Died On This Date (June 8, 2013) Arturo Vega / Ramones Logo Designer

Arturo Vega
1948 – June 8, 2013

Arturo-Vega1Arturo Vega was a graphic designer who is best remembered for his 20+ years of creative service for the Ramones.  Originally from Mexico, Vega emigrated to the United States during the ’70s, and settled in New York City.  He soon became friends with the band and even let Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone live in his loft for at time.  As the band’s artistic director since 1974, Vega created many of the band’s logos including their iconic “Hey Ho Let’s Go” shield logo.  For many years, t-shirts that were adorned with the shield where the main source of income for the band.  His handy work can be seen on such albums as Ramones, Leave Home, and Ramones Mania as well.  Vega also worked as the Ramone’s lighting director and claimed to have been at all but two of the their 2200+ shows.  In later years, he managed the band’s website.  Arturo Vega was 65 when he passed away on June 8, 2013.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (June 4, 2013) Joey Covington / Drummer For Hot Tuna & Jefferson Airplane

Joey Covington
June 27, 1945 – June 4, 2013

joey-covingtonJoey Covington was a journeyman drummer who is perhaps best remembered for his tenure with both Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.  Playing since the age of 10, Covington found his influence in jazz drummers of the day.  He also took a shine to the playing of the great Sandy Nelson.  By the time he was 14, he had already been playing with local polka groups for a couple of years, often chaperoned by his parents.  He soon gave his parents the slip and found work playing in strip club bands, which was fairly common for up-and-coming rock drummers during the ’50s and early ’60s.  During high school, Covington started playing with fellow students in rock bands.  When he turned 20, he went to New York City where he found work playing in back-up bands for such visiting acts as the Supremes, the Fenways, and the Shangri-Las.  He also played in the band for a Dick Clark cavalcade-of-stars type roadshow.  By the late ’60s, Covington found himself in Los Angeles and playing around with violin great and Jefferson Airplane member, Papa John Creach which lead to his relationship with the band and other musicians in their inner circle.  In 1969, Covington helped form Hot Tuna, a side project for Jefferson Airplane’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady who needed something to do during a break while singer, Grace Slick recovered from a surgery.  The Hot Tuna recordings that featured Covington were not released at the time.  In 1969, Jefferson Airplane hired Covington to replace Spencer Dryden. He played on Volunteers, Bark, and Long John Silver and wrote or co-wrote a number of the band’s songs including the hit, “With Your Love.”  After leaving the band in 1972, Covington formed Fat Fandango.  In later years, he participated in various Jefferson Airplane/Starship configurations called the San Francisco All-Stars.  On June 4, 2013, Joey Covington was reportedly killed when his car crashed into a wall in Palm Springs, California.  Details of the accident were not immediately released.  Covington was 67.

Thanks to Ben Anderson for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 30, 2013) Andreas Thein / Co-Founder Of German Synth Pop Group, Propaganda

Andreas Thein
DOB Unknown – May 30, 2013

andreas-theinAndreas Thein was a co-founder of influential German electronic synth pop band, Propaganda.  Formed in 1982, the band was quickly signed to Trevor Horn’s ZTT Records who released their acclaimed 1984 debut album, A Secret Wish. The LP’s first single, “Dr. Mabuse,” was a hit in Europe, reaching #27 in the UK and #7 in Germany.  Later that year however, Thein was asked to leave the group.  He went on to play in such groups as Rififi and Kino who signed to Chrysalis Records and had a moderate hit with “Room In My Heart.” Andreas Thein was 59 when he lost his battle with cancer on May 30, 2013.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 21, 2013) Trevor Bolder / Bassist For David Bowie & Uriah Heep

Trevor Bolder
June 9, 1950 – May 21, 2013

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Trevor Bolder was an influential rock bassist who is most often associated with Uriah Heep and David Bowie‘s early to mid ’70s back up band, the Spiders From Mars.  Born in East Yorkshire, Bolder cut his teeth in British R&B bands of the ’60s.  By the end of the decade, he was playing alongside Mick Ronson in a rock band of some local notoriety called the Rats.  In 1971, he and Ronson  were invited to join Bowie’s band.  Besides backing Bowie on his now legendary tours and television appearances of the era, Bolder played on his landmark albums as Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Aladdin Sane, and Pin-Ups.  When Bowie decided to retire the Spiders From Mars in 1976, Bolder went on to replace John Wetton in Uriah Heep.  He can be heard on such albums as Firefly, Fallen Angel and Conquest.  He stayed with the band until 1981, but reunited with them a couple of years later and continued on until the time of his death.  The list of other acts with whom he played throughout his career includes Wishbone Ash, Ken Hensley, and Dana Gillespie.  He also appeared on Ronson’s Slaughter On 10th Avenue and Play Don’t Worry.  Trevor Bolder was 62 when he passed away on May 21, 2013.  He had been battling pancreatic cancer.

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Died On This Date (May 20, 2013) Ray Manzarek / Keyboardist For The Doors

Ray Manzarek
February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013

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Ray Manzarek was the co-founder and keyboardist for legendary rock band, the Doors.  Born in Chicago, Manzarek moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA film school during the early ’60s.  It was there that he met Jim Morrison who told him he had written some songs and sang him a rough version of  “Moonlight Drive,” and the Doors was born.  In January of 1966, John Densmore and Robby Krieger were added to the mix, and the group soon became the house band at The London Fog in Hollywood.  Unfortunately, the group did very little to bring new patrons into the dingy bar so they were eventually fired only to be picked up by the Whiskey a Go Go the very same day.  Their first gig at the Whiskey was opening for Them which got them some notice, and lead to a contract with Columbia Records. After languishing there for a few months they asked to be released from their contract and were soon signed by Jac Holzman to Elektra Records.  The band’s first album, simply titled The Doors debuted in January of 1967 and soared to  #2 on the Billboard charts on its way to selling over 12 million copies.  The album  included the band’s biggest single, “Light My Fire.”  The Doors went on to become one of the most important rock bands all time thanks to their brilliant compositions and Morrison’s dynamic stage presence.  After Morrison’s untimely death in 1971, the band forged on as a trio until calling it quits in 1973.  In later years, the Doors occasionally reformed for special engagements.  Outside of the band, Manzerek released several solo albums and formed a group he called Nite City.  He also collaborated with the likes of X, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Iggy Pop.   On May 20, 2013, Ray Manzarek died from bile duct cancer.  He was 74.

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