Died On This Date (May 26, 2012) John Harrison / Founding Bassist Of Hawkwind

John Harrison
DOB Unknown – May 26, 2012

As the founding bassist for the English heavy rock band, Hawkwind, John Harrison was one of space rock’s pioneers and an influence on countless heavy metal bands to follow.  Although he helped form the band in 1969, Harrison departed in 1970 and was replaced by Thomas Krimble.  A few years later, Lemmy Kilmister, who later formed Motorhead, filled that position in Hawkwind.  While Harrison was still in the band, however, he played on their landmark debut album, Hawkwind, which has been cited as an influence on bands like the Flaming Lips and Muse.  In later years, he worked as a producer and engineer at the legendary Village Recorders studio in Los Angeles.  In the early 2000s, Harrison was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease which ultimately took his life on May 26, 2012.  John Harrison was 69 when he passed away.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

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Died On This Date (June 10, 2011) Jamie Toulan / Guitarist For Old Skull

Jamie Toulan
DOB Unknown – June 10, 2011

Jamie Toulan is perhaps best remembered as the guitarist for ’90s pre-teen punk band, Old Skull.  Formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1989, the band was initially made up of Toulan (age 9), his brother J.P. Toulan (age 10), and friend Jesse Collins-Davies (age 10).  In 1989, the band signed with respected indie label, Restless Records who released their debut, Get Outta School.  The fact that the boys were not even in their teens yet sang of such themes as AIDS, homelessness, and Reagan-era politics, many critics wrote them off as a novelty act.  Meanwhile, they continued a to build a solid fanbase throughout the skate punk community.  And perhaps due to their novelty, they were asked to support such acts as Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth and GWAR, and were profiled in such media as “A Current Affair,” MTV News, Life and Newsweek.  In 1992, the band released their second album, CIA Drug Fest but soon broke up.  Toulan went on to play in several other bands, including Apox, Doomsday Cauldron, Star Fucking Hipsters, and Planned Collapse with his brother, J.P.   In 2010, it was revealed that Toulan was battling drugs and living on the streets, and in August of that year, J.P. died of reasons that were not immediately made clear.  On June 10, 2011, just seven months later, Jamie Toulan also died.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Mike Woodford and Jesus Crust for the assist



Die On This Date (November 13, 2010) J.P. Toulan / Old Skull; Planned Collapse

John Paul Toulan
1980 – November 13, 2010

JP Toulan is best remembered as the lead singer and guitarist for early ’90s pre-teen punk band, Old Skull.  Formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1989, the band was initially made up of Toulan (age 10), his brother Jamie Toulan (age 9), and friend Jesse Collins-Davies (age 10).  In 1989, the band signed with respected indie label, Restless Records who released their debut, Get Outta School.  The fact that the boys were not even in their teens yet sang of such themes as AIDS, homelessness, and Reagan-era politics, many critics wrote them off as a novelty act.  Meanwhile, they continued a to build a solid fanbase throughout the skate punk community.  And perhaps due to their novelty, they were asked to support such acts as Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth and GWAR, and were profiled in such media as “A Current Affair,” MTV News, Life and Newsweek.  In 1992, the band released their second album, CIA Drug Fest but soon broke up.   Toulan battled drug addiction throughout his adult life.  In 2005, Old Skull briefly reformed, afterwhich Toulan moved to New York where he joined crust punk band, Planned Collapse.   JP Toulan was 30 when he passed away on November 13, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Mike Woodford for the assist.



Died On This Date (July 19, 2010) Andy Hummel / Big Star

Andy Hummel
DOB Unknown – July 19, 2010

Andy Hummel was an American bassist who is best remembered as a founding member of Big Star. Formed with Alex Chilton, Jody Stephens, and Chris Bell in 1971, Memphis, Tennessee’s Big Star set out out to make music that took the best pop elements of the British Invasion but added a dash of Memphis soul.  In 1972, Big Star released #1 Album which, although it was a commercial failure, was highly influential to the Replacements, R.E.M., Wilco, Whiskeytown the Flaming Lips, and Teenage Fanclub. After the release of the band’s Radio City, Hummel left the group to pursue his education and focus on a more “traditional” life.  In March of 2010, Hummel reunited with the surviving member of Big Star and several others that they influenced at the South By Southwest music conference to pay tribute to Chilton who had recently passed away.  On July 19, 2010, Andy Hummel died after a long bout with cancer.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums

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Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com

#1 Record Radio City (Bonus Track Version) - Big Star

Died On This Date (May 7, 2009) Matt Mugridge / Cleveland Music Impresario

Matt Mugridge
1966 – May 7, 2009

mugridgeCleveland’s Matt Mugridge was a constant in the city’s changing music scene.  A passionate music fan and punk musician himself, Mugridge co-founded the legendary Grog Shop on Cleveland’s east side in 1992.    Thanks to Mugridge, future stars like Flaming Lips, Oasis and the Offspring played early gigs at the Grog Shop.  In later years, Mugridge opened a couple of other clubs and started his own film company where he shot live concert films for acts such as the Black Keys and Neko Case.  Mugridge passed away in his home on May 7, 2009.