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R.I.P. Olivia Newton-John

(Read more Musicians who died in 2022)

Olivia Newton-John, the Australian singer, actress, author, philanthropist and more, passed away on Monday, according to a statement from her husband. She was 73.

"Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time. Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer." her husband, John Easterling, said in a statement on the singer's verified Instagram.

ONJ had revealed a third cancer diagnosis in 2018 at the base of her spine, following bouts with breast cancer in the early '90s and in 2017. Beginning in her native Australia with a handful of country and soft-rock hits, Newton-John was rising in popularity, but it was on-screen as Sandy, opposite John Travolta as Danny in 1978's "Grease," one of most popular movie musicals of all time, that rocketed her to a new level of stardom. She would be named an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979 as a result of that overall success.

Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England in 1948, the youngest of three children of Brinley and Irene (Born) Newton-John. Her mother was the daughter of the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Max Born and the family would move to Melbourne, Australia, after she was five. As a young girl, she won a talent contest on TV show, "Sing, Sing, Sing," and as a teen, formed an all-girl group.

Her first single (“’Til You Say You’ll Be Mine,” on Decca Records) was recorded in England in 1966 but US audiences first took real notice with 1973's "Let Me Be There", which became a top-10 hit on both the adult contemporary and country charts. Hits like "I Honestly Love You," "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Please Mr. Please" would follow.

After "Grease", she took her sexier persona to even higher heights with 1981's "Physical," which became her biggest hit, spending 10 weeks topping the Billboard Hot 100. Over her long career, Newton-John won four GRAMMY Awards and sold more than 100 million albums.

But Newton-John had also lived with a breast cancer diagnosis since 1992, becoming a prominent advocate for cancer research and starting a foundation in her name to support it. There was also a mysterious situation with her husband disappearing without a trace as well, but none of that could jar her sunny disposition and outwardly positive personality. 

As well as her husband, she is survived by daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi; sister, Sarah Newton-John; and brother, Toby.

John C (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek)

Read More Nichelle Nichols Finally, did you know that Nichelle Nichols (the actress that plays Lieutenant Uhura) have released not one, but two albums ? I actually didn't know she was a recording artist until I started doing research for this article. …

Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed communications officer Uhura from the original Star Trek series, has died on Saturday. She was 89 years old.

We did see her at Wizard World Minneapolis in 2017, but were not allowed to take her photo. To be honest, I thought she looked worse for wear, requiring an assistant and wheelchair to get around.

For Star Trek and music fans, Nichelle Nichols releaesd two albums, Down to Earth and Out of This World.

Variety noted Nichols’ landmark moment:

Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history on “Star Trek.” That moment, with her co-star William Shatner, was a courageous move on the part of her, “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and NBC considering the climate at the time, but the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren,” which aired in 1968, was written to give all involved an out: Uhura and Captain Kirk did not choose to kiss but were instead made to do so involuntarily by aliens with the ability to control the movements of humans. Nevertheless, it was a landmark moment.

There had been a couple of interracial kisses on American television before. A year earlier on “Movin’ With Nancy,” Sammy Davis Jr. kissed Nancy Sinatra on the cheek in what appeared to be a spontaneous gesture but was in fact carefully planned. The Uhura-Kirk kiss was likely the first televised white/African American lip-to-lip kiss.

Read more Musicians who died in 2022

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Paul Ryder (Happy Mondays)

Read More The Happy Mondays From old English, meaning "Day of the Moon" (kind of an oxymoron if you ask me!) Band Names: The Happy Mondays, Monday Morning (NC band), and Monday Massacre (Screamo band) …

Happy Mondays’ bassist Paul Ryder has died at the age of 58.

Despite being fans, we’ve never seen the band live, as they rarely tour to the midwest… and their recent reunion 2012 tour only took place in the UK.

Their music can be found on various films we love, including 24 Hour Party People (Britpop on Films) and The World's End (by Edgar Wright).

Details about Paul Ryder’s death, from The Guardian:

Paul Ryder, the bass guitarist who helped power the hugely popular “baggy” funk sound of the Happy Mondays, has died aged 58.

A message posted on the band’s social media said:

The Ryder family and Happy Mondays band members are deeply saddened and shocked to say that Paul Ryder passed away this morning. A true pioneer and legend. He will be forever missed. We thank you for respecting the privacy of all concerned at this time. Long live his funk x

No cause of death has been made public.

Ryder, whose brother Shaun fronted the group, was a founder member since their formation in 1980 and had rejoined for the group’s most recent reunion in 2012.

