2014 In Memoriam: Musicians We Lost This Year
In just the past few weeks, the music world lost Rolling Stones sax player Bobby Keys and Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, though they were only a few of the brilliant musicians who passed away in 2014. We also said goodbye to Devo's Bob Casale, songwriter Gerry Goffin, Big Bank Hank of the Sugarhill Gang and many more. Here's a celebration of their lives and contributions.
-
Scott Asheton
The Stooges drummer, who was the only member of the band other than Iggy Pop to play on all five of the Detroit protopunks' studio albums, died of a heart attack on March 15th. He was 64.
-
Simone Battle
Simone Battle, the Los Angeles-based singer in the pop band G.R.L. who appeared on the 2011 season of The X-Factor, died on September 5th of an apparent suicide. She was 25.
-
Franny Beecher
The lead guitarist of Bill Haley & The Comets, who played on "Rock Around the Clock" and many of their other hits, died of natural causes on February 24th. He was 92.
-
Mark Bell
The British electronic music pioneer, best known for his work in LFO and for producing records by Depeche Mode and Bjork, died from complications resulting from surgery. He was 43.
-
Dave Brockie
The Gwar frontman and founder, known to his fans as Oderus Urungus, died of a heroin overdose on March 23rd. He was 50.
-
Jack Bruce
The Cream bassist, who sang "White Room," "Sunshine of Your Love" and many other of their most beloved songs, died from liver disease on October 25th. He was 71.
-
Nicky Da B
The vibrant New Orleans bounce artist who gained worldwide fame with the Diplo-produced "Express Yourself" died on September 2nd. He was 24.
-
Bob Casale
The Devo guitarist, who played with the New Wave band from their earliest club shows in 1974 through their most recent tours, died of heart failure on February 17th. He was 61.
-
Ernie Chataway
The Judas Priest guitarist, who played with the British metal band between 1969 and 1970, died of cancer on September 2nd. He was 62.
-
Joe Cocker
The gravely voiced singer, who scored huge hits with "You Are So Beautiful," "Up Where We Belong" and his brilliant cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends," died from lung cancer on December 22nd. He was 70.
-
Glenn Cornick
The original Jethro Tull bassist, who played with the British prog rock band on their first three albums, died from congestive heart failure on August 29th. He was 67.
-
Phil Everly
The Everly Brothers singer, who spent nearly 60 years harmonizing with his brother Don on classics like "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Bye Bye Love," died of pulmonary disease on January 3rd. He was 74.
-
Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen
The big-voiced singer who fronted Survivor, Toto, LeRoux and Trillion, died from liver cancer on January 14th. He was 62.
-
Shane Gibson
The Korn guitarist, who toured with the group after Brian "Head" Welch's departure, died on April 15th due to a blood clotting disorder. He was 35.
-
Gerry Goffin
Along with his writing partner (and ex-wife, Carole King), Goffin co-wrote countless classics songs, including "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," "The Loco-Motion" and "Take Good Care of My Baby." He died of natural causes on June 19th. He was 75.
-
Big Bank Hank
The Sugar Hill Gang rapper, who performed on their groundbreaking hit "Rapper's Delight," died from cancer on November 11th. He was 58.
-
Jake Hooker
The Arrows guitarist, who co-wrote their landmark anthem "I Love Rock and Roll," died in Malibu, California, on August 4th. He was 61.
-
Jimi Jamison
The Survivor frontman, who sang on their hits "Hearts on Fire" and "The Search Is Over" in addition to theme from Baywatch, died from a stroke on August 31st. He was 63.
-
Casey Kasem
The golden-voiced DJ, whose narration powered the radio countdown show American Top 40 for decades, died from unknown causes on June 15th. He was 82.
-
Bobby Keys
The Rolling Stones saxophonist, who played the famous solo on "Brown Sugar" and spent decades on the road with the group, died from liver cirrhosis on December 2nd. He was 70.
-
Frankie Knuckles
The groundbreaking Bronx-based DJ, who essentially created the house music movement and worked tirelessly in the field through the 1980s and 1990s, died of complications related to diabetes. He was 59.
-
Joe Lala
The percussionist, who played with Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Janis Joplin and many others before switching gears and becoming a successful actor, died from lung cancer on March 18th. He was 66.
-
James Levesque
The skate-rock pioneer, who played bass in Agent Orange during their 1980s heyday and later worked as an industry publicist, died on October 19th.
-
Ian McLagan
The virtuoso Faces/Small Faces keyboardist, who played with everyone from Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones, died of a stroke on December 3rd. He was 69.
-
Doc Neeson
The Australian singer-songwriter, who fronted the hard rock band the Angels, died from a brain tumor on June 4th. He was 67.
-
“Ikey” Owens
A touring keyboardist for Jack White and the Mars Volta, Owens died of a heart attack on October 14th. He was 38.
-
Tommy Ramone
The founding drummer in the groundbreaking New York punk group, who produced their early work and co-wrote songs like "Blitzkreig Bop" and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," died of bile duct cancer on July 11th. He was 65.
-
DJ Rashad
The Chicago producer, who served as a global ambassador for the frenetic dance style known as footwork, died of a drug overdose on April 26th. He was 34.
-
Billy Rath
The Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers bassist, who played on their classic 1977 LP L.A.M.F. and toured with the Sex Pistols, died in April after battling a long illness. He was 66.
-
Paul Revere
The "Madman of Rock & Roll," the leader of Paul Revere and the Raiders, who was known for his unique outfits, infectious stage persona and garage-rock hits died of cancer on October 4th. He was 76.
-
DJ E-Z Rock
One-half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, best known for their 1988 hit "It Takes Two," died on April 28th due to complications related to diabetes. He was 46.
-
Rick Rosas
Rick "The Bass Player" Rosas, who played on many of Neil Young's albums and tours during the past 25 years, died of cancer on November 7th. He was 65.
-
Jimmy Ruffin
The Motown singer and brother of Temptations frontman David Ruffin scored a huge hit in 1966 with "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted." He died of unknown causes on November 17th. He was 78.
-
Pete Seeger
The folk music legend, who wrote "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" and "If I Had a Hammer" and spent over seven decades tirelessly crusading for the common man, died of natural causes on January 27th. He was 94.
-
Wayne Static
The Static-X singer, who fronted the Los Angeles metal band for nearly 20 years, died of unknown causes on November 1st. He was 48.
-
Maria von Trapp
The last surviving member of the von Trapp family, who provided the inspiration for The Sound of Music, died in her sleep on February 18th. She was 99.
-
Dick Wagner
The rock guitarist, who played with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Aerosmith and Kiss, died July 20th of respiratory failure. He was 70.
-
Bobby Womack
The soul icon, who wrote "It's All Over Now," "Across 110th Street" and recently worked with Gorillaz, died after years of battling numerous medical issues on June 27th. He was 70.
-
Jesse Winchester
The sing-songwriter, who played a major role in 1960s anti-war movement when he moved to Canada to avoid the draft and was later pardoned by Jimmy Carter, died from bladder cancer on April 11th. He was 69.
-
Johnny Winter
The Texas blues guitarist, who recorded 20 albums over his long career and worked with everyone from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton to his brother Edgar, died of unknown causes on July 16th. He was 70.
-
Robert Young
The Primal Scream guitarist, who spent over two decades in the Scottish alternative rock band, died of unknown causes on September 9th. He was 49.