Just be announced that Robin Gibb has died at age of 62

Don

Doug Dillard, banjo player with bluegrass band The Dillards, and, with ex-Byrd Gene Clark, responsible for two fabulous early country rock albums

Crowded House drummer Peter Jones has died from brain cancer.

Great tribute to Peter Jones by Peter Luscombe, one of Australia's most highly rated drummers. Very sad news.

RocKwiz (Official page)
FROM PETER LUSCOMBE.

On Friday the 18th of May, Peter Jones lost his battle with cancer. It was a grueling battle and Pete dealt with it with a strength and dignity that was truly inspiring.

As a drummer Pete was Art Blakey, Earl Palmer, Charlie Watts, John Bonham and Kenny Jones all rolled into one, but mostly he was Pete Jones. He was cheeky, irreverent, dedicated and exciting .

I first met Pete in about 1981, we got to know each other well in the following few years and bonded over the fact that we both enjoyed and disliked many of the same things, one of those things was a love of fine threads. Through most of the nineties we'd meet up for Saturday Breakfast at the same Cafe, check out the girls in the womens clothing store next door and discuss what item of clothing we would purchase next. We would often joke about doing Drum clinics together and instead of the usual display of highly dense technical prowess that was mostly on show at such events, we would instead discuss what clothes looked best on stage, how many beers you should have before a show, and what fills would be more likely to impress girls (rather than blokes in drum t shirts). We had the chance to play together live in Stephen Cummings' "Firecracker" band. One of my all time favorite shows.

Pete and my brother Dan were co-Best men at my wedding in 2003. Pete was loyal and strong, he was generous and kind, he would take everyone on face value, and I've never met anyone that was more well liked.

Peter Jones was My Friend.

Rest well and say Hi to Levon.



http://messandnoise.com/news/4472690

Ex-Crowded House Drummer Peter Jones Dies In News : Mess+Noise
http://www.messandnoise.com
Mess+Noise, A Local Music Magazine is dedicated to showing Australian music in a different and evocative light. Photo essays, art pieces by musicians, inquisitive interviews and idiosyncratic reviews intermingle throughout.

Legendary bluegrass flatpicker Doc Watson died. He was 89. I saw him about 30 years ago. The guy was an awesome guitarist.

The loss of Doc = the loss of one of America's great natural resources.

Fine obit here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/may/30/arthel-doc-watson-dies?newsfeed=true

Scroll down and check out the youtube link to "Deep River Blues". A veritable orchestra contained in a gitfiddle. Sounds simple and pure. But just try to duplicate it... Few could even come close.

Heartfelt (though at times reflecting pretty technical "guitarspeak") appreciation of Doc from Robbie Fulks here:

http://www.robbiefulks.com/blog/posts/348-doc-watson

Bob Welch Shot himself in the chest Details forthcoming Only heard on the radio Nothing on the Web yet

Details on Bob Welch.

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/ce ... 6388674572

He also had a big hit in Australia with a song called 'Ebony Eyes'. Not sure if that charted elsewhere.

'Ebony Eyes' was a big hit here as well... and the Paris single 'Big Towne 2061' got a fair amount of airplay the year before.

Distressing to see a pattern emerging... 60-something musicians not dealing well with obscurity.

RIP

I loved those Paris albums, especially Big Towne 2061. I read a while back that Welch was pretty bummed that he was not included in the Hall of Fame election of Fleetwood Mac. In a way he kind of introduced to the band the type of music that would make them really famous - and make me turn them off. I always thought he was a great talent. Ironically the Paris song, New Orleans, turned up on my ipod last night while I was out walking. RIP

After hearing about his death I checked out his wikipedia listing. It is pretty comprehensive and makes for an interesting read - especially all of his Fleetwood Mac trials and tribulations, during and after his time in the band. But as the internal machinations of Fleetwood Mac have always been of the 'basket case' variety that doesn't surprise me at all.

My friends cousin was with FM for a while. She is Becca Bramlett, daughter of Delanie & Bonnie. That particular version of FM never got off the ground

His remake of FM's "Sentimental Lady" was even bigger here, I think.

Justin
.

To be fair, I should have said "...and life-changing health issues".

Like Ronnie Montrose, Welch was apparently facing a bleak future... unable to walk again after unsuccessful back surgeries... he's said to have not wanted to burden his wife.
I suppose his being a 60-something musician has no real bearing on depression and suicide.... that's another discussion.

I have those Paris albums somewhere, will have to have a rummage through the old vinyl for a re-listen. I recall the first self-titled one being much heavier sounding than the other.
I had also forgotten, until I checked the ticket stub tin, that I had seen Bob Welch play here during the 'French Kiss' tour in 1978... must not have made too much of an impression.