R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio
Much to my dismay, it has just been confirmed that heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio passed away on this sad Sunday morning. His wife and manager Wendy officially released the following statement on his website about an hour ago:
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
- Wendy Dio
The 67-year old frontman of iconic bands such as Rainbow, Black Sabbath and most recenty Heaven & Hell was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November last year. Rumors of Dio's demise surfaced on the internet earlier this year but were discredited when he appeared to be alive and his condition improved somewhat after undergoing chemo therapy. Sadly, Dio was forced to cancel all upcoming shows with Heaven & Hell scheduled this Summer due to his declining health and eventually lost his battle to cancer.
R.I.P. Dio, you will be missed by many.
R.I.P. Sky Saxon of The Seeds
Overshadowed by the departure of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, it has been confirmed that Sky 'Sunlight' Saxon, founder and frontman of Los Angeles '60s garage rock band The Seeds, has also passed away on Thursday June 25th.
According to reports Saxon was hospitalized in Austin, Texas three days prior to his death due to what is presumed to be an infection of the internal organs, which ultimately lead to heart and kidney failure. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah as Richard Marsh, Saxon is thought to be 63 years old, although other sources suggest he was 71. (His wife would confirm neither.)
Formed in 1965, The Seeds gained popularity with songs like Pushin' Too Hard and Can't Seem to Make You Mine but faded into cult status when Saxon joined a religious sect in the 1970s. Various musical collaborations and several records under YaHoWha13 later, The Seeds reformed in their original line-up in 1989 for a headlining tour but remained inactive again until 2003.
Fans can contribute to Sky Saxon's cremation by donating to his widow, Sabrina Saxon.
Ed McMahon Passes Away
Tonight Show sidekick, Star Search host, Publisher's Clearing House pitchman, muscular dystrophy telethon co-host, blooper magnate...Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. did it all in over 50 years in the business. Sadly, Ed left this world earlier this morning at the age of 86.
McMahon died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Bragman didnt give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a multitude of health problems the last few months.
McMahon had bone cancer, among other illnesses, according to a person close to the entertainer, and had been hospitalized for several weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to release the information.
McMahon is, of course, best known for his time as second fiddle (and frequent butt of jokes) to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. With a booming "Heeeeeere's Johnny," a bow, and a seat next to Carson's desk, Ed helped put Americans to bed for 30 years until Carson retired in 1992.
You cant imagine hooking up with a guy like Carson, McMahon said in an interview with The Associated Press in 1993. Theres the old phrase, hook your wagon to a star. I hitched my wagon to a great star.
McMahon, who never failed to laugh at his Carsons quips, kept his supporting role in perspective.
Its like a pitcher who has a favorite catcher, he said. The pitcher gets a little help from the catcher, but the pitchers got to throw the ball. Well, Johnny Carson had to throw the ball, but I could give him a little help.
McMahon also served as pitchman for a number of companies, including Budweiser, Texas Instruments, and Mercedes-Benz., as well as the aforementioned Publisher's Clearing House. How many of us have cursed Ed's name because we were not already a winner?
During the 2009 Super Bowl, McMahon appeared in a commercial with MC Hammer for Cash4Gold, parodying his own financial troubles that plagued him in his later years.
The tributes from fellow entertainers have already started to surface, further proving McMahon's legacy in Hollywood is everlasting.
David Letterman and Paul Shaffer:
"Ed McMahon's voice at 11:30 was a signal that something great was about to happen. Ed's introduction of Johnny was a classic broadcasting ritual reassuring and exciting," Letterman said, adding, "We will miss him."
Letterman's bandleader, Paul Shaffer, said McMahon "defined professionalism in broadcasting."
Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinson:
"He will be sorely missed. He was one of the greats in show business, but most of all he was a gentleman. I miss my friend," Severinson said in a statement.
David Brenner (comedian and frequent Tonight Show guest/guest host):
"One of the best times in my career was to substitute host 75 times for Johnny Carson and have Ed McMahon on my right hand side," said comedian David Brenner. "God now has the best sidekick with Him."