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vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Julee Cruise - David (Twin Peaks) Lynch, The B-52's singer / collaborator

JULEE CRUISE - Falling single Read More Twin Peaks So a little information about Julee Cruise's involvement with Twin Peaks: she was working for Angelo Badalamenti as a talent scout in the mid 80s. Badalamenti was already working with David Lynch on his film Blue Velvet and they needed a song fans...

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Julee Cruise, the singer-songwriter best known for collaborations with David (Twin Peaks) Lynch, Angelo Badalamenti, and The B-52’s has passed away at the age of 65.

Her husband, author and editor Edward Grinnan released the news on social media, writing:

“She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace … I played her [The B-52’s song] ‘Roam’ during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest in peace, my love”.

Cruise released four of her own dream-pop albums, with her first release being the most iconic as “Falling” was used as the introductory music in the influential TV series, Twin Peaks, with Lynch penning lyrics for the song.

Cruise was born in Iowa in 1956, studied French horn at Drake University, and performed in Minneapolis with the Children’s Theater Company, soon after finding success in the movie industry the mid-80’s, starting with working on the soundtrack to Lynch’s film, Blue Velvet.

In 1991, she covered Elvis Presley’s “Summer Kisses, Winter Tears” for Wim Wenders’ Until the End of the World soundtrack, among other contributions. Cruise also performed with other artists, stepping in for Cindy Wilson of The B-52’s from 1992 to 1999, and also performed with Bobby McFerrin’s improv vocal group Voicestra/CircleSong.

She sang alongside Pharrell on Handsome Boy Modeling School’s 2004 song “Class System” and her final album was a collaboration with Deee-lite’s DJ Dmitry on 2011’s My Secret Life. In 2018, Cruise released Three Demos, early recordings cut with Lynch and Badalamenti containing initial versions of “Floating,” “The World Spins,” and “Falling.”

Cause of death has yet to be determined, though previous postings said she was suffering from systemic lupus with increasing difficulty walking and standing.

John (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. - Alec John Such (Bon Jovi founding member / ex-bassist)

(Tico Torres, David Bryan, Jon Bon Jovi, ALEC JOHN SUCH, Richie Sambora)

ALEC JOHN SUCH Read More Bon Jovi Still going after some thirty-four years in the business, Bon Jovi returned to town, playing (surprisingly) to over 18,000 at a sold-out Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for a two-and-a-half hour set that pleased both longtime fans...

BON JOVI (credit Getty Images)

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Alec John Such, founding member and ex-bassist of Bon Jovi has passed away at the age of 70 (cause currently unknown).  

Band leader Jon Bon Jovi has posted the following via social media: "

“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band.

To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him — He was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres] and brought Richie [Sambora] to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today these special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We will miss him dearly.”

Such was born in Yonkers, NY on November 14, 1951 and became a veteran presence on the NJ/NY rock circuit of the late 70s and joined future bandmate Richie Sambora  in a band called The Message, prior to helping found Bon Jovi and was responsible for bringing Sambora and drummer Tico Torres into the fold.  

After building their fan base and popularity with their self-titled debut and follow up, 7800 Fahrenheit, the band's third album, Slippery When Wet, sold some twelve million copies. Their next album, New Jersey, was also very successful and catapulted the band to stadium status.  

The US Slippery When Wet Tour actually started in 1986 with the band opening for .38 Special, but it became very clear, very quickly, that they were headliners in their own right (they became so popular we saw them in Kansas City twice in 1987, in Feb and June arena shows that both sold out immediately). 

Anyone growing up in the mid 80s/early 90s no doubt had their music as part of their life's soundtrack, as their radio hits were inescapable. The bassist would depart Bon Jovi in 1994 but did reunite with his bandmates when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. 

We last caught the band live in 2017 in St. Paul, and though Such's tenure was long over, the crowd without question responded the most, to the songs that Alec John Such was a part of. 

John (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. - Andrew Fletcher (Depeche Mode) and Alan White (Yes)

Depeche Mode (Getty Images) Read More Depeche Mode Depeche Mode is currently on their Delta Machine tour, stopping by Minnesota State Fair, of all places, last Tuesday, August 27th. …..

(Read more Musicians who died in 2022 )

Members of two key and legendary bands have just passed away -

Keyboardist and co-founder of Depeche Mode, Andrew Fletcher and Yes drummer Alan White.

Andrew Fletcher was age 60 and founded Depeche Mode along with schoolmates Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, back in 1980. They’ve gone on to score 54 songs on the UK singles charts and have been making records and touring for over forty years, also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

“Fletch” as he was known, died of natural causes at home, and is survived by his wife of almost thirty years, Grainne, and two children. We saw the band last ten years ago at the Minnesota State Fair, in an energetic and triumphantly memorable performance.

Depeche Mode said in a statement: 'We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness at the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher. Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold pint. Our hearts are with his family and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy at this difficult time.'

