bmusic - Newsletter No. 260

In 1937, simultaneous funeral services were held in both Hollywood and New York for composer George Gershwin, who had died four days earlier of a brain tumour.

In 1962, the Rolling Stones played their first concert at the Marquee club in London. The lineup for that date was lead vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones, Dick Taylor on bass and Mick Avory, later of the Kinks, on drums. Avory and Taylor were replaced by Tony Chapman on drums and Bill Wyman on bass. Chapman didn't work out, and drummer Charlie Watts completed the Stones' lineup in January 1963.

In 1965, Frank Sinatra, aged 51, married 21-year-old actress Mia Farrow.

In 1966, Eric Clapton joined bass guitarist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker to form Cream. The influential blues-rock trio sold more than 15 million albums in their three years together.

In 1967, The Monkees open a national tour with little-known Jimi Hendrix as the opening act.

In 1967, the Who began their first American tour - as the opener for Herman's Hermits.

In 1968, Black Sabbath played their first ever gig at a small blues club in Birmingham, England.

In 1968, guitarist Eric Clapton announced the breakup of Cream, the power rock trio he had formed with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. Cream played a farewell concert in London in November, and Clapton and Baker then formed the short-lived Blind Faith.

In 1968, the Yardbirds, the legendary British blues-rock band, broke up. Out of the Yardbirds came three major rock guitar players - Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. When the group broke up, Page formed the New Yardbirds, which soon became Led Zeppelin.

In 1969, singer Marianne Faithfull was found in a coma following an overdose of barbituates whilst in Australia, where Faithfull and boyfriend Mick Jagger were filming "Ned Kelly," Australian authorities ruled it a suicide attempt. Faithfull was dropped from the cast and entered hospital for treatment of heroin addiction.

In 1969, the rock supergroup Blind Faith, fronted by Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, made its US debut at Madison Square Garden. The band made only this tour and one album before splitting up.

In 1970, Janis Joplin debuted with her new group, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, before 4,000 people in Louisville, Kentucky. Less than three months later, she was dead of a heroin overdose.

In 1971, guitarist Bjorn Ulvaeus and vocalist Agnetha Faltskog of the Swedish megagroup Abba marry in Verum, Sweden.

In 1972, Paul McCartney began his first tour since the Beatles' last concert in 1966. He and his new band, Wings, opened a European tour in Chateauvillon, France.

In 1973, Bob Dylan's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" soundtrack was released. The album contained the "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

In 1975, after being married for only ten days, Cher petitioned for divorce from Greg Allman.

In 1976, David Byron was fired as lead singer of the hard rock band Uriah Heep after a series of internal squabbles. The group disbanded two years later but got together again in 1982.

In 1977, the Sex Pistols performed "Pretty Vacant" on the BBC television program, "Top of the Pops" after having been banned from the network for swearing during a live interview.

In 1979, Chuck Berry was sentenced to four months prison on tax evasion charges relating to Berry's 1973 return in which he short-changed to US revenue of US$200,000 in tax.

In 1979, the Guinness Book of Records crowned the Bastille Day concert by composer and synthesizer player Jean-Michael Jarre in Paris the largest crowd ever for an open-air concert. More than one million people filled the Place de la Concorde.

In 1980, Led Zeppelin played what proved to be its last concert in West Berlin. Guitarist Jimmy Page cancelled a series of dates scheduled for France.

In 1980, Allen Klein, former business manager for the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, began a prison term for income tax evasion.

In 1982, Ozzy Osbourne married his manager Sharon Arden, the daughter of Ozzy's former Black Sabbath manager.

In 1985, the Live Aid concerts, organised by former Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof and friends to aid starving Africans, took place on dual stages in London and Philadelphia. 61 of rock's biggest acts performed for 17 hours in the outdoor stadiums for a global television and radio audience of more than 1.5 billion.

In 1986, rock singer Boy George was charged in London with possession of heroin. Following raids earlier in the week, four people, including the singer's brother, Kevin O'Dowd, were charged with conspiring to supply Boy George with the drug. Boy George, who said he was under treatment for heroin addiction, was later fined $500.

In 1986, Grateful Dead lead guitarist Jerry Garcia lapsed into a diabetic coma in Greenbrae, California. He recovered, and was released from hospital three weeks later - on his 44th birthday.