I disagree. More like Johnny Carson has his sidekick back. And wherever they are, they are together and getting ready to make people laugh again.
McMahon's career has spanned much more than I've touched upon here, but I leave you with some more choice moments.
Rest in peace, Ed.
thefreak has cursed the fact many a time he was born too young to watch Carson in his prime. Gotta love YouTube.
"Howard the Duck" Creator Passes Away
The comic book industry lost another of its greats this past weekend.
After a battle with pulmonary fibrosis, acclaimed and beloved writer Steve Gerber died on Sunday from complications due to his condition. The news was confirmed by a close acquaintance. He was 60 years old.
Even though I am a huge comic book nerd, I'm ashamed to say that my only exposure to Mr. Gerber's comic work is an issue of Man-Thing from the Seventies, and some issues of Howard the Duck, but they had all the things Gerber has been known for: surrealism, social commentary, and memorable characters.
Gerber was more than just a great writer, though. He was an advocate for both independent comics, and for work-for-hire writers and artists at Marvel and DC.
After leaving Marvel in 1979, Gerber became something of a journeyman in comics, putting in time with some of DC Comics heroes, but most notably, being present at the forefront of the independent revolution of the 1980s. When it came to mainstream superhero comics of the time, Gerber was as loud a voice (or louder) advocating change and modernization as the legends of the day such as his friend and colleague, Frank Miller.
And Gerber's off-the-beaten-path mentality didn't stop at comics, either. He kept friends and fans updated through his blog, and he was in high spirits, even in the face of his own mortality.
Gerber discussed his health with characteristic frankness and humor, saying:
Its just a fact of life, its something I have to deal with. Naturally, Id be very happy if there were, you know, a cure for this, but there isnt. Ive got fibrosis of the lungs, and its a
so far slow-but-progressive disease that, if not treated, will ultimately off me.
Im moving toward getting on the lung transplant list at UCLA. And, hopefully, I will have a newly-refurbished pair of lungs (laughs) to breathe with in a little while. Well see what happens.
Its almost funny
I really do have a sick sense of humor about some of this stuff. (laughs) Part of me wants to go for the sympathy ploy. Put a picture of me on the cover of Countdown to Mystery with a gun to my head, or a plastic bag over it, and the caption, Buy this magazine or this writer will never breathe again! The old National Lampoon gag.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Gerber.
Check and Mate - Bobby Fischer Passes Away
The geek world is mourning the loss of one of their own. Bobby Fischer, the first U.S.-born World Chess Champion, who later became a magnet for controversy with his defection from the US, died Thursday at the age of 64.
Fisher died of kidney failure Thursday in a Reykjavik hospital after a long illness, his spokesman, Gardar Sverrisson, said Friday.
Born Robert James Fischer on March 9, 1943, Bobby began playing chess on a competitive level when he was only 8. He would go on to win the United States Junior Champion at age 13 (the youngest to do so), as well as become the youngest International Grand Master in 1958 at age 15.
His prowess in the game, however, was soon overshadowed by his eccentric behavior and penchant for making unusual demands.
He turned up late for tournaments, walked out of matches, refused to play unless the lighting suited him and was intolerant of photographers and cartoonists. He was convinced of his own superiority and called the Soviets "Commie cheats."
His behavior often unsettled opponents to Fischer's advantage.
While Fischer became an American hero in the midst of the Cold War with his victory over Soviet champion Boris Strassky in 1972, he was stripped of his championship in 1975 when he refused to defend it. He then dropped from the chess scene and went into seclusion.
This is where the weirdness starts...
In 1992, Fischer first becomes at odds with the United States.
Fischer played and won an exhibition rematch against Spassky on the Yugoslav resort island of Sveti Stefan, but the game was in violation of U.S. sanctions imposed to punish then-President Slobodan Milosevic.
Later, weirdness would become crackpot douchebaggery. Hours after the September 11 attacks, Fischer granted a radio interview in the Philippines (which can be heard here) applauding the attacks and denouncing the US. As a result, his United States Chess Foundation membership was revoked by unanimous decision (though that decision was later vacated).
