Rock

Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Dave Dee / ’60s British Pop Star

Dave “Dee” Harman
December 17, 1941 – January 9, 2009

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Dave Dee is best remembered as a police officer turned lead singer of ’60s pop band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich.  While he was a police officer, it was Dee who was one of the first on the scene of the infamous car accident that killed Eddie Cochran and seriously injured Gene Vincent.  Dee reportedly retrieved Cochran’s guitar from the scene and returned it to the dead singer’s  family.  With Dave Dee, Dozy, Beacky, Mick & Tich, he released several popular records, two of which, “The Legend of Xanadu” and “Bend It!” sold in excess of one million copies each.  After leaving the group in 1969, Dee released one moderately successful solo album, but then retired from performing to work as an A&R executive and later, businessman and charity fund-raiser.  Dave Dee died of prostate cancer on January 9, 2009.  He was 67 years old.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Dave Dee

Died On This Date (January 8, 1991) Steve Clark / Def Leppard

Steve Clark
April 23, 1960 – January 8, 1991

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

Steve Clark is best remembered as a celebrated guitarist in Def Leppard, a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band that became one of the most popular groups of the 1980s.   Clark was just 11 when he first picked up the guitar and within a few years he was emulating such guitar gods as Jimmy Page.  He successfully auditioned for Def Leppard in 1978, and over the next decade helped the band achieve massive fame and fortune thanks to albums like High ‘n Dry, Hysteria, and Pyromania.  Over the years, the band has sold in excess of 65 million albums worldwide.   Unfortunately, Clark suffered from alcoholism, and in late 1990, he was put on a six-month leave from the band to hopefully clean up.  On January 8, 1991 however, Steve Clark, age 30, was found dead on his couch of an accidental overdose of alcohol and prescribed pain medications and antidepressants.

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Died On This Date (January 7, 1964) Cyril Davies / British Blues Musician

Cyril Davies
January 23, 1932 – January 7, 1964

Cyril Davies was one of the pioneers of the British blues movement of the 1960s.  He began his career during the ’50s when he actually played the banjo in an acoustic skiffle group.  He soon switched to the harmonica, eventually becoming Britain’s first Chicago blues style player.  In 1962, he and fellow musician, Alexis Korner, opened the popular Ealing Club.  It was there that they founded Blues Incorporated, a highly influential electric blues band that counted Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Charlie Watts as members over the years.   The club became hangout for up-and-coming musicians like Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Eric Burden who generally ended up jamming together by the end of the night.   Cyril Davies was 31 when he died on January 7, 1964.  Cause of death was either leukemia, lung cancer or pleurisy, depending upon your source.


Died On This Date (January 7, 2011) Phil Kennemore / Bassist For Y&T

Phil Kennemore
October 20, 1953 – January 7, 2011

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Phil Kennemore is perhaps best remembered as the longtime and founding bassist for American heavy metal band, Y&T.  Formed in 1974 as Yesterday and Today, the band eventually shortened its name to Y&T and went on to sell millions of albums over the next two decades.  1984’s In Rock We Trust became their biggest selling album, while 1985’s “Summertime Girls,” became their signature song.  The group broke up in 1991 but then reformed briefly in 1995, and then permanently in 2001.  Kennemore has been part of every incarnation.  They are one of the few hard rock bands that survived disco, new wave, and grunge.  Phil Kennemore, age 56, died of lung cancer on January 7, 2011.

Thanks to David Plastik for the assist.

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Died On This Date (January 6, 2012) Tom Ardolino / Long Time Drummer For NRBQ

Tom Ardolino
January 12, 1955 – January 6, 2012

Tom Ardolino is best remembered as the long time drummer for influential rock outfit, NRBQ. Formed in 1967, the band has built a legion of loyal fans thanks to its ability to marry elements of jazz, rock, and blues, and for its raucous live shows.  NRBQ loyalists include Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello.  In 1974, Ardolino was asked to join the band as a replacement original drummer, Tom Staley.  He had first been a dedicated fan and swapped live concert tapes with band co-founder, Terry Adams.  Ardolino continued on with the group until they took a break in 2004.  He participated in occasional band reunions in later years.  Ardolino can be heard playing on such NRBQ classics as Scraps, All Hopped Up, and Grooves In Orbit.  Outside of NRBQ, he played on albums by the likes of Marshall Crenshaw, Jerry Lee Lewis, and NRBQ band mate, Al Anderson. On his own, Ardolino released Unknown Brain in 2004.  Tom Ardolino passed away from health related issues on January 6, 2012. He was 56.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.