Rock

Died On This Date (July 3, 1999) Mark Sandman / Morphine

Mark Sandman
September 24, 1952 – July 3, 1999

Mark Sandman was the one of indie rock’s earliest heroes.  From 1989 until his death in 1999, he sang lead and played bass for the Boston based band, Morphine.  What made Morphine unique and endeared them to fans was the fact they had no guitar in the band.  The trio was made up of bass, saxophone and drums, giving them a murky low end sound as deep as their name would suggest.  Sandman also moonlighted as a member of popular Boston blues band, Treat Her Right.  Over the course of his career, Sandman released five proper Morphine albums.  On July 3, 1999, Mark Sandman, 46, suffered a fatal heart attack while performing on stage with Morphine at a concert just outside of Rome.

What You Should Own

Cure for Pain - Morphine

Died On This Date (July 3, 2008) Colin Cooper / Climax Blues Band

Colin Cooper
October 7, 1939 – July 3, 2008

Although he was proficient at a number of wind instruments, Colin Cooper is best remembered as the lead singer and saxophonist for UK blues rock band, Climax Blues Band.  Often included in lists of “one hit wonders,” Climax Blues Band had a big one with their 1976 release, “Couldn’t Get It Right.”  The single landed in the Top 10 of the British singles charts and later, #3 on the US pop charts.  It continues to receive significant airplay on U.S. classic rock stations to this day.  Cooper died of cancer at the age of 68.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums

What You Should Own

Climax Blues Band

 

Died On This Date (July 3, 2008) Noel Sayre / Black Swans; Pretty Mighty Mighty

Noel Sayre
DOB Unknown – July 3, 2008

Noel Sayre was a respected young violinist from the Columbus, OH area.  Born in West Virginia, Sayre studied music at Ohio University.  He played with the West Virginia and Portsmouth Symphony Orchestras.  After moving permanently to Columbus in the mid ’90s, Sayre played with rock band, Pretty Mighty Mighty before forming his own band, the Black Swans.   Sayre reportedly suffered a heart attack while swimming in a community swimming pool.  He passed away after being on life support at an area hospital.  He was 37.



Died On This Date (July 2, 2008) Natasha Shneider / Singer & Keyboardist For Eleven

Natasha Shneider
May 22, 1956 – July 2, 2008

Born in Russia, Natasha Shneider, was a multi-instrumentalist and singer for, most notably, ’90s rock band Eleven.  Shneider moved to the United States, where her band, with former Red Hot Chili Pepper, Jack Irons and husband, Alain Johannes, had a few minor hits through the early ’90s thanks to their hard alternative rock sound that was part grunge and part funk-metal.    In later years, Shneider and Johannes lent their talents on recordings by No Doubt, Chris Cornell, and Queens Of The Stone Age, with whom they also toured. Natasha Shneider lost her battle with cancer on July 2, 2008.

Thanks to Craig at Number1Albums for the assist.

What You Should Own

Eleven - Eleven

Died On This Date (July 1, 1987) Philip “Snakefinger” Lithman

Philip “Snakefinger” Lithman
June 17, 1949 – July 1, 1987

Philip Lithman, or as he was known professionally, Snakefinger was an English multi-instrumentalist who is best known for his collaborations with the Residents.  Although he came out of the British blues scene, Lithman’s guitar fret work had more in common with Robert Fripp than John Mayall. In 1971, Lithman moved to San Francisco where he hooked up with avant-garde art rockers, the Residents to perform in their live band. Over the next few years would move back to the UK and then back to California where he shopped around a light rock album and eventually hooked back up with the Residents. In 1982, Lithman put together his own backing band called the Vestal Virgins. It was with this band that Lithman was performing in Austria on July 1, 1987. Midway during the show, Lithman died of a heart attack.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Snakefinger