Died On This Date (July 10, 2012) Lol Coxhill / English Jazz Saxophonist
themusicsover George “Lol” Coxhill
September 19, 1932 – July 10, 2012
Lol Coxhill was a world-renowned free-improv saxophonist from Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. In 1968, legendary English disc jockey, John Peel reportedly took note of Coxhill while he was busking on London’s South Bank. That lead to gigs throughout the storied Canterbury scene of the late ’60s and ’70s. During those years, Coxhill played in such jazz rock combos as Delivery and Kevin Ayers and the Whole World. Although he ultimately made his mark as an unpredictable improv soloist, Coxhill performed more traditionally while backing up many visiting American blues and soul singers during the ’60s. That list includes Champion Jack Dupree, Lowell Fulson, and Rufus Thomas. He also collaborated with a wide range of artists including Mike Oldfield, Django Bates, Fred Frith, and even the Damned. Lol Coxhill was 79 when he passed away on July 10, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own
Stiv Bators burst onto the punk scene as a member of the Dead Boys and later Lords Of The New Church. It was Bators’ sound and image that helped define the punk genre. After the demise of the Dead Boys, Bators found himself in the UK where he formed Lords Of The New Church with ex members of the Damned and Sham 69. The Lords achieved moderate success in Europe and the US due in part to their wild live shows. Bators was reported to have hung himself during a show in a stunt that went terribly wrong and was pronounced dead before being revived several minutes later. By the early ’80s, Bators was landing small parts in such cult classic films as Polyester and Tapeheads. And in 1988, the Lords broke up due to an injury Bators sustained to his back. In the early summer of 1990, an intoxicated Bators wandered into a Paris street and was struck by a taxi. He was taken to a hospital but apparently grew tired of waiting to see the doctor so he left. Bators died in his sleep later that night from what was ruled a concussion.
