2016 Obituaries

[rcfieldz]

 

[waltky]

Drummer for cult favorite Mott the Hoople dies...

Mott The Hoople drummer Griffin dies aged 67
18 January 2016 - Dale Griffin, drummer for rock group Mott The Hoople, has died aged 67.

He was a founder member of the group, best known for classic tracks Roll Away The Stone and All The Young Dudes. The latter was written and produced by David Bowie, who sang backing vocals on the track. The band, who made eight albums during their five-and-a-half year existence, reformed to mark their 40th anniversary in 2009 - but Griffin was too ill to take part.

He died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday night, said Peter Purnell from record label Angel Air records. He called Griffin "one of the nicest, friendly and talented men I have ever known." "All he ever wanted was for his beloved Mott The Hoople to reform and it was his determination that achieved that very feat in 2009 but sadly by then he was too ill to perform at the five sold-out dates - though he did join the band for encores."

Mott The Hoople were regular guests on Top of the Pops in the 1970s​

Born in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, the drummer played in a number of local bands before forming Silence with singer Stan Tippens, keyboard player Verden Allen, guitarist Mick Ralphs and bassist Pete Overend Watts in the late 1960s. They got a record contract in early 1969 and went to London to record under producer Guy Stevens, who renamed the band Mott the Hoople after a 1967 novel by Willard Manus. Not long after, Tippens was ousted by vocalist Ian Hunter, although he remained as their road manager.

Although they built up a cult following (a raucous gig at the Royal Albert Hall led to the venue banning rock acts), they struggled to sell records and were on the verge of breaking up in 1972, until Bowie stepped in and persuaded them to stay together, placing them under the care of his manager Tony De Fries.

Rift in the band

 

[rcfieldz]

Drummer for cult favorite Mott the Hoople dies...

Mott The Hoople drummer Griffin dies aged 67
18 January 2016 - Dale Griffin, drummer for rock group Mott The Hoople, has died aged 67.

He was a founder member of the group, best known for classic tracks Roll Away The Stone and All The Young Dudes. The latter was written and produced by David Bowie, who sang backing vocals on the track. The band, who made eight albums during their five-and-a-half year existence, reformed to mark their 40th anniversary in 2009 - but Griffin was too ill to take part.

He died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday night, said Peter Purnell from record label Angel Air records. He called Griffin "one of the nicest, friendly and talented men I have ever known." "All he ever wanted was for his beloved Mott The Hoople to reform and it was his determination that achieved that very feat in 2009 but sadly by then he was too ill to perform at the five sold-out dates - though he did join the band for encores."

Mott The Hoople were regular guests on Top of the Pops in the 1970s​

Born in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, the drummer played in a number of local bands before forming Silence with singer Stan Tippens, keyboard player Verden Allen, guitarist Mick Ralphs and bassist Pete Overend Watts in the late 1960s. They got a record contract in early 1969 and went to London to record under producer Guy Stevens, who renamed the band Mott the Hoople after a 1967 novel by Willard Manus. Not long after, Tippens was ousted by vocalist Ian Hunter, although he remained as their road manager.

Although they built up a cult following (a raucous gig at the Royal Albert Hall led to the venue banning rock acts), they struggled to sell records and were on the verge of breaking up in 1972, until Bowie stepped in and persuaded them to stay together, placing them under the care of his manager Tony De Fries.

Rift in the band

I really liked Mott.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

Entertainment industry has already lost so many in the first few weeks of the year. 2016 isn't looking hopeful

 

[Auld Phart]

Mic Gillette of Tower of Power, Dies at 65
The world lost Mic Gillette last weekend as well

 

[Auld Phart]

Goodbye Fish

Abe Vigoda, Det. Fish on TV's 'Barney Miller,' Dies at 94

 

[CrusaderFrank]

James Stewart "Jimmy" Bain was a Scottish musician, best known for playing bass guitar in the bands Rainbow and Dio. He also worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums

 

[waltky]

World's top chef found dead at his home...

