Posts Tagged Eulogy
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December 7, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 208 Pete Shelley
Late 2009. The Spines at that time were Les Knight on bass, Riki Gooch on drums and me. We had just recorded the Bloodmonster album and I was about 50 and drinking a lot at Bodega – a period of renaissance for the band. I’d always been a fan of the Buzzcocks in the early […]Archive
August 22, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Spencer P. Jones
Spencer P. Jones has died. I loved so much of the music Spencer P. Jones created and assisted. For he was behind so many bands and various guises, sometimes a sideman, often out front – his songs…someone else’s songs…killer player! The Australian guitarist – best known for his involvement in The Johnnys and Beasts of […]Archive
April 25, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Bob Dorough
I was sad to hear of the passing of Bob Dorough – I mean, amazing life: richly rewarding, a quiet achiever and he made it to 94, that’s never to be sniffed at – but I wanted to mark the passing in at least some small way because Bob Dorough was kinda a big deal […]Archive
April 6, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor has died. The legendary pianist recently celebrated his 89th birthday. What a legend. What a legacy. He took what Art Tatum started and freed it. That’s a simple description – but it’s how I’ve always heard him. Taylor – along with Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler and John Coltrane was one of the towering […]Archive
February 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jóhann Jóhannsson has died. The Icelandic musician and composer was best known for his film score work but he had also composed for TV, dance, theatre and released solo albums – such as the stunning Orphée. He was 48 years old. The cause of death is not known.Archive
February 4, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ndugu Chancler
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler has died. He was 65. The pop, soul, funk, disco, jazz, R’n’B and rock drummer will be remembered best as the drummer on Thriller. The creator of the perfect beat in Billie Jean but he was a veteran who had worked with masters including Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, George Duke, Jean-Luc Ponty, […]Archive
December 9, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Sunny Murray
Sunny Murray has died. He was 81. The American free-jazz drummer was born James Marcellus Arthur “Sunny” Murray. His influence on free-jazz drumming – on the very idea of liberating the rhythmic constraints, of exploring textures as a drummer/percussionist – is profound. Murray made records under his own name and with a variety of groups […]Archive
December 3, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Ben Greenman: Dig If You Will The Picture – Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince
Dig If You Will The Picture: Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince Ben Greenman Henry Holt and Co. Beginning at the end – the sad, sudden end – Ben Greenman’s book about Prince is a celebration of his life and music, of what made him so special; written – unashamedly – […]Archive
November 22, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ben Riley
Ben Riley has died. He was 84. So, a good innings – sure. He was one of my favourite drummers. He is one of my favourite drummers. His playing – of course – lives on. So strong, so subtle, so supple, understated – and yet he was always right there, riding hard on the cymbal […]Archive
October 15, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Grady Tate
The American jazz drummer and vocalist Grady Tate has died. He was 85. The cause: complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was one of my favourite drummers. There’s a good chance he was one of your favourite drummers too – even if you think you didn’t know his playing there’s every chance you did. He played […]Archive
October 12, 2017 by Simon Sweetman