In 1986, Columbia Records dropped country star Johnny Cash after 28 years. Cash had not had a solo top-ten hit since "The Baron" in 1981. But he was a member of "The Highwaymen" quartet with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson that hit the top of the country charts in 1985.

In 1988, Ike Turner was sentenced in Santa Monica, California to one year in jail for possessing and transporting cocaine. Police had stopped Turner in August 1987 for driving erratically, and found six grams of rock cocaine in his car.

In 1989, more than 200,000 people crammed into Venice, population 83,000, for a free concert by Pink Floyd on a floating stage in the Venice lagoon.

In 1990, about 50 Two Live Crew fans smashed up a club in Dallas, Texas after the rap group failed to appear as scheduled. Police in riot gear dispersed the crowd.

In 1990, the world's three most famous tenors - Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras - performed their first concert together. The performance, in Rome on the eve of the World Cup soccer final, earned millions of dollars for charity. An album of the event, "Carerras-Domingo-Pavorotti in Concert," was a surprise hit on the pop charts, eventually becoming the best-selling classical album of all-time.

In 1991, Parents of a young woman killed at an AC/DC concert in Salt Lake City and a teenager who was injured file a lawsuit contending the band kept playing while fans were being trampled to death.

In 1991, the first Lollapalooza tour opened in Phoenix, Arizona. The alternative rock festival was the brainchild of Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell. Among the featured artists were the Henry Rollins Band, the Butthole Surfers, Ice-T and Nine Inch Nails.

In 1992, US federal agents arrested Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose at Kennedy International Airport in New York on misdemeanor charges filed after violence broke out at a St. Louis concert a year earlier. Rose was accused of diving into the crowd, causing a disturbance which resulted in several hundred thousand dollars damage to the Riverport Amphitheatre.

In 1993, Aussies Midnight Oil held a free concert in a field of tree stumps at Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island, Canada. The show was part of a protest against what Peter Garrett called the "massacre" of British Columbia's ancient rain forests. About 3,000 people attended.

In 1993, Guns 'N' Roses members were charged in Argentina with cocaine possession and indecent exposure. The charges were dropped an hour before their concert in Buenos Aires.

In 1994, Bruce Springsteen showed up unannounced at the 20th anniversary celebration at the Stone Pony bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Springsteen and his wife, Patty Scialfa, Jon Bon Jovi and former E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg performed several songs with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

In 1995, the Grateful Dead played what proved to be their last concert at Soldier Field in Chicago. The show began with their only Top-10 hit, "Touch of Grey," and ended with an encore of "Black Muddy River" and "Box of Rain." The band broke up after leader Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack exactly one month later.

In 1995, the U.S. Justice Department ruled to not take action against American ticketing giant Ticketmaster after Peral Jam had led a 13-month fight against the company citing a breach of anti-trust legislation.

In 1995, guitarist Les Paul collapsed with chest pains and shortness of breath at his home in Mahwah, New Jersey, as he prepared to go to Nashville for a celebration of his 80th birthday.

In 1995, REM bassist Mike Mills underwent abdominal surgery in Germany. The band was forced to cancel several shows for the second time in a year. The earlier cancellations came after drummer Bill Berry suffered a brain aneurysm.

In 1995, the U.S. Justice Department ruled to not take action against American ticketing giant Ticketmaster after Peral Jam had led a 13-month fight against the company citing a breach of anti-trust legislation.

In 1995, Sinead O'Connor announced she was withdrawing from the U.S. Lollapalooza tour because she was pregnant.

In 1995, female R & B group TLC filed for bankruptcy protection in Los Angeles. They were reported to have liabilities in excess of US$3.5 million. The biggest individual creditor was Lloyd's of London, which claimed US$1.3 million from Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes. She had pleaded guilty to torching the Atlanta home of her former boyfriend, grid iron player Andre Rison.

In 1996, Pantera singer Phil Anselmo took an overdose of heroin after a Dallas show and was rushed to a hospital after being unconscious for 20 minutes. He later faxed out a statement saying "I will not die too easily!"

In 1996, Chet Atkins, Steve Earle and the Goo Goo Dolls broke the world guitar marathon record of 1,320 guitars playing together in Nashville, Tenn., playing Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" for 79 minutes and 30 seconds.

In 1996, the sultan of Brunei spent $25 million on his 50th birthday party, including $15 million for three concerts by Michael Jackson.

