The Music's Over

but the songs live on forever

Musician Rock Singer

Died On This Date (July 7, 2012) Dennis Flemion / The Frogs; Smashing Pumpkins

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Dennis Flemion
June 6, 1955 – July 7, 2012

Keyboardist Dennis Flemion, along with his brother Jimmy Flemion made up the Milwaukee, Wisconsin lo-fi duo, the Frogs.  Formed in 1980, the band wrote and performed short pop songs that tended to invite controversy for their lyrical themes dealing with homoerotica, race, and religion.  Although they never really broke out of their cult status, that cult was very loyal and  included some of rock music’s most influential figures.  During the early to mid ’90s, the Frogs were invited to open for the likes of Pearl Jam,  Smashing Pumpkins, and Mudhoney.  Kurt Cobain was said to be a big fan as well. Flemion appeared on three Smashing Pumpkins songs from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Adore.  In 1996 and 1997, after the death of Pumpkins touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, Flemion was invited to fill in for him on the road.  On July 7, 2012, Dennis Flemion was boating with his family on Wind Lake in Racine County, Wisconsin. During the afternoon, Flemion went for a swim but never resurfaced.  His body was recovered three days later in water that was 42 feet deep.  He was 57.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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Musician Pop R&B Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (July 23, 2011) Amy Winehouse / English Pop Singer

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Amy Winehouse
September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011

Member of the 27 Club

Amy Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter who burst on to the scene in 2006 and quickly built a legion of fans for her soulful and sultry songs that offered a mix of R&B, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Soul.  During a relatively short and troubled life in front of the masses, Winehouse opened the door for such white neo-soul divas as Duffy and Adele.  Born in north London, Winehouse quickly took a shine to music and soon found herself being scolded by her teachers for constantly breaking out into a song during classes.  By 13, she had her first guitar, and within a year she was writing her own songs.  Shortly after that she was signed by Simon Fuller’s 19 Management.  Fuller of course, is of American Idol fame.  In October of 2003, Winehouse released her debut album, Frank, likely in a nod to one of her idols, Frank Sinatra.   The album was critically acclaimed and did well across the U.K., but it wasn’t until the release of 2006’s Back To Black and its instantly iconic first single, “Rehab,” that Winehouse’s popularity skyrocketed around the globe.  The album entered the U.S. charts at #7, and was the biggest selling album of the year in the U.K.  Back To Black and Winehouse won several Grammys that year, including Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist.  The album also sat in the Top 10 of most credible year-end best-of lists of 2006.  But the spotlight was harsh on Winehouse who was dealing with her own internal demons.  She admitted to struggling with eating disorders, depression and self harm, while abuse of illegal drugs contributing to a life that seemed to be quickly spiraling out of control.  There were also a handful of legal issues – drug related and otherwise, along with health problems that were keeping Winehouse’s often sadly frightening images in the media, no thanks to paparazzi who were documenting her fall from greatness.  On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found to be not breathing in her bed by her security guard who immediately called paramedics who were not able to revive her.  Cause of death was attributed to alcohol poisoning.  Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and so many great 27 Clubbers before her, Winehouse was 27 when she passed away.

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Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

27 Club Musician Rock

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

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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.

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Musician Punk Rock Singer

Died On This Date (April 19, 1997) Eldon “El Duce” Hoke / The Mentors

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Eldon “El Duce” Hoke
March 23, 1958 – April 19, 1997

Eldon Hoke was the drummer and lead singer of subversive band, the Mentors, a band that inhabited rock’s underworld alongside the Dwarves, G.G. Allin, and the Plasmatics.  Some called it “shock rock,” others called , “rape rock.”    Generally trying to shock their audiences, the Mentors sang of topics that were considered obscene by many while usually wearing executioners’ hoods.  The Mentors’ “popularity” peaked in 1985 when during Tipper Gore’s PMRC hearings, the band’s “Golden Showers” was singled out, it’s lyrics read aloud.  All that did was cause an outburst of laughter, prompting many to agree that the hearings were a joke.  Following Kurt Cobain’s death on April 5, 1994, Hoke went on Jerry Springer’s show as well as to the National Enquirer claiming that Courtney Love offered him $50,000 to kill Cobain, a claim that was never proven.    It has been reported that on April 17, 1997, Hoke went to a friend asking where to get a fake driver’s license.   He allegedly told this friend that he was told who “killed Kurt Cobain” and was afraid for his life.  Two days later, he was found dead after having been hit by a train.

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The Mentors

27 Club Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

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

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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.

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Nevermind - Nirvana

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