Died On This Date (December 25, 2011) Jim “Motorhead” Sherwood / Frank Zappa’s Mothers Of Invention
themusicsover Jim Sherwood
May 8, 1942 – December 25, 2011
Jim “Motorhead” Sherman was a saxophonist who spent many years playing alongside Frank Zappa in various bands. Sherwood and Zappa were still in high school when they are introduced because of their shared passion for record collecting. The year was 1956 and before long, Sherwood was playing in Zappa’s first band, the Black-Outs. When Zappa formed the Mothers Of Invention, Sherwood was first brought on as a roadie and occasional sound effect provider, but soon became a full-time member. He can be heard on such classic albums as Freak Out!, Uncle Meat, and Burnt Weeny Sandwich. He also played with Zappa-related bands like Ruben and the Jets, the Grandmothers, and Ant-Bee, as well as on several Zappa proper albums. Jim Sherwood was 69 when he passed away on December 25, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.
David Gold was the founder and lead singer/guitarist for Ontario, Canada doom metal band, Woods Of Ypres. Formed as a trio in 2002, the band released a handful of critical and fan favorite albums on Gold’s own Krankenhaus Records. Their black and dark metal songs, which have been described as a “metallised Pink Floyd, helped build a legion of fans over the years. In 2010, just as rumors of the group’s demise were circulating, they signed with Earache Records who is scheduled to release their latest offering in January 2012. David Gold was reportedly killed in a car accident in Ontario, Canada on December 22, 2011. He was 31.
Barry Clayton was known to many a-headbanger as the sinister voice that opens Iron Maiden’s epic song, “The Number Of The Beast.” Released in 1982 and from the album of the same name, the song begins with Clayton hauntingly reciting an excerpt from the Book Of Revelations –
Sean Bonniwell was the founder and front man of the influential ’60s garage band, the Music Machine. Initially called the Ragamuffins when formed in 1965, the group quickly changed their name and went on to help define a fuzzy offshoot of psychedelic rock that would eventually lead to punk rock and what is known today as garage rock. In 1966, the Music Machine released their debut album, (Turn On) The Music Machine which included the Top 20 hit, “Talk Talk,” and its follow-up single, “The People In Me.” The group soon disbanded with Bonniwell going on to secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records as Sean Bonniwell Music Machine. He released what would essentially be the Music Machine’s last album in 1967, and put out one last album as T.S. Bonniwell on Capitol Records before retiring from the music business. After reportedly selling everything and driving around the United States for a number of years, Bonniwell released his autobiography, Talk Talk (later re-released as Beyond The Garage) in 1996. He returned to music in 2000 as a guest vocalist on the debut self-titled album by the Larksmen. Sean Bonniwell was 71 when he passed away on December 17, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.