In 1996, Celine Dion performed at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics. She sang "The Power of the Dream," written by David Foster, Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds and Linda Thompson. The song was commissioned for the occasion.

In 1997, former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi filed suit in Los Angeles against the heavy-metal band and their label, Elektra Records. Corabi alleged breach of contract, fraud and slander. He replaced the band's original lead singer, Vince Neil, in 1992 but was dumped four years later when Neil returned.

In 1997, Insane Clown Posse signed with Island Records, three weeks after Disney-owned Hollywood Records announced it was pulling their album from stores because of obscene lyrics.

In 1997, Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis suffered a badly broken wrist when his motorcycle struck a car that made a U turn in front of him in Los Angeles.

In 2000, Metallica vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield aggravated a chronic back injury before a show at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. The band played its scheduled sets on the Summer Sanitarium tour in Atlanta, Sparta, Ky., and Irving, Texas, with bassist Jason Newstead handling vocal chores on several songs, and using members of several other bands on the bill to fill in on vocals and guitar. Among those who help out are Kid Rock and sidekick Joe C, Korn's Jonathan Davis, and System of a Down's Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian.

In 2000, the widow of Ronnie Van Zant announced that the remains of Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd had been moved by family members after their gravesites were vandalised.

In 2000, Diana Ross announced cancellation of the rest of a Supremes "reunion" tour which had been criticized for not including members who were in the Motown group during its heyday in the 1960s.

In 2000, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich testified to a U.S. Senate panel against "peer-to-peer" trading software developers, the largest at the time being Napster, which facilitated the illegal sharing of copyrighted material.

In 2001, George Harrison issued a statement that says he underwent radiation treatment more than a month earlier at a cancer clinic in Switzerland.

In 2001, The Backstreet Boys announced on MTV that A.J. McLean entered rehabilitation for depression and alcohol abuse.

In 2002, Travis drummer, Neil Primrose, fractured a vertebrae in a pool accident whilst on tour in France resulting in the cancellation of the bands European tour.

In 2002, an autopsy of Luis Antonio Morales Blanes, the pilot who flew the plane that crashed, killing R'n'B star Aaliyah, revealed he had cocaine in his urine and traces of alcohol in his stomach.
Just 12 days earlier Blanes had been sentenced to three years probation for possession of crack cocaine.

In 2002, Rapper Mystikal and two male acquaintances were arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and booked on charges of rape and extortion. Mystikal -- real name Michael Tyler -- was accused of threatening to turn a female acquaintance in to the police for accepting unauthorized checks from his bank account if she did not have sex with him. He allegedly raped the unidentified 40-year old woman with two male acquaintances whilst threatening her with prosecution of the checks she'd written from his bank account without his consent.

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Births In 1897, Blind Lemon Jefferson, the most popular country bluesman of the 1920's, was born in Couchman, Texas. He influenced generations of later blues artists from Lightnin' Hopkins to B.B. King. Jefferson's blues recordings made from 1925 to 1930 were among the best-selling race records - discs sold almost exclusively to blacks. Accounts of his death in 1930 are sketchy. He is reported to have suffered a heart attack and to have been left on the streets of Chicago to die of exposure.

In 1900, jazz trumpeter and singer Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong was reputed to have been born in New Orleans. But in 1988, a music historian discovered a baptismal certificate that indicated Armstrong was born on August 4th, 1899. It's believed that Armstrong never knew his real birth date, and simply borrowed America's birthday as his own. Louis Armstrong died on July 6th, 1971.

In 1900, jazz trumpeter and singer Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong was reputed to have been born in New Orleans. But in 1988, a music historian discovered a baptismal certificate that indicated Armstrong was born on August 4th, 1899. It's believed that Armstrong never knew his real birth date, and simply borrowed America's birthday as his own. Louis Armstrong died on July 6th, 1971.

In 1912, folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma. Beginning in 1952, Guthrie spent many years in hospital with a severe nerve disease. He died in 1967. Woody's son, Arlo, has carried on the Guthrie folk music tradition.

In 1919, bebop pianist Sadik Hakim was born in Duluth, Minnesota.

In 1925, Bill Haley, rock 'n' roll's first teen idol, was born in Highland Park, Michigan. Haley was the most popular rock 'n' roll idol until Elvis Presley came along, but by 1958 his career was basically over. He continued to work as a nostalgia act, mainly in Britain and Europe. Haley died on February 9th, 1981 in his hometown of Harlingen, Texas.

