Died On This Date (September 24, 2013) Bill Bartell / AKA Pat Fear of White Flag

Pat Fear (Born Bill Bartell)
DOB Unknown – September 24, 2013

pat-fearPat Fear is best remembered as the singer and guitarist for the influential Los Angeles-area punk band, White Flag.  Formed in 1982 as a sort of antithesis to the angrier local punk outfits, White Flag members took on the parodiable monikers of Jello B. Affro, Mike Mess, and of course, Pat Fear.  The band released two seminal albums over the next couple of years, R is for Rocket and S is for Space while performing countless shows throughout California.  Over the next three decades, the band released more than a dozen albums as well as numerous EPs and singles. Throughout the band’s run, its lineup included several members who went on to play in other notable bands. The list includes Jim Laspesa (The Muffs, Dave Davies, Bob Cowsill), Greg Hetson (Redd Kross, Circle Jerks), Steven Shane McDonald (Redd Kross), Kim Shattuck (The Muffs, The Pandoras), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies), Eric Erlandson (Hole),  A lifelong fan of music, Fear was known to lend his support and even champion other up-and-coming musicians and bands.  Two of his early favorites were Os Mutantes and Shonen Knife, both of whom he helped bring to the United States for their first American tours. During breaks from White Flag, Fear worked as a police reservist and bull rider.  On September 24, 2013, Pat Fear was found dead in his home at the age of 52.  Although his death came as a surprise, reports indicate that he had been in ill health in recent years.  Initial coroner findings attribute his death the natural causes.



Died On This Date (June 16, 1994) Kristen Pfaff / Played Bass For Hole

Kristen Pfaff
May 26, 1967 – June 16, 1994

Member of the 27 Club

Kristen Pfaff was a late bloomer when it came to playing the bass.  Although she studied piano and cello in college, it wasn’t until after she graduated that she taught herself how to play the bass.  Pfaff soon co-founded Minneapolis local faves, Janitor Joe who would eventually sign to hip indie label Amphetamine Reptile Records.  While on a west coast tour with Janitor Joe, Pfaff was approached by Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson to join their band, Hole.   Pfaff reluctantly agreed and packed her bags and moved to Seattle, where she helped ignite the grunge movement.  While in Seattle, Pfaff struggled with herion addiction just as the band was becoming popular outside the Northwest.  And then in April of 1994, close friend Kurt Cobain was found dead of what was ruled a suicide and everything changed.  Pfaff packed up and moved back to Minneapolis to rejoin Janitor Joe.  Sadly, Kristen Pfaff was found dead of an apparent accidental heroin overdose.

What You Should Own

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Live Through This - Hole

 

Died On This Date (April 5, 1994) Kurt Cobain / Nirvana

Kurt Cobain
February 27, 1967 – April 5, 1994

Member of the 27 Club

Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana were unleashed in 1989 and many say they, along with Pearl Jam, almost single-handedly changed what the world then knew as rock music. They created a dirty, flannel and jean-wearing beautiful mess that combined equal parts punk, metal, alternative rock, disillusionment and apathy. It would become know as “grunge” and dealt a fatal blow to “hair metal,” the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the last days of disco. Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic in 1987. They were signed to Sub Pop Records who released their debut,  Bleach in 1989. Their drummer at the time was Chad Channing but he was soon replaced by Dave Grohl whose pounding assault was exactly what the band needed to take their message beyond the dimly lit clubs of Seattle. Two years later, the band released their amazing Nevermind album which included the radio and video hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” a song so revered that it even earned a parody from Weird Al Yankovic.  While all this was going on, Cobain met and fell in love with Courtney Love of the band, Hole. They were wed on February 24, 1992 and had their first and only child later that year. Cobain appeared to be in a very happy place even though many Nirvana fans resented his relationship with Love, some comparing her to Yoko Ono and her perceived role in breaking up the Beatles. Needless to say, Cobain continued to struggle with his own internal demons (both mental and physical) in spite of, or perhaps because of all the “positive” changes in his life. His drug problems are already well documented, so need to go into them here.   On March 1, 1994 while on tour in Munich, Love woke up one morning to find Cobain had overdosed on champagne and Rohypnol. Love later declared that this was Cobain’s first attempt at suicide. After apparent struggles (he claimed he was fine) back home in Seattle, Cobain agreed to go to rehab in Los Angeles. He checked in on March 30th, but just one day later, he hopped the fence and took a plane back home to Seattle. Over the next couple of days there were various Cobain sightings in Seattle clubs, but his family had no idea where he was. Love reached out to a private detective to help find him. On April 8th, Cobain was found dead.  The police ruled his death a suicide by shotgun wound. The date of death was declared to be April 5, 1994.

What You Should Own

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Nevermind - Nirvana