Died On This Date (March 21, 2008) John Fowler / Steelheart
themusicsover John Fowler
November 21, 1965 – March 21, 2008
John Fowler is best remembered as the founding drummer for popular early ’90s hard rock band, Steelheart. Formed in 1990, the band had moderate hits with “She’s Gone (Lady),” “Everybody Loves Eileen,” and “I’ll Never Let You Go.” Fowler played on the band’s first two albums before they called it quits in 1992. In later years, he played in bands like Rage of Angels, Voodoo Jets, and Hipnotic. He also worked as a drum instructor during the final years of his life. On Marcy 21, 2008, John Fowler died following an unexpected brain hemorrhage. He was 43 years old.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own
After World War II ended, the big band sound began to lose its luster and smaller boogie woogie, western swing, honky-tonk and rhythm & blues combos began taking hold across America. It was inventor Leo Fender who figured out that the electric guitar was about to gain massive popularity with musician’s and audiences alike, so he set out to create one that was easy to hold, easy to tune and easy to play. And so came the birth of the Fender Stratocaster, and the company and lifestyle that would bear his name. Fender passed away in 1991 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, but not before giving to us the guitar-of-choice of so many legends of pop music.
To many, Dean Paul Martin was best known as Dean Martin’s son, but to music fans he was Dino of Dino, Desi and Billy. The Desi being Desi Arnaz Jr. Forming the group in their early teens, DD&B had a couple of semi hits that targeted the teenage girl crowd. As he grew older, Dino became Dean Paul and went on to make a name for himself playing tennis. He even played Wimbledon. Flying was yet another passion of Martin’s. He got his pilot’s license at just 16 and later earned his wings with the Air National Guard. Then in 1987, Martin was flying his National Guard fighter jet when a bad snowstorm caused him to crash it in the mountains for California, killing him and his Weapons System Officer on impact. He was once married to Olympic ice skater, Dorothy Hammill and actress Olivia Hussey.
Matthew Sztumpf is best remembered as the beloved manager of Madness, the Smiths and Swing Out Sister during the ’80s. It was during the late ’70s that Sztumpf helped set up the successful 2 Tone tours which helped launch the career of Madness. In recent years, he was managing Scouting For Girls. Matthew Sztumpf died from a brain aneurysm on March 21, 2010.