In 1928, singer Mary Ford, who had a series of pop hits with her husband, guitarist Les Paul, in the 1950's, was born in Pasadena, California. Their successes included "Mockin' Bird Hill," "How High the Moon" and "Waiting For the Sunrise."

In 1929, Screamin' Jay Hawkins was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 1932, jazz-rock keyboards player Josef Zawinul, formerly of Weather Report.

In 1939, Jet Harris, former bass guitarist with Britain's leading instrumental group, the Shadows.

In 1940, Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, whose real name is Richard Starkey, was born in Liverpool, England. His stage name came from his fondness for wearing rings. Starr met the rest of the Beatles in Hamburg, West Germany in 1961 while he was appearing there with Rory Storm's Hurricanes. When Pete Best was fired from the Beatles in 1962, Starr joined them.

In 1941, guitarist and singer Lonnie Mack.

In 1942, Roger McGuinn, leader of the Byrds, was born in Chicago.

In 1943, Christine McVie, vocalist and keyboards player with Fleetwood Mac, was born in Birmingham, England.

In 1944, Jai Johanny Johnson, one of two drummers with the Allman Brothers Band, was born in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

In 1944, Warren Entner, guitarist and vocalist with the '60s and '70s pop group the Grass Roots. He later managed such heavy metal bands as Quiet Riot and Faith No More.

In 1946, Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was born. Chas Chandler of the Animals took Hendrix, an American, to London in 1966 and arranged the formation of the Experience with Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding.

In 1946, singer Linda Ronstadt was born in Tucson, Arizona.

In 1947, singer Arlo Guthrie was born in Coney Island, New York, the eldest son of famed folk singer Woody Guthrie.

In 1948, Larry Reinhardt, guitarist with the '60s acid rock band Iron Butterfly.

In 1948, Mick Tucker, drummer and vocalist with Sweet.

In 1949, singer Trevor Horn of The Buggles and Yes.

In 1949, Geezer Butler, bass guitarist with Black Sabbath.

In 1949, Asia and Uriah Heep bassist John Wetton.

In 1949, former vocalist for Black Sabbath and Rainbow, now fronting the revolving-door group named after him, Ronnie James Dio.

In 1950, rock singer Huey Lewis, whose real name is Hugh Cregg the Third, was born in New York City. He formed his six-man rock band, the News, in San Francisco in 1980. Huey Lewis and the News first reached the charts in 1982 with "Do You Believe in Love." The band reached its peak in 1985 and '86 with the chart toppers "The Power Of Love" and "Stuck With You." More recently Huey Lewis performed that CRAP song with Gwyneth Paltrow!

In 1950, late KISS drummer Eric Carr.

In 1950, rock singer Huey Lewis, whose real name is Hugh Cregg the Third, was born in New York City. He formed his six-man rock band, the News, in San Francisco in 1980. Huey Lewis and the News first reached the charts in 1982 with "Do You Believe in Love." The band reached its peak in 1985 and '86 with the chart toppers "The Power Of Love" and "Stuck With You." More recently Huey Lewis performed that CRAP song with Gwyneth Paltrow!

In 1952, Chris Cross of British group Ultravox.

In 1952, Police drummer, Stuart Copeland.

In 1952, Allen Collins, guitarist with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In 1954, Neil Tennant from UK synth-poppers Pet Shop Boys, was born in Newcastle, England.

In 1956, saxophonist Kenny G, whose full name is Kenny Gorelick.

In 1957, singer-songwriter Marc Almond, formerly of Soft Cell.

In 1958, Carlos Cavazo, guitarist with the heavy metal group Quiet Riot.

In 1958, banjo player Bela Fleck.

In 1959, drummer John Keeble of the British quintet Spandau Ballet.

In 1959, Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.

In 1960, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.

In 1960, singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega.

In 1961, Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode.

In 1961, Graham Jones of Haircut 100.

In 1964, rock singer and actress Courtney Love.

In 1970, modern rock singer-songwriter Beck (Hansen).

In 1977, Cher gave birth to Elijah Wood, her child with the Allman Brothers' Gregg Allman.

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Deaths In 1937, George Gershwin, one of the world's greatest composers of popular music, died in Beverly Hills, California of a brain tumor. He was only 38. Gershwin wrote his first hit, "Swanee," in 1918 for the Broadway show, "Sinbad," starring Al Jolson. Gershwin's other song hits included "The Man I Love," " 'S Wonderful," "Summertime" and "Love Is Here to Stay." The lyrics for many of his songs were provided by his brother Ira.

