Devo guitarist Bob Casale dead at 61


By Todd Martens
February 18, 2014, 3:53 p.m.

Devo founding guitarist Bob Casale died Monday after medical complications unexpectedly led to heart failure, his brother Gerald said. Bob Casale was 61.

Bob had recently been hospitalized due to stomach ailments, his brother said when reached by phone Tuesday, but had been thought to be recovering. Gerald said his brother was otherwise in good health and had been working on numerous Devo-related projects.

"During testing, he de-stabilized. They were a little flummoxed," Gerald said. "He was sitting up, talking and the next thing he was in an ER, life-and-death situation. His blood pressure dropped too low and they couldn't stabilize it in time."

Devo was formed in the early 1970s in Akron, Ohio, by singer Mark Mothersbaugh and bassist Gerald, who met while at Kent State University. With a love for marketing and a world view that was steeped in irony, Devo straddled the avant-garde and pop worlds with a twisted, technologically savvy take on rock 'n' roll.

Gerald recruited his brother Bob for guitar/keyboards. Mothersbaugh's brother, also named Bob, played guitar, and drummer Alan Myers rounded out the group. Early on, the band was seen by some in the press as sort-of a new-wave version of KISS.

"We were a real machine. We were white Jame Browns. We were real tight, we played real fast and people didn't believe what they were seeing," said Gerald.

By the time Devo released �gQ: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!�h in 1978, the group had cemented an oddball presentation that left audiences guessing, whether it was the group's deconstructed version of �g(I Can�ft Get No) Satisfaction�h or its yellow lab suit costumes.

Devo, said Gerald, had been deep into the planning stages of 40th anniversary concerts that were to begin this summer. Longtime Devo drummer Myers died last year, and the plan for the upcoming shows was to have regular collaborator Josh Freese sit in. Gerald said the dates were to focus on rarely played songs recorded between 1974 and 1977, songs that appear on the 1990 release "Hardcore Devo: Volume One."


Full article: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-devo-guitarist-bob-casale-dead-20140218,0,4188114.story#axzz2tjlfot1y

Mickey Rooney passes away at 93

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/07/300101780/legendary-hollywood-star-mickey-rooney-dies-at-93

They always mention 'Roger Rabbit' but for me his two best films were 'The Long Good Friday' and 'Mona Lisa'.

Bob Hoskins passes away at 71: https://movies.yahoo.com/news/british-actor-bob-hoskins-dies-71-124211608.html

gaijinmark wrote:

They always mention 'Roger Rabbit' but for me his two best films were 'The Long Good Friday' and 'Mona Lisa'. Bob Hoskins passes away at 71: https://movies.yahoo.com/news/british-actor-bob-hoskins-dies-71-124211608.html

Totally agree--The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa were terrific films showcasing how talented an actor Hoskins was.

The final scene from 'The Long Good Friday'. His face says it all, he doesn't say a word but you know exactly what is going thru his head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9SG-zYvPjk

gaijinmark wrote:

The final scene from 'The Long Good Friday'. His face says it all, he doesn't say a word but you know exactly what is going thru his head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9SG-zYvPjk

I remember the scene well. Very evocative.

Damn! I'm shocked! That was one fine actor! Loved him in Mona Lisa much.
R.I.P.

Blues legend Johnny Winter dead at 70

Blues legend Johnny Winter has died, according to American Blues Scene. He was 70 years old.

The news was also reported by the wife of Winter�fs longtime bandmate, Rick Derringer.

Born in Beaumont, Texas in 1944, Winter remained active in music for over five decades, earning acclaim as both a guitarist and record producer. His big break came while opening a show for Mike Bloomfield in 1968. Winter�fs performance that evening caught the eye of Columbia Records, who quickly signed him to a contract.

In the years that followed, Winter would release nearly 20 albums. He was praised for his high-energy performances and elaborate chops, leading to seven Grammy nominations and a nod as the 63rd best guitarist ever by Rolling Stone.

In addition to his solo work, Winter produced three Muddy Waters albums — 1977��s Hard Again, 1978��s I�fm Ready, and 1981��s King Bee – as well as 1979��s Muddy �gMississippi�h Waters – Live. Winter�fs efforts as a producer earned him three Grammy Awards.

