American Bandstand host Dick Clark dead at 82.

But his wig will live forever!

and as tomcaulf suggested could happen, Levon Helm did pass away today.

G

I'm very saddened by this. I'm a huge fan of The Band. I'd seen them several times in the 90's (reunion without Manuel or Robertson) and had the pleasure of meeting Levon a few times. He was a great musician/singer and southern gentleman. Darn good actor too,

Mark

RIP Levon Helm.

Footage from 'The Last Waltz' featuring the classic, 'The Weight', and two of my favourite artists - The Band and Mavis Staples and The Staples Singers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCw3-YTffo

I heard his name mentioned on the raadio today. I had never heard of him before. They said Clapton and J.Page along with many others learned from his guitar books.

Forget Clapton, Lennon, Page, McCartney and about a million other no hopers - it was also they first guitar tuter for some bloke called grastark.......

It was called Play In A Day and on the back cover it said Play Every Day...which was really an encouragement for the young enthusiasts to keep at it.

Bert appeared in the 50's and had a couple of minor hits (particularly Guitar Boogie Shuffle). About the same time as I first picked up his book (it was more in the format of sheet music than a book), he appeared on childrens tv on a programme called 5 O Clock Club, hosted by Muriel Young (later went on to become a major tv producer) and Wally Whyton (who in the 50s was a major skiffle guitarist (in The Vipers I think).

To be honest at the time Bert just seemed to be very very old fashioned and a bit offputting. I think that in reality he always was just a regular nice guy who tried to always be a polished performer in the old fashioned way.

Basically his book took a total beginner through from how to hold a guitar, with different sounds depending how you actually strum it, through basic chords and onto a few simple tunes (probably done in guitar tab style and maybe also in traditional music format to help you convert to each style of reading.Throughout it was written in a non patronising but encouraging way. I think that is why it clicked.

G

Yeah - 5 O Clock Club - Olly The Owl rules man!

Got me thinking - Tingha & Tucker Club - Aunty Jean - Willie Wombat - man no wonder we were ready for the drug culture come the late 60's...

Greg Ham, the flute and sax player from Men At Work... found dead in his home this week of unknown causes.
He was said to be despondent about losing a final court appeal over the alleged plagiarizing of the flute riff in their biggest hit 'Down Under'.

This will be of interest to Carolyn, who I know follows Colin Hay as one of her other "musical destinations"... maybe our Australian correspondent has more details (?).

They unfortunately found Greg Ham's body in his house a few days ago. The Homicide squad have investigated his death and there are no suspicious circumstances. The indications are either suicide or accidental drug overdose. See article attached

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/ ... 1xa5w.html

I had intended to put it up on the Obituaries due to Men At Work's high profile overseas but got a bit distracted by Levon Helm's death.

I wasn't a big fan of Men At Work. I liked their two big hits 'Who Can It Be Now' and 'Down Under' but they were flogged to death by radio over here at the time and were over-exposed. 'Down Under' has turned into a bit of an unofficial national anthem - especially when Australians are traveling overseas.. I only saw the band once live - before they were famous and in a suburban hotel in front of a small and unimpressed crowd (including myself and my friends). At the time they were a sloppy band with long drawn out songs (they had a small following in the inner suburbs amongst students etc). From memory their producer of the first album tidied and tightened up their songs and sound.

I remember the copyright case at the time and couldn't believe it was going ahead because personally I couldn't see the similarity between the song and Greg's flute solo. Both then and even more so now in retrospect it was seen as a very opportunistic and greedy grab for some money by the complainants.

Sad news about Greg Ham. I never met him, but saw Men at Work in concert 4 times--3 times in Las Vegas and once at a grubby place in Petaluma, CA.

Greg was a great performer to watch.

I always enjoy Colin's shows--quite a character.

Tommy Marth, sax player who was one of the backup musicians for the Killers.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/tommy-marth-sax-player-killers-found-dead-apparent-suicide-article-1.1067964

Rest in peace Ronno - our Michael Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/groups/63712874624/

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Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/arts/ ... at-47.html

Wondered just now if there could possibly be any overlap between the Beasties and Ian (figured there could be an NYC connection involving Ranters, etc.). Found only this:

http://squealmousecouch.com/rock-and-ro ... ie-hall-2/