his own band while the others continued on as Quiet Riot with a different lead singer.  Unfortunately, grunge would soon rear its ugly head and cast all such hard rock bands aside for the next several years.  Dubrow eventually reunited with yet another line up of the band who, in 2006,  released the album Rehab, and began touring again.  But on or around November 19, 2007, Kevin Dubrow, age 52, died of an accidental cocaine overdose in his Las Vegas home.  Although his body wasn’t discovered until November 25th, the coroner estimated his day of passing likely six days earlier.

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Died On This Date (November 19, 1983) Tom Evans / Badfinger

Tom Evans
June 5, 1947 – November 19, 1983

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Tom Evans is best remembered as founding guitarist and sometime vocalist for British rock band, Badfinger.  Evans had been Liverpool when, in 1967, he was asked to join the Iveys, a Welsh band fronted by Pete Ham.  Within a year the band was signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records. The Evan’s penned “Maybe Tomorrow” was the band’s first single and cracked the US top 100.  In 1969, the band changed its name to Badfinger to record The Magic Christian which included “Come and Get It,” written by Paul McCartney.  Evans sang lead on the track which became a top 10 single around the world.  One of Badfinger’s follow-up singles was “No Matter What,” another instantly recognizable hit.  As a session player, Evans played or sang on John Lennon’s Imagine, George Harrion’s All Things Must Pass, and Ringo Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy.”   Perhaps Evans’ most famous song as a songwriter was the huge Harry Nilsson hit,  “Without You,” co-written with Ham.  In 1975, Pete Ham committed suicide, putting an end to the original Badfinger.  Evans continued on performing in other bands, including a couple of new versions of Badfinger.  On November 19, 1983, Tom Evans, 36, took his own life by hanging from a tree in his yard.  It has been speculated that he was overwhelmed by disputes over royalties and legal action that could have potentially destroyed him financially.

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