Obituary
R.I.P. Joey Jordison, Former Slipknot Drummer Dead at 46
Former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison has died at the age of 46. According to a statement issued by his family, Jordison “passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 26th, 2021.” A cause of death was not immediately disclosed. “Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow,” his family’s statement reads. “To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music.” Advertisement Jordison was a founding member of Slipknot and played in the band until his departure in December 2013. He later revealed that he suffered from transverse myelitis, a neurological disease that limited his the ability to play the drums. The drummer suggested that his condition led Slipknot to fire him from the ...
R.I.P. Martin Kahan, Music Video Director (KISS, Rush, Mötley Crüe) Dead at 74
Martin Kahan, a prolific music video director, has died at age 74. He passed away this past Sunday (July 18th) in Lakewood, New Jersey, following a battle with cancer. Kahan directed numerous videos for hard rock acts in the 1980s. If you watched MTV during that era, you surely caught Kahan’s work. Some of his best known clips include KISS sans-makeup (“Lick It Up”, “All Hell’s Breakin Loose”), Mötley Crüe (“Too Young to Fall in Love”), Scorpions (“I’m Leaving You”), and Bon Jovi (“In and Out of Love,” “She Don’t Know Me”). Videos for Ian Hunter (the VMA-nomiated “All of the Good Ones Are Taken”), Loverboy (“Queen of the Broken Hearts”), and Michael Bolton (“Fool’s Game”) also garnered rotation on MTV. Advertisement Related Video Kahan got a break early in his career when he shot three vid...
Martin Kahan, Prolific Music Video Director, Dies at 74
Almost immediately, Columbia Records came calling with an assignment, for Scandal’s “Love’s Got a Line on You.” It was the first of many major label promos, and Kahan would become one of the record company’s go-to directors. Over the following years, he’d shoot videos for Ian Hunter (MTV VMA-nominated “All of the Good Ones Are Taken”), Clarence Clemons (“A Woman’s Got the Power”), Loverboy (“Queen of the Broken Hearts”), Michael Bolton (“Fool’s Game”), Eddie Money, Heaven, Fastway and more. As the music video format entered its golden age, Kahan’s eponymously-titled production company delivering the goods for the booming MTV platform, including clips for Bon Jovi (“In and Out of Love,” “She Don’t Know Me”), Mötley Crüe (“Too Young to Fall in Love”), The Firm with Jimmy Page and Paul ...
Biz Markie, Bombastic Rapper Behind ‘Just a Friend,’ Dies at 57
In 1988, Markie released his debut album, Goin’ Off, which peaked at No. 90 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and included his first Billboard hit, with “Make the Music With Your Mouth” peaking at No. 84 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1987. But Markie’s big breakthrough to the mainstream came with his sophomore album, 1989’s The Biz Never Sleeps, which included his one-and-only Hot 100 entry: “Just a Friend.” His signature hit reached No. 5 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in December 1989 and then crossed over the next year. It became his only Billboard Hot 100 entry and reached its No. 9 peak in March 1990. The single’s success helped its parent album, The Biz Never Sleeps, crack the top 10 of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, wher...
R.I.P. Biz Markie, “Just a Friend” Rapper Dead at 57
Biz Markie has died at the age of 57. According to TMZ, the veteran rapper passed away Friday, July 16th, due to complications from diabetes. “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, hip-hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away,” a representative for Markie said in a statement on Friday. “We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time. Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years. He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter. We respectfully request pri...
R.I.P. Juini Booth, Bassist for Sun Ra Arkestra, Chick Corea, Art Blakey, and Pharoah Sanders Dead at 73
Juini Booth, who plied his bass with some of the grandest figures in jazz history, has died at 73. Over his six decade career, Booth was a member of Sun Ra Arkestra and accompanied such legends as Art Blakey, Pharoah Sanders, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, and Coleman Hawkins. He passed away July 11th, according to Buffalo News, after a six-week decline in health preceded by breaking his hip in a fall at home. Born Arthur Edward Booth on Feb. 12th, 1948, Booth picked up his nickname from his sister Mary Booth-Bowden. “My mother would say, ‘Go call Junior!’ and I would say, ‘Juini!” she said. “He would tell everybody, ‘My sister named me!’” Booth first established himself in the jazz scene of his hometown of Buffalo, New York. He moved to New York City after an enc...
R.I.P. Jeff LaBar, Guitarist of Cinderella Dead at 58
Jeff LaBar, longtime guitarist of the glam metal band Cinderella, has died at age of 58. LaBar’s son, Sebastian, shared the news of his father’s passing in a social media post on Wednesday (via Blabbermouth). “So i just got the call… Jeff LaBar, my father, my hero, my idol, passed away today,” Sebastian wrote, “I’m currently at a loss for words. I love you pop.” A cause of death was not disclosed. LaBar joined Cinderella in 1985 right as the band hit the studio to record their debut album, Night Songs. Thanks to its breakout single, “Nobody’s Fool,” as well as a slot opening on tour for Bon Jovi, Night Songs became one of 1986’s biggest albums, achieving triple platinum status and peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Cinderella’s follow-up, 1988’s Long Cold Winter, was equally massive. W...
R.I.P. Charlie Robinson, Night Court Actor Dead at 75
Charlie Robinson, the veteran actor best known for his role as Mac the court clerk on Night Court, has died at the age of 75. Robinson passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday (July 11th) due to cardiac arrest and cancer. A native of Houston, Texas, Robinson got his start in the city’s local theater scene before relocating to Hollywood to pursue a career in film and television. Undoubtedly, his most memorable role was as Macintosh “Mac” Robinson in the NBC sitcom Night Court. Robinson joined the show beginning in Season 2 and remained a mainstay through its ninth and final season. Robinson also directed three episodes of Night Court. Advertisement Related Video Following the end of Night Court in 1992, Robinson co-starred in the CBS sitcom Love & War. He also had cameo roles on shows like ...
Andy Williams, Former Casting Crowns Drummer, Dies After Motorcycle Accident
“We can’t thank you enough for your prayers, support, and unending love,” the post said. “You have walked with us through this very difficult journey and we felt you there the entire way. We love you so much and we thank you for the support. At this time the family has requested that you respect their time together and allow them to receive some much needed rest. Please hold off on reaching out with texts and phone calls for a few days.” Casting Crowns first told fans of Williams’ accident on June 27, when they wrote, “Our friend & former drummer, Andy Williams, was in a motorcycle accident this morning and really need your prayers!” On Friday, the group posted a video of Williams drumming as a tribute to their late bandmate. “We love you...
R.I.P. William Smith, Hawaii Five-O; Rich Man, Poor Man Actor Dead at 88
William Smith, the veteran actor best known for starring in the 1976 TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and the original Hawaii Five-O has died. He was 88 years old. According to a report by Deadline, the late actor’s wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed he had passed away July 5th at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. However, no cause of death was given publicly. Born in Columbia, Missouri on March 24th, 1933, Smith kicked off his career on screen at the young age of eight, appearing as a child actor in 1942’s The Ghost of Frankenstein, 1943’s The Song of Bernadette, and the 1944 classic Meet Me in St. Louis opposite Judy Garland. Related Video During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian Intercept Interrog...
R.I.P. Robert Downey Sr., Filmmaker and Father of Robert Downey Jr., Dead at 85
Robert Downey Sr., the accomplished underground filmmaker, actor, and father of Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr., has died at the age of 85. His son confirmed the news on Instagram, noting that his father passed away “peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s” on Wednesday. Downey Jr. also called his late dad “a maverick filmmaker” who “remained remarkably optimistic throughout.” “Maverick” well describes Downey Sr.’s early career. The auteur filmmaker began directing, producing, and writing cult underground movies in the 60s marked with his uncompromising vision and left-field humor. Projects like 1969’s Putney Swope, a corporate satire that saw a Black board takeover an white-run advertising company, and 1970’s Pound, which saw human actors playing an...
Uriah Heep Singer John Lawton Dies at 74
He joined Heep in 1976 in time to appear on their 10th studio album, 1976’s Firefly, replacing original lead singer David Byron, as well as 1977’s harder-edged Innocent Victim, which featured the easy-rockin’ AM-radio single “Free.” Lawton’s final studio recording with UH was 1978’s smoother Fallen Angel, followed by the Live in Europe ’79 concert album. Following his run in UH, Lawton continued to perform with other bands, including Rebel and GunHill (which later changed its name to the John Lawton Band) and former Heep producer/songwriter Ken Hensley in the Hensley Lawton Band. He also briefly re-joined Heep in 2013 for two weeks during a European tour to fill-in for ailing vocalist Bernie Shaw, released a handful of solo albums and dabbled...