Three years later, he was involved in more legal issues after renouncing his U.S. citizenship and seeking political asylum in Europe.
In July 2004, Fischer was arrested at Japan's Narita airport for traveling on a revoked U.S. passport and was threatened with extradition to the United States to face charges of violating sanctions.
He spent nine months in custody before the dispute was resolved when Iceland granted him citizenship and he moved there with his longtime companion, the Japanese chess player Miyoko Watai.
Fellow legend Garry Kasparov, who called Fischer's presence in the chess world "a revolutionary breakthrough," had this to say about his death:
"The tragedy is that he left this world too early, and his extravagant life and scandalous statements did not contribute to the popularity of chess," Kasparov told The Associated Press
To the end, Fischer was still convinced of his superiority in the game.
"I don't play the old chess," he told reporters when he arrived in Iceland in 2005. "But obviously if I did, I would be the best."
thefreak was in the Chess Club. He was not an insane douchebag, though.
R.I.P. Hilly Kristal
This is turning out to be a pretty sad month for rock music fans. First Tony Wilson, and now this: Hilly Kristal, founder of the legendary rock venue CBGB, passed away this past Tuesday due to complications of lung cancer. He was 75-years-old.
Kristal opened CBGB in 1973 in the then-low-rent, rough-and-tumble Bowery neighborhood. He originally intended to showcase "country, bluegrass, and blues," as the acronym CBGB suggests, but, as he wrote in his website's "history" section:
Unfortunately- or perhaps FORTUNATELY- things didn't work out quite the way I 'd expected.
How it did work out, as you already know, was that Kristal provided a venue for the burgeoning punk and art rock scene, playing host to performances by kickass, groundbreaking artists like Television, Patti Smith, Bad Brains, the Talking Heads, and the Ramones. Though he was skeptical at first, he took a chance on these new groups and gave them a place to play.
On the Ramones (via NPR):
They were yelling at each other on stage, and fighting, and their amps would go on and off...it was a fiasco. But they all wanted to play and convinced me again. And of course, they did get better, didn't they?
Though the quality and "relevance" of CBGB's shows arguably declined somewhat in the 90's and 00's, Kristal persisted in booking unknown acts in addition to larger ones. The club's Monday night audition gigs were a chance for fledgling bands to play on that famous stage and get a listen from one of the club's bookers.
When rising rent and gentrification forced Kristal to close the club in fall 2006, the place went out with a bang, with performances from surviving rock heroes like Bad Brains, Patti Smith, Marky Ramone, and Blondie. He talked about moving the club to Vegas, and it will be interesting to see what happens to it now. Hopefully it will remain a shrine to the greats of punk... though this seems unlikely, as pieces of the rock history are already being auctioned off on ebay, according to the CBGB website.
In any case, music history and New York City culture just wouldn't be the same if it weren't for Hilly Kristal's openness to new forms of expression. R.I.P., man...have fun hanging out with Joey Ramone and Sid Vicious in that dirty punk rock castle in the sky.
CBGB Tribute
Blondie
The Ramones
Goth Nation Mourns Its Leader: RIP Bobby "Boris" Pickett
Bobby "Boris" Pickett who scored a number one hit with The Monster Mash passed away yesterday at the age of 69. The one hit wonder, dubbed "the Guy Lombardo of Halloween," actually hit the charts twice more with the ode to monsters and novelty dances after it hit number one in 1962.
The novelty hit's fans included Bob Dylan, who played the single on his XM Satellite Radio program last October. "Our next artist is considered a one-hit wonder, but his one hit comes back year after year,'' Dylan noted.
The hit single ensured Pickett's place in the pantheon of pop music obscurities, said syndicated radio host Dr. Demento, whose long-running program celebrates offbeat tunes.
"It's certainly the biggest Halloween song of all time,'' said Demento. The DJ, who interviewed Pickett last year, said he maintained a sense of humor about his singular success: "As he loved to say at oldies shows, `And now I'm going to do a medley of my hit.'''
Boris Pickett is dead. Undead, undead, undead.