In 1941, pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, who claimed he invented jazz, died in Los Angeles at age 50.

In 1959, Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, died in a New York hospital while under arrest for narcotics possession. She was 44. Although she had a long history of addiction evidence suggests Holiday was clean at the time and died as a result of a kidney infection.

In 1966, singer Bobby Fuller, leader of the Bobby Fuller Four, was found dead in his car in Los Angeles. He was only 22. Police ruled his death a suicide - death by asphyxiation - but it was later revealed that he had been beaten and had ingested gasoline. Only six months earlier, the Bobby Fuller Four had been in the top ten with "I Fought the Law." The song was written by Sonny Curtis, a former member of Buddy Holly's Crickets.

In 1967, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane died at the age of 41.

In 1969, Brian Jones, the former guitarist with the Rolling Stones, was found dead in the swimming pool of his home near Hartsfield, England. The coroner's report cited death by misadventure. Jones had left the Stones less than a month earlier, announcing plans to form his own band.

In 1969, Brian Jones, the former guitarist with the Rolling Stones, was found dead in the swimming pool of his home near Hartsfield, England. The coroner's report cited death by misadventure. Jones had left the Stones less than a month earlier, announcing plans to form his own band.

In 1971, Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors, died of heart failure in his bathtub in Paris.
He was 27. There were rumors of a drug overdose but nothing was proved. News of Morrison's death was not made public until days after his burial in a Paris cemetery, leading some of his fans to refuse to believe he was dead. The epitaph on his tomb reads: "Jim Morrison - Poet."
The rest of the Doors - John Densmore, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger - continued for several more albums, but by 1973 the group was no more.

In 1971, jazz great Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo") died in New York of a heart attack. He was 71. Armstrong had been unable to blow his trumpet for several years, and he had turned increasingly towards novelty vocals. He had his biggest lifetime success in 1964 when he turned the title song from the Broadway show "Hello Dolly" into a million-selling record.

In 1971, Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors, died of heart failure in his bathtub in Paris.
He was 27. There were rumors of a drug overdose but nothing was proved. News of Morrison's death was not made public until days after his burial in a Paris cemetery, leading some of his fans to refuse to believe he was dead. The epitaph on his tomb reads: "Jim Morrison - Poet."
The rest of the Doors - John Densmore, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger - continued for several more albums, but by 1973 the group was no more.

In 1973, Clarence White, formerly of the Byrds, is killed when he is struck by a car in Lancaster, California.

In 1973, Clarence White, guitarist with the Byrds, died after being hit by a car in Lancaster, California. He was 29. White joined the Byrds in 1968.

In 1979, Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra for nearly 50 years, died at the age of 84. Fiedler managed to build a strong bridge between popular and classical music, often including arrangements of pop and rock tunes in his concerts. His recordings with the Boston Pops sold more than 50-million copies during his lifetime.

In 1980, Malcolm Owen, lead singer for the pioneering British band the Ruts, is found dead in his bath. His death is said to be due to drug addiction.

In 1981, Hubert Johnson, a member of the Motown group the Contours, committed suicide in Detroit. Johnson was a cousin of Jackie Wilson, who introduced the Contours to Motown head Berry Gordy Junior. The Contours took their feverish dance tune "Do You Love Me?" to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

In 1981, singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, who had the hit 'Cats In The Cradle', was killed in a car crash on a New York City freeway. Chapin was on his way to a benefit concert when his car was rear-ended by a truck. He died of a heart attack as a result of the accident.

In 1983, Chris Wood, sax and flute player with the 1960's and '70s rock band Traffic, died in London of liver failure after a long illness. He was 39. Traffic's most commercially-successful album was the 1970 release, "John Barleycorn Must Die."

In 1984, Philippe Wynne, lead singer of the Spinners from 1972 to '77, died of a heart attack while on stage in Oakland, California.

