Died On This Date (December 22, 1985) D. Boon / The Minutemen
themusicsover Dennes “D.” Boon
April 1, 1958 – December 22, 1985
Member of the 27 Club
D. Boon was the founder, lead singer, guitarist and primary lyricist for Southern California punk band, the Minutemen. Formed in 1980, the trio included bassist Mike Watt and George Hurley on drums. Though mostly underground, their influence on alternative rock can not be denied, particularly on bands like Sublime. The band recorded four albums and eight EPs for SST Records, helping bring the label international acclaim. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine selected Boon as the 89th greatest guitarist of all time and included the Minutemen’s Double Nickels on The Dime on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. On December 22, 1985, Boon was laying in the back of the band’s tour van when they got in an accident along an Arizona highway. Because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt, Boon was thrown from the van and was killed instantly at the age of 27.
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