Winter remained active up until his death. Not only did he have an a number of upcoming tour dates scheduled, but he was set to release a new album entitled Step Back on September 2nd.

RIP, Bret Maverick, Pete Aron, Jim Rockford

James Garner passes away at 86:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/movies/james-garner-actor-dies-at-86.html

Re: Johnny Winter

Among the most proficient blues guitarists of all time, which is saying a lot considering how many truly great musicians there have been in that genre.


Re: James Garner

Highly underrated as an actor. The Rockford Files is among my favorites, as is another TV series he did, Nichols. And The Great Escape is one of the best WWII movies ever made imo.

James Shigeta passes away at 81:http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-shigeta-dead-die-hard-721851?mobile_redirect=false

Found this nice tribute on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLw0D2CxcVI

And this article in the Wall Street Journal of all places: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/07/31/how-the-late-james-shigeta-changed-the-image-of-asian-american-men/

Wasn't expecting this one. Looks like Robin Williams took his own life: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-robin-williams-dies-20140811-story.html

gaijinmark wrote:

Wasn't expecting this one. Looks like Robin Williams took his own life: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-robin-williams-dies-20140811-story.html

Stunning news.

Though he was mainly known for his comedic roles, my favorite performance was his role in Awakenings with Robert De Niro.

bmwracer wrote:

Stunning news. Though he was mainly known for his comedic roles, my favorite performance was his role in Awakenings with Robert De Niro.

Yea I was shocked. He suffered from severe depression and yet spread so much happiness.

Dead Poets Society for me.
_________________

Wanna trade? My Drama List (UPDATED: July, 2013)

Wynter wrote:

Yea I was shocked. He suffered from severe depression and yet spread so much happiness. Dead Poets Society for me.

I remember him fondly from Dead Poets Society too, and he was awesome in Aladdin. A really talented actor. Such a tragic loss.
_________________

玉木宏、藤木直人、佐藤健

blog

The Fisher King for me. Robin Williams R.I.P.

Nice article about Robin Williams in The Japan Times: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/08/13/world/robin-williams-fondly-remembered-by-japans-film-industry/#.U-u2tcJ0zir

^ Good read, thanks!

I've been listening to the songs in Aladdin. Couple of my favourites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEryAoLfnAA (Prince Ali)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Op1TaXmCw (Friend Like Me)
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Cream bassist Jack Bruce dead at 71

Jack Bruce, the singer and bassist for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Cream, has passed away, his family confirmed the musician's passing on his Facebook page. He was 71.

"It is with great sadness that we, Jack�fs family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad, and all round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts," the Bruce family wrote. Bruce's publicist added, "He died today at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family." No other details were revealed but the Press Association reports that the bassist suffered from liver disease.

As one-third of one of rock's greatest trios, along with guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, Bruce was the voice and songwriter behind classic tracks like "White Room," "SWLABR," and "Sunshine of Your Love," which Bruce co-wrote with Clapton. Considered to be the first rock "supergroup," Cream pumped out four studio albums in three years – three of which landed on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time – before going their separate ways.

The band reunited briefly in 1993 for their Rock Hall induction, then again in for a triumphant series of 2005 concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall and New York's Madison Square Garden. In 2006, Bruce and his Cream mates received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Bruce also occasionally served as a member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band and collaborated on the title track of Frank Zappa's Apostrophe.

Following Cream's breakup in 1968, Bruce kickstarted a long solo career with 1969's Songs of a Tailor. He would release over a dozen solo LPs over the next 45 years, including his latest album titled Silver Rails in March 2014. "I quite like to just enjoy my life. I'm thrilled to make this album. I put my heart and soul into it, and I'm very pleased with the way it came out," Bruce told Rolling Stone of his new album in April.

Cream also landed on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists, and in an ode to the trio written by Roger Waters, the Pink Floyd bassist writes, "Then there's Jack Bruce — probably the most musically gifted bass player who's ever been."

RIP, Jack... Cream was one of my all-time favorite bands.