In 1987, the man who was once called the world's greatest talent scout, John Hammond, died in New York at the age of 76. Hammond, who worked most of his life for Columbia Records, discovered such diverse talents as Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

In 1988, singer and Andy Warhol cohort Nico died of a brain hemorrhage following a bicycle accident on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. She was 49. In 1967, after beginning her association with Warhol, Nico recorded the cult hit album "The Velvet Underground and Nico." She also toured in Warhol's multimedia show, the "Exploding Plastic Inevitable." Note for trivia buffs - Nico's debut single in 1966, "The Last Mile," was produced, co-written and arranged by Jimmy Page of the Yardbirds and later Led Zeppelin.

In 1989, Melvin Jerome Blanc (Mel Blanc) - The man of a thousand voices. Died as a result of heart disease. He did,"Clink Clink Another Drink" with Spike Jones and sang,"I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat".He performed the cartoon voices for Tweety Bird, Foghorn Leghorn, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and numerous others. Also worked with Weird Al and Jack Benny.

In 1993, Mario Bauza, a pioneer in Afro-Cuban jazz, died in New York of cancer at age 82. Bauza helped launch the career of Ella Fitzgerald with the Chick Webb orchestra in the 1930's. But his major contribution to jazz was combining Cuban rhythms with jazz-oriented brass, a style that heavily influenced Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1993, Miz Zapatam, lead singer for Seattle band The Gits, was raped and strangled. Her killer(s) were never found.

In 1994, two teenagers despondent over the death of Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain three months earlier were found dead in an apparent double suicide in Sayreville, New Jersey. Police said 15 year-old Thomas Rodriguez and 14 year-old Nicholas Camperi died from shotgun blasts. Suicide notes indicated the two were depressed over Cobain taking his own life with a shotgun at his Seattle home.

In 1996, Jonathan Melvoin, a backup musician with the Smashing Pumpkins, died in a New York hotel of an overdose of drugs and alcohol. He was 34. Police say Melvoin had been injecting heroin with the group's drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin. Chamberlin was charged with heroin possession but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. He was fired from the Smashing Pumpkins five days after Melvoin's death.

In 1996, drummer and founding member of the 1970s rock band Styx, John Panozzo, died of internal bleeding at his home in Chicago. He was 47. Panozzo also suffered from cirrhosis of the liver as a result of chronic alcoholism.

In 1998, Marc Hunter, New Zealand born frontman for The Dragons, died of throat cancer.

In 1999, Gar Samuelson, drummer The New Yorkers, Megadeth and Fatal Opera, died from an undiagnosed liver problem.

In 2000, Paul Young, singer for Sad Café and Mike And The Mechanics, died of a heart attack. He was 52 years old.

In 2001, singer and guitarist for country band Smokin' Country, James Campbell, was killed when he was hit by a falling tree.

In 2001, Folk singer/songwriter Fred Neil was found dead at his home in Summerland Key, Florida, apparently of natural causes. He is 64. Neil was best known as the writer of "Everybody's Talkin'," which became the theme of the 1969 film "Midnight Cowboy."

In 2002, Robbin Crosby (Robbinson Lance Crosby) , former guitarist for US metal group RATT, died from a heart attack due to AIDS. He was 42 years old.

In 2002, the annual Brighton Beach Party in England attracted 200,000 punters, they were expecting 60,000. Two people died at the event, including an Australian nurse who fell from a make-shift platform.

In 2002, a Rolling Stones' rehearsal at Crescent School, North York in Canada came to an abrupt halt when guitar technician Roydon McGee collapsed during the band's final set of the evening after suffering a fatal heart attack.

In 2002, Laurie Allen, one half of Australian duo Bobby and Laurie, died of a heart attack. The duo had hits with "I Belong With You" and "Hitch Hiker". They also had a TV show "It's A Gas", later renamed "Dig We Must". Laurie was a guitarist with Malcolm Arthur And The Knights, a singer for The Blue Jayes and the leader of The Laurie Allen Revue. He also worked with The Silver Wings Band and Dice.

In 2002, Paul Furey, a member of Irish folk group The Fureys, died during an operation to treat his cancer. He played accordion, melodeon, concertina, whistles, bones, spoons and sang for The Fureys.

In 2003, the "King of make out music", Barry White, died of kidney failure at the age of 58. White had been ill for some time at this was no more evident than in his Australian tour just a few months before his death. Unbeknownst to those attending the concerts White was unwell, and many fans slammed the performances as second rate, some even demanding a refund on their ticket price.

In 2006, Syd Barrett, founding member of Pink Floyd, passed away at his home from complications due to diabetes at the age of 60. The death was not widely reported by the media until some days later when his brother made a statement.

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