Posts Tagged R.I.P.
Archive
January 19, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Jimmy Heath
The great American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath has died, aged 93. Heath recorded and performed with so many legendary names – Miles Davis, John Coltrane – he built lasting relationships as a sideman and collaborator with the likes of Milt Jackson, Art Farmer and Kenny Dorham among others. And he was a leader for well […]Archive
December 27, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
People: Get Ready – It Was 20 Years Ago Today…
It’s funny what makes you remember the passing of time. An album turning 10 or 20 or 30, a film, the cultural reunions that happen like secret club meetings within already secret clubs. Has it really been 20 years since Curtis Mayfield died? Maybe you thought he died long before 1999. Maybe you thought he […]Archive
October 21, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Nick Tosches
Nick Tosches has died. He was one of my favourite writers. Total firebrand. You almost had to hold on to the handrail while you worked out how to balance the book and turn the pages. He wrote with fury, anger and huge, huge heart. Tosches was equal parts Lester Bangs and Hunter S. Thompson. Or […]Archive
October 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. George “Pops” Chambers
George Chambers bassist of The Chambers Brothers has died. He was 88. “Pops” was the oldest member of the group, a family band that featured four brothers (from 13 sibblings) and one outsider. The group is most famous for his psychedelic classic, The Time Has Come Today – the killer four minute single and whopping […]Archive
October 6, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker, the influential drummer from Cream and Blind Faith is dead. He was 80. He had been in poor health for years. A week or so ago we all got wind that his final breath was drawing near. By the time you read this the news is already everywhere. Ginger Baker is dead. He […]Archive
September 24, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter has died – sad news. He was 78. He occupied an interesting space. He was the primary lyricist for the Grateful Dead and was a silent member but also the heart and soul of the band. Hunter met Jerry Garcia, pre-Dead, when the two were in a bluegrass group. Hunter would go on […]Archive
September 16, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ric Ocasek
Ric Ocasek of The Cars has died suddenly. Sad, sad news. He was 75. The Cars were one of the best and greatest bands of my childhood – and I kept listening to them. Why wouldn’t you? So many pop gems. Such a great singles band. Good albums too. But those hit singles. The original […]Archive
August 26, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Ray Henwood
Ray Henwood has died. One of Circa Theatre’s stalwarts, one of Wellington’s acting legends. I met Ray Henwood only once. But it was huge for me. By then I’d grown up seeing him as part of the cast of Gliding On and he was there in several TV shows and movies. I’d seen him in […]Archive
August 8, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. David Berman
Awful news. Just awful. David Berman has died. The songwriter behind the Silver Jews and the brand-spanking new “comeback” Purple Mountains was 52. Silver Jews became known as a Pavement-side-project. Given it was started with two musicians that would go on to create one of the best-nown slacker-indie bands of the 90s. Silver Jews rolled on. Bob Nastonovich and Stephen Malkmus weren’t the […]Archive
July 24, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Rutger Hauer
Rutger Hauer has died. Sad news to wake up to – he was one of my heroes. Everyone talks about Blade Runner and fair enough – but the role that really blew me away was The Hitcher. I could watch that movie every day I think. The coldness, the surface-calm of a true maniac. I reckon that’s Hauer’s masterpiece. But […]Archive
March 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman