Day for Night- 2017 Musical RIP

Although we didn’t lose as many musical heavy weights in 2017 as we did in 2016. This year there were still significant losses in the music industry.

Especially the alternative rock scene had to bear the brunt of the losses, Below is a list of some of those losses, the ones who exchanged day for night.

Mott the Hoople

Pete Overend Watts, the original bassist for Mott the Hoople,  died on January 22nd. The bass guitarist (originally guitarist) appeared with singer Stan Tippins on The Doc Thomas Group, before using the Mott the Hoople name, with new singer Ian Hunter. Watts became the staple of Mott the Hoople’s lineup throughout the years, even appearing as late as 2013 when they went on a reunion tour.

Al Jarreau

Legendary Jazz singer Al Jarreau passed away at the age of 76, following hospitalization for exhaustion, on the 12th of February.

Y&T

On 12 Mar 2017: Singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Y&T (originally named Yesterday & Today), Dave Meniketti, broke the news just hours ago that, their original rhythm guitarist, Joey Alves, passed away that morning.

 

Allan Holdsworth

16 Apr 2017: One of the most influential guitarist, Allan Holdsworth, died. The news came out on Easter Sunday, April 16th, from his family. Holdsworth inspired a generation of guitarists, including Frank Zappa, Eddie Van Halen, and Joe Satriani.

Soundgarden

18 May 2017: Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave, died at the age of 52. On June 2, 2017, the Wayne County Medical Examiner released its autopsy and toxicology report in the death of Cornell. The coroner confirming that the manner of death was suicide by hanging and that “drugs did not contribute” to the cause of death.

Afghan Whigs

27 Jun 2017: Guitarist Dave Rosser from the Afghan Whigs died after a battle with cancer.

In July 2 members of some of my favourite bands died on the same day, however one only made the news.

The Jayhawks

20 Jul 2017: Jayhawks co-founder Caleb Palmiter died at the age of 53,  Palmiter suffered heart failure after some years of poor health.

Linkin Park

 

20 Jul 2017: Singer Chester Bennington committed suicide , just before 9am. Bennington was 41. tmz.com broke the news, stated that it was suicide by hanging. This was only two months after his close friend Chris Cornell … who also hung himself.  July 20th would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday.

Glen Campbell

 

In June 2011, Campbell announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease six months earlier.He became a patient at an Alzheimer’s long-term care and treatment facility in 2014.Glen Campbell died in Nashville, Tennessee on August 8, 2017 at the age of 81 and was buried in the Campbell family cemetery at Billstown, Arkansas.

Hüsker Dü

Grant Hart ofHüsker Dü died on September 13, 2017, at 9:02 PM., at Fairview University of Minnesota Hospital of complications from liver cancer and Hepatitis C. He was 56 years old. He is survived by his wife Brigid McGough Hart, son Karl Turbenson, granddaughter Grace, siblings Nett Hart, Roxanne Hart and Craig Hart.

Tragically Hip

Gordon Edgar Downie  (February 6, 1964 – October 17, 2017) was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer and activist. He was the lead singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, which he fronted from their formation in 1984 until his death in 2017.

Downie died of glioblastoma on October 17, 2017, at the age of 53 in Toronto

 

 

Fats Domino

Domino died on October 24, 2017, at his home in Harvey, Louisiana, at the age of 89, from natural causes.

AC/DC

Malcolm Mitchell Young (6 January 1953 – 18 November 2017) was a Scottish musician and songwriter, best known as a co-founder, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the hard rock band AC/DC.In April 2014, Malcolm Young became seriously ill and was unable to continue performing.

Young died on 18 November 2017 at the age of 64,at Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay.His funeral was held at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on 28 November.Young’s elder brother George Young died a few weeks before him, on 22 October 2017.

 

Johnny Hallyday

Johnny Hallyday, the “French Elvis” died on December 6. The 74-year-old had battled lung cancer.

Born Jean-Philippe Smet, Hallyday decided he wanted to be a performer after watching Elvis Presley. He was credited with introducing rock ‘n’ roll to France in the ’60s, and enjoyed enormous success there. However, Hallyday never really broke through in the United States.