Longtime Yes drummer Alan White has also passed, at the age of 72, after a short illness and at his home. He had increasing health issues over the last several years, keeping him off the road with the band and they had already announced he would be sitting out their upcoming tour.

Prior to joining Yes in 1972 to replace Bill Buford, White was a member of John Lennon and Yoko’s Plastic Ono Band and the band was finally inducted into the Rock Hall in 2017. Similar to Fletcher, White leaves behind a wife of over forty years, Gigi, and two children.

The band released this statement on social media:

"The news has shocked and stunned the entire YES family. Alan had been looking forward to the forthcoming UK Tour, to celebrating his 50th Anniversary with YES and their iconic 'Close to the Edge' album, where Alan’s journey with YES began in July 1972. He recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of his marriage to his loving wife Gigi. Alan passed away, peacefully at home."

Read More

Yes One of the most successful, influential progressive rock band in the world is Yes. In 1983, the band changed lineup (with Trevor Rabin) and concentrated mostly on more commercial and pop-oriented music. A second Yes band called Yes Featuring Jon Anderson …

 

John (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

George Perez Memorial Service at MegaCon Orlando (2022-05-22)

Memorial program front - portrait by Phil Noto Read More George Perez As you know, we’re big George Perez fans, so it’s with a sad note that I pass along George’s statement about his retirement. After this 2019 convention…

It was with heavy heart but great admiration to be present for the George Pérez memorial service hosted at MegaCon Orlando inside the sprawling Orange County Convention Center. 

The service was the last event of the four-day convention, that brought well over 100,000 to the biggest comics and pop culture event in the Southeast.  Living in nearby Sanford, FL, Pérez had been a longtime friend of the show and built up many personal and professional relationships from his regular appearances there. 

During the four-day show, a table was set up adorned with a large floral bouquet and a recent tribute art piece done by fellow artist and fan Bill Sienkiewicz with two guestbooks that the public could use to enter their well wishes and thoughts. 

A Friday fan-centric Remembering George Pérez panel also allowed fans to reminisce, share, and let everyone know what an impact his art, legacy, and good character, left on them. 

As the crowd filed in, acoustic Beatles music played and a slideshow featuring George, his friends and family, and his recent trip to DC headquarters in Burbank, was shown. 

The memorial service began with words from Constance Eza, a longtime friend of George and wife Carol, as well as a medical professional and comics event promoter. 

George’s brother, David (barely over a year younger) and his ninety-one year-old mother, Luz Maria Izquierdo took to the stage to each tell stories and thank the fans for all their support over the years. George’s father unfortunately was not in enough good health to attend.

Growing up in the South Bronx, David told tales of the brothers riding red tricycles together, and both drawing at an early age, even coming up with their own heroes, one being the Kleptomaniac Kid, who could make items teleport right into his hand.  Both brothers were also proud of their Puerto Rican heritage as well as assimilating as first-generation Nuyorican immigrants.

DC ex-publisher Dan Didio and a surprise guest, current DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee each remembered George in their own ways.  Lee recalled being starstruck and tongue-tied not only the first time they met at a convention, but for the second time as well.  In particular, Lee was amazed at the details with which George drew Avengers Mansion in 1977’s issue 162. 

Didio felt it had only been recently to sink in with him that George was really gone.  He also remarked that he previously hired Marv Wolfman for an animation project in hopes of also potentially meeting George, and that the first time he had really wished he could be back in the DC offices since his departure, was in January when he heard Wolfman and Pérez would be visiting in Burbank. 

Another longtime family friend, Shannon Lower spoke of George taking her to her first comic convention when she was nineteen, and altering the course of her life, as a result.  She spoke of times and the kindness that George and wife Carol provided, both to she and her family, as well as the comic community, specifically his efforts with Hero Initiative. 

Eza spoke briefly near the end, and the ceremony would finish with words and a quick story or two from George himself, courtesy of clips from a previous appearance at Amazing Con and also a segment filmed for a documentary. 

(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

Program Interior

Program back

George’s brother and mother

Constance Eza

Shannon Lower

Dan Didio

Jim Lee

Dan Didio and Jim Lee at George Perez Memorial Service, MegaCon Orlando (2022-05-22)

 

john (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Vangelis

Vangelis Read More movies We♥Movies is a directory/catalog of old Martial Arts films and collectible movies..

Vangelis (credit Decca Records)

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Word is coming out that Vangelis, the Greek composer and musician died at age 79. 

He was best known for his various synth film soundtracks including Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire and representatives said he died in a French hospital where he was being treated.

Born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou in 1943, he was mostly self-taught. He grew up in Athens and playing the organ, formed his first band called the Forminx in 1963, playing pop music, rock’n’roll, and Beatles covers.

