George Michael (Born Georgios Panayiotou) June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016
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As one-half of the pop vocal duo, Wham!, George Michael rose to stardom during the mid-’80s. Formed with schoolmate, Andrew Ridgeley in 1981, Wham! released just three studio albums, but that was enough to sell over 25 million copies during their short run of five years. Born in London, Michael began his musical journey busking Queen songs (and more) on the London Underground. He also worked as a DJ for neighborhood school parties and at local clubs. In 1981, he and Ridgeley formed Wham!, who went on to release several worldwide hits, including “Careless Whisper,” “Freedom,” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” After parting ways with Ridgeley in 1986, Michael launched an even more successful solo career. His first “solo” single, “I Knew You Were Waiting,” a duet with Aretha Franklin, debuted at #1 in both the US and UK. He followed that with the album Faith in October of 1987. The album sold over 25 million copies and was named Album of The Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. In all, Michael sold more than 100 million albums during his solo run and won two Grammys along with numerous other accolades. George Michael was just 53 when passed away in his sleep on December 25, 2016. Initial reports point to heart failure as the cause of death.
Rick Parfitt is best remembered as the rhythm guitarist for the English boogie rock band, Status Quo. Formed as the Spectres in 1962, the group changed its name to Status Quo when Parfitt joined in 1967. At 54 years, they are one of the longest-running bands in popular music. Only Parfitt and front man, Francis Rossi, remained from the original core until Parfitt’s retirement in October 2016 due to health issues. Over the past five decades, Status Quo recorded over 30 albums, with Parfitt writing or co-writing several of their hits. They appeared on the UK charts 60+ times, more than any other band in history. Status Quo’s biggest hit was 1968’s “Pictures of Matchstick Men,” which made the Top 10 in the UK and Canada, while peaking at #12 in the US. They have sold over 125 million albums worldwide. On stage, Status Quo played for adoring fans all over the world, but their biggest live moment was no doubt when they opened the massive Live Aid concert which was televised around the world on July 13, 1985. On December 23, Rick Parfitt was admitted to the hospital due to complications from a shoulder injury he sustained in a recent fall. He died the next day from an infection attributed to the injury. He was 68.
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As founding lead singer of both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake was an early architect of what would become known as progressive rock – a style that borrowed heavily from classical and jazz for its sound, and poetry for its lyrics. Born in Dorset, England, Lake began playing the guitar as a young teen. By high school, he was friends with another musical schoolmate, Robert Fripp, who later asked Lake to change to bass and sing lead for his own new band, King Crimson. The year was 1968 and the group quickly found a sizable audience thanks in part to their acclaimed debut, In the Court of the Crimson King. Produced by Lake, it is one of earliest and most influential prog rock albums. After leaving the group in 1970, Lake joined up with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer to form one of rock’s early supergroups, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The band would become one of the most successful British bands of the era with such mind-bending albums as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Tarkus, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery, before parting ways in 1979. During the ’80s, Lake played with Asia and Emerson, Lake & Powell with drummer, Cozy Powell. Emerson, Lake & Palmer reunited for another album and a world tour during the early ’90s, and continued on in one form or another into 2010. Greg Lake was 69 when he died of cancer on December 7, 2016.
Scott Weiland (Born Scott Kline) October 27, 1967 – December 3, 2015
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Scott Weiland was the front man for the popular ’90s alternative rock band, Stone Temple Pilots. He later fronted Velvet Revolver, a harder leaning band that included Slash, Duff McKagen and Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses, and Dave Kushner of Wasted Youth. Weiland also released a handful of solo albums throughout his career. Born in Northern California, Weiland was living in Orange County, CA by the time he was in high school. In t he late ’80s, he co-founded Stone Temple Pilots who went on to enjoy massive success both on record and on tour. The band’s first two albums, Core and Purple, sold over 14 million copies combined in the US alone, and produced such hits as “Plush,” “Vaseline” and “Interstate Love Song.” Stone Temple Pilots split in 2002 and Weiland launched his second act with Velvet Revolver. The band’s debut, Contraband, debuted on the Billboard chart at No. 1 and went on to sell over 2 million copies while its single, “Slither,” earned the band a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. Weiland left Velvet Revolver and reunited with Stone Temple Pilots in 2008. The band toured and recorded through 2013 with Weiland working solo both during, and after its second run. It was while on tour with his solo band, the Wildabouts, that Weiland’s long-time demons got the best of him. On December 3, 2105, Scott Weiland, age 48, was found dead on his tour bus prior to a show in Bloomington, MN. Cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose.
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