'World's best chef' Benoit Violier dies aged 44
31 Jan.`16 - Chef Benoit Violier, whose Swiss restaurant was named the best in the world in December, has been found dead at his home.

Mr Violier, 44, ran the Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville in Crissier, near the city of Lausanne. It earned three Michelin stars and came top in France's La Liste ranking of the world's 1,000 best eateries. Swiss police said Mr Violier, who was born in France, is believed to have killed himself. The Swiss news website 24 Heures said (in French) that Mr Violier had been due to attend the launch of the new Michelin guide in Paris on Monday. His death comes some six months after that of Philippe Rochat, his mentor and predecessor at the Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville.

Having worked at the restaurant since 1996, Mr Violier took it over along with his wife Brigitte in 2012, before obtaining Swiss nationality. A keen hunter, he was known for signature dishes including game and produced a weighty book on game meat last year. Accepting the French award, given by France's foreign ministry as an alternative to the World's Best 50 Restaurants prize, he said it was an "exceptional" honour.

Benoit Violier's work was recognised by the French government last year​

Swiss chef Fredy Girardet, who also received three Michelin stars, told 24 Heures that he was "dumbfounded" by the news. "He was a brilliant man," he said. "Such talent, and an amazing capacity for work. He was so kind, with so many qualities. He gave the impression of being perfect." French chef Pierre Gagnaire tweeted: "My thoughts go out to Benoit Violier's family. Very sad news about an extremely talented chef."

'World's best chef' Benoit Violier dies aged 44 - BBC News

 

[Auld Phart]

Bob Elliott

Bob Elliott, the Deadpan Half of Bob and Ray Comedy Team, Dies at 92

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/a...medy-fame-dies-at-92.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

 

[waltky]

Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White dies...

Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White dead at 74
February 4, 2016 | Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, whose horn-driven band sold more than 90 million albums and made hits like "September," ''Shining Star" and "Boogie Wonderland," died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, his brother Verdine said.

White, who was 74, suffered from Parkinson's Disease and had retreated from the public even as the band he founded kept performing. "My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep," Verdine White, also a member of the band, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes."

Earth, Wind & Fire, a nine-piece band centered featuring the two White brothers, singer Philip Bailey and the distinctive horn section, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. The band's most successful period started with the 1975 album "That's The Way of The World" and continued through the rest of the decade. Other hits included "Serpentine Fire," ''That's the Way of the World" and a cover of the Beatles' "Got to Get You Into My Life." Chris Rock tweeted his condolences Thursday with a photo of White and the lyrics, "You can't hide love." Nile Rogers called White "one of the most amazing innovators of all time" on the social media platform, while Diane Warren said "this world just got a lot less soulful."

White publicly revealed he had Parkinson's at the time of the band's Hall of Fame induction, but he had shown symptoms of the neurological disease back in the 1980s. He stopped touring with the band in 1995 because of weariness from the road combined with his health problems. White said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2000 that he wanted the band's music to inspire instead of just entertain. "That was the whole objective, to try to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to follow through on their ideas," he said. "We've touched so many people with these songs."

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[JustAnotherNut]

well crap....I'm going to have to quit watching this thread...there are too many updates

 

[waltky]

Playboy Model Katie May Dies at Age 34...

Playboy Model Katie May Dies at Age 34 After Suffering Stroke: Report
February 5, 2016 - Playboy model Katie May passed away on Thursday, February 4, after suffering a serious stroke on Monday, February 1, according to TMZ. She was 34. According to the site, May, known as the “Queen of Snapchat,” was taken off life support on Thursday and died surrounded by her family and friends.

May’s family set up a GoFundMe page on Thursday to raise funds to support her 7-year-old daughter, Mia. “Anyone who was lucky enough to know Katie May was truly blessed by her incredible heart, mind and soul,” the donation page reads. “She was an inspiration and a guiding light to so many people in this world. Please help us by donating money to support her daughter and best friend Mia. We want to raise as much money for Mia’s living trust as possible to ensure she will always be taken care of. Mia was Katie’s whole life, so please help Katie, Mia and us by donating money to Mia.”