He once turned down an invitation from Yes to replace Rick Wakeman on keyboards (but would later form a successful duo with Yes singer Jon Anderson), he then moved to London and signed a solo deal with RCA Records, composing solo work as well as film soundtracks.

In 1981, his score for Chariots of Fire won the Oscar and has become iconic to this day. Vangelis followed that with his iconic score to Blade Runner – “We’re living in a kind of Blade Runner world now,” he said in 2005.

Other soundtracks that decade included Missing, The Bounty, Francesco and others. Vangelis worked again with Blade Runner director, Ridley Scott on 1492: Conquest of Paradise, and scored various documentaries by Jacques Cousteau.

In the world of sport, Vangelis was commissioned to soundtrack the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

More recently, he had been fascinated with outer space and his final album, 2021’s Juno to Jupiter, was inspired by the launch and mission of NASA probe Juno.

John (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

RIP George Perez

Read More George Perez As you know, we’re big George Perez fans, so it’s with a sad note that I pass along George’s statement about his retirement. After this 2019 convention…

We are sorry to report that beloved comic book creator, George Perez, has passed away yesterday.

George’s memorial service will take place at Megacon Orlando at 6pm on Sunday, May 22nd. It will be open to all. Details to follow.

From facebook.com:

To all of George’s fans and friends,

Constance here, with the update no one wants to read. George passed away yesterday, peacefully at home with his wife of 490 months and family by his side. He was not in pain and knew he was very, very loved.

We are all very much grieving but, at the same time, we are so incredibly grateful for the joy he brought to our lives. To know George was to love him; and he loved back. Fiercely and with his whole heart. The world is a lot less vibrant today without him in it.

He loved all of you. He loved hearing your posts and seeing the drawings you sent and the tributes you made. He was deeply proud to have brought so much joy to so many.

Everyone knows George’s legacy as a creator. His art, characters and stories will be revered for years to come. But, as towering as that legacy is, it pales in comparison to the legacy of the man George was. George’s true legacy is his kindness. It’s the love he had for bringing others joy - and I hope you all carry that with you always.

Today is Free Comic Book Day. A day George absolutely loved and a fitting day to remember his contributions to comics and to our lives. I hope you’ll enjoy your day today with him in mind. He would have loved that.

Please keep his wife Carol in your thoughts and again, I thank you for respecting her privacy. I remain available through the contact on the page.

George's memorial service will take place at MEGACON Orlando at 6pm on Sunday, May 22nd. It will be open to all. Details to follow. We will miss him always.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Klaus Schulze, Earth Wind & Fire sax player, and more

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Klaus Schulze) Read More Klaus Schulze Klaus Schulze was a German electronic music pioneer, composer and musician and was briefly a member of Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel and The Cosmic Jokers before launching a solo career

(Read more Musicians who died in 2022 )

Word is just coming in that Klaus Schulze, the German electronic multi-instrumentalist has died at age 74.

The hugely influential artist briefly played with the groups Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before going solo, created electronic soundscapes that are now established as a foundation of ambient/new age music, while his beats and rhythms, helped influence modern techno, trance and other dance genres.

Born in Berlin in 1947, his discography is some 50 albums, including live albums and soundtrack recordings, and was ahead of the curve with 1979’s Dune, inspired by the Frank Herbert sci-fi novel, which he would work on again with Hans Zimmer on the 2021 film adaptation.

He worked as a producer for other artists including Dead Can Dance singer Lisa Gerrard (including recording live albums together), and pop band Alphaville.

Schulze’s final album, Deus Arrakis, was also inspired by Dune, is due for release on 10 June.

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Andrew Woolfolk, the longtime saxophonist for Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at 71.

EWF lead singer, Philip Bailey, announced Woolfolk's death on Instagram on April 25 and said he'd been ill for more than six years. Woolfolk was a member of Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1985, and also from 1987 to 1993.

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Susan Jacks, singer of ’60s pop hit ‘Which Way You Goin’ Billy,’ has died of kidney failure on April 25 at age 73
Born in 1948, Jacks reached international fame as part of the Poppy Family with then-husband Terry Jacks. 1969’s “Which Way You Goin’ Billy,” sold three million records worldwide and hit #1 in Canada and #2 on Billboard in the US.

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Randy Rand, the founding bassist of 1980s rockers Autograph, has died, confirmed by the band in a social media post.

The statement read: "It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts to announce the unexpected passing of our cherished friend and founding member of Autograph, Randy Rand. At the time of death, Randy was surrounded by his beautiful and infinite love, Regina Rand and family."

The band was best known for 1984's pop metal anthem, "Turn Up the Radio" as well as "Blondes in Black Cars' and more.  

John (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com