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Died On This Date (January 24, 2016) Jimmy Bain / Bassist For Dio, Rainbow & More

themusicsover January 24, 2016 0 Comments

Jimmy Bain
December 19, 1947 – January 24, 2016

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Jimmy Bain was a rock bassist who is best remembered for his years playing with Rainbow and Dio. Born in Highland, Scotland, Bain caught the attention of Ritchie Blackmore when Bain was playing a gig at London’s Marquee. Blackmore quickly hired him to play on Rainbow’s 1976 metal masterpiece, Rising and on the tour that followed. That tour, with Bain on bass, was recorded for Rainbow’s popular On Stage album that came out the following year. After leaving Rainbow in 1978, Bain formed Wild Horses who received moderate success with two albums. During the early ’80s, Bain co-wrote songs for Phil Lynott‘s two solo albums and toured as part of his backing band. In 1983, he joined forces with former Rainbow singer, Ronnie James Dio in the latter’s new band, Dio. Bain wrote several of the band’s hits, including “Holy Diver” and “Rainbow In The Dark.” He played on The Last In Line and Dream Evil, among other Dio classic albums. In 1985, Bain founded Hear ‘n Aid which was metal’s effort to raise money for famine relief. The all-star collective recorded, “Stars,” co-written by Bain, which reportedly raised over $1 million in its first year of release. Bain continued to record and tour with various members of metal’s elite up until the time of his death. It was while traveling as a performer on Def Leppard‘s Hysteria On The High Seas cruise on January 24, 2016, that Jimmy Bain passed away unexpectedly His cause of death was not immediately released and was believed to have been health related. He was 68.

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Died On This Date (April 5, 2012) Jim Marshall / Founder Of Marshall Amps

themusicsover April 5, 2012 0 Comments

Jim Marshall
July 29, 1923 – April 5, 2012

Jim Marshall, or has he was commonly known throughout the rock world, “The Lord of Loud,” was the founder of Marshall Amplification. It was while he owned a London music shop in the early ’60s that Marshall and a young apprentice began tinkering with designs that would soon become the Marshall amp. The idea was born out of complaints from such young customers as Pete Townshend and Ritchie Blackmore that they couldn’t get the sound they were looking for out of their own amps. With s new prototype in hand, Marshall launched Marshall Amplification in 1962 and ran the company ever since. Over the decades, Marshall amp loyalists have included almost every notable rock guitarist the world has ever known. Marshall, along with Leo Fender, Les Paul, and Seth Lover, has been called one of the four forefathers of rock music. Jim Marshall was 88 when he passed away on April 5, 2012.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 16, 2010) Ronnie James Dio / Rock God

themusicsover May 16, 2010 3 Comments

Ronnie James Dio (Born Ronald Padavona)
July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010

Dio — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Ronnie James Dio was one of the greatest heavy metal vocalists of all time. While the rest of us can only wish to front just one great legendary rock band, Dio could claim Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Elf, Heaven & Hell, and of course, Dio. And unlike most, if not all metal singers, during Dio’s early years, he fronted a rockabilly band, Ronnie & the Red Caps. By the early ’70s, Dio was moving into the blues rock world with his next band, Elf who would find its audience by touring with the likes of Deep Purple. A few years later, guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple and formed Rainbow, inviting Dio to sing lead in the group. His albums with Rainbow include Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Rainbow Rising, and Long Live Rock and Roll. In 1979, Dio was hired to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, with whom he recorded the classic Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules albums, among others. Dio finally began recording under his own name in 1980, and as Dio, released such landmark metal albums as Holy Diver, The Last In Line, and Sacred Heart. It is no doubt that Dio was one of the driving forces of heavy metal, but his contributions to the genre went beyond his instantly recognizable voice. During his tenure with Black Sabbath, Dio began flashing what would become known as the “devil horns” hand gesture from the stage, perhaps not inventing the symbol, but definitely making it heavy metal’s own. In November of 2009, it was announced that Ronnie James Dio was suffering from stomach cancer. On May 16, 2010, the cancer took his life at the age of 67.