Katie May (Instagram)​

The blonde beauty’s family previously told TMZ that May had been complaining of neck pain prior to her stroke on Monday. “@Ms_katiemay you look amazing my lady. How’s your neck feeling?” one of her followers wrote to May on Sunday, January 31. “Thanks love!” the model replied. “It still hurts, going back to chiropractor tomorrow xoxoxo.”

May’s last Instagram post was on Monday, February 1, and featured a photo of her leaning against a sandy cliff while wearing a bikini. “Hope everyone is having a great Monday!” she captioned the snap. “It’s very windy here today in LA #bikini #california #beach #lagunabeach.”

Playboy Model Katie May Dies at Age 34 After Suffering Stroke: Report

See also:

Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, 85, dies in West Palm Beach
Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 | Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell, who was part of the Apollo 14 space crew that flew to the moon in 1971, died late Thursday in West Palm Beach, according to his family.

Mitchell, 85, lived in suburban Lake Worth and died at a local hospice at about 10 p.m. Thursday, his daughter, former West Palm Beach City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell told The Palm Beach Post. Mitchell’s ex-wife, Anita Mitchell, is a former Republican Party chairman for Palm Beach County and is currently Palm Beach County campaign chairman for former Florida governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush.

Edgar Mitchell holds up the “rational hand control” that he used to help land the Apollo 14 Lunar Module “Antares” on the moon in February of 1971. Mitchell explained that NASA allowed him and all of the astronauts of his day to keep mementos from their trips into space. Yet, after choosing to sell a lunar camera that was aboard the Apollo 14 moon mission, he was sued by NASA.​

Mitchell was the sixth man to walk on the moon. He was part of a three-man crew, with Alan Shepard Jr. and Stuart Roosa, who took part in the Apollo 14 space mission. It was the eighth manned mission in the United States Apollo program and they became the third ever to land on the moon. Mitchell was the lunar module pilot on the mission. Apollo 14 launched just over 45 years ago, on Jan. 31, 1971. The nine-day mission ended Feb. 9 when the crew landed in the South Pacific Ocean. Unlike other astronauts who tend to live reclusive lives, Mitchell remained in the public eye.

In 2011, he turned over the camera he took to the moon to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington. The U.S. government filed a lawsuit against him in that same year, saying he stole the camera. Mitchell denied the allegations and said if it wasn’t for him, the camera would have never made it back to Earth. In 2006, he gave a “moon rock” to the South Florida Science Museum in West Palm Beach, a rock that was given to him by NASA as part of their recognition to him for achievements and sacrifices with the space program.

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[skye]

((( Edgar Mitchell )))

RIP

 

[Auld Phart]

Vanity

Vanity, Former Prince Protégé & Leader of the Vanity 6, Dies at 57 | Billboard

 

[skye]

She was no astronaut but by God may she rest in peace!

 

[Kat]

How sad. Died from years of crack cocaine use.

 

[Alex.]

"Matthews died from kidney failure, the result of years of crack cocaine abuse, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. She died in a hospital in Fremont, Calif."

A cautionary tale.

 

[Auld Phart]

"Matthews died from kidney failure, the result of years of crack cocaine abuse, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. She died in a hospital in Fremont, Calif."

A cautionary tale.

"After being diagnosed with the kidney condition sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis, she set up a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for her medical treatment but fell more than $43,000 short of her goal."

She probably spent 5 times that on cocaine.

 

[Alex.]

"Matthews died from kidney failure, the result of years of crack cocaine abuse, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. She died in a hospital in Fremont, Calif."

A cautionary tale.

"After being diagnosed with the kidney condition sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis, she set up a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for her medical treatment but fell more than $43,000 short of her goal."

She probably spent 5 times that on cocaine.

I am sure she did.

She could have used the clout at being with Prince as a force to combat drug abuse and help save lives.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

Tried to find a song/video of Prince for tribute. Apparently Prince owns all rights to his music & doesn't share. The only thing I could find on YouTube was this version of Purple Rain. I was looking for When Doves Cry