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

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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Died On This Date (April 6, 1998) Wendy O. Williams / The Plasmatics

Wendy O. Williams
May 29, 1949 – April 6, 1998

Wendy O. Williams was the dynamic lead singer of shock-punk band, the Plasmatics. Williams was considered one of the most frighteningly controversial singers of her, and most generations due in part to her near nudity and simulated sexual antics on stage. If that got boring, you could always count on exploding gear and chain-sawing of guitars to heat things up. After a young life that included working as a macro-biotic cook, performing in a gypsy dance troupe, stripping, doing live sex shows, and then working in porn, Williams decided to clean up her act and moved to New York where she answered a casting call that lead to the formation of the Plasmatics.  The group exploded on to the New York underground scene in 1978.  The band’s following continued to grow as they toured the world, causing an uproar in most locales, sometimes leading to arrest on indecency charges. By 1984, Williams had gone solo, her first album, W.O.W being produced by Gene Simmons was virtually a KISS album with all members performing on it in one form or another. The album earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Female Performance. A couple of B-movie bit parts followed, with Williams all but retiring by 1991.  In spite of her reckless persona, Williams was deeply devoted to her health, animals and vegetarianism. After her run in show business, she worked as an animal rehabilitator and natural foods activist.  On April 6, 1998, the 48 year-old Wendy O. Williams walked into the woods near her house and died of what authorities ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Died On This Date (October 22, 1994) Jimmy Miller / Famed Rock Producer

Jimmy Miller
March 23, 1942 – October 22, 1994

Jimmy Miller was a musician, songwriter and producer who helped create some of rock’s most popular albums.  As a songwriter, Miller co-wrote the classic Traffic song, “I’m a Man” with Steve Winwood.   He produced Sticky Fingers, Let It Bleed, Beggars Banquet and Exile on Main Street for the Rolling Stones.  He also played percussion on a handful of Stones songs.  That list includes drums on “Happy,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and the opening cowbell on “Honky Tonk Woman.”  Miller also produced records for the likes of the Plasmatics, Blind Faith, Spencer Davis Group, Nirvana, the Move and Motorhead.  Jimmy Miller died of liver failure on October 22, 1994.