R.I.P. 2022

Time for the most difficult post of the year, the one where we remember all the musicians we lost this year. Certainly the old Guard of rock-'n'-roll disappearing was inevitable - I believe Jerry Lee Lewis was the last of the great rock and roll pioneers left standing. His passing was to be expected, I just count myself lucky to have seen him perform, 30-something years ago. But others I expected to be able to see play again, and to listen to new records by them. Rachel Nagy from The Detroit Cobras was a personal favorite, even though she's not that well known. An even more beloved artist to me was Mark Lanegan, arguably the finest voice of his generation. He had only recently come back from COVID - related coma and written an inspirational book about his experience, but apparently was still too frail and succumbed a few months later, aged 57. Terry Hall, and the reunited Specials, were another band I was eager to see when the concerts restarted, post-lockdown. Alas, this was also not meant to be - he died of cancer, aged 63. Depeche Mode are playing in Amsterdam in a few months, but without Andy Fletcher, who died before his 61st. Not to mention Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, and so many others whose music has been the soundtrack of my life.

So let's take a moment for a silent "goodbye, and thanks for the music" to:

[31 Dec 2022]  Jeremiah Green (drummer, Modest Mouse), 45

[31 Dec 2022] Anita Pointer (The Pointer Sisters), 74

[30 Dec 2022] Don Williams (Williams Brothers), 100

[29 Dec 2022] Ian Tyson (Ian & Sylvia), 89

[28 Dec 2022] Black Stalin (Trinidadian calypso musician), 81

[27 Dec 2022] Jo Mersa Marley (Jamaican musician, Bob's grandson), 31

[25 Dec 2022] Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson (Blues guitarist), 83

[23 Dec 2022] Maxi Jazz (Faithless), 65  

[21 Dec 2022] Harvey Jet (Black Oak Arkansas), 73 

[20 Dec 2022] Iain Templeton (drummer, Shack/The La's), 50+

[19 Dec 2022] Terry Hall (The Specials/ Fun Boy Three), 63 

[18 Dec 2022] Martin Duffy (Primal Scream/Felt), 55 

[17 Dec 2022] Charlie Gracie (50's rock'n'roller), 86

[16 Dec 2022] Bertha Rick Anderson (The Tubes), 75

[16 Dec 2022] Barbee-McNeal (girl group The Velvelettes ), 82

[15 Dec 2022] Dino Danelli (The Rascals), 78

[13 Dec 2022] Benjamin Bossi (Romeo Void), 69

[13 Dec 2022] Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown), 75

[13 Dec 2022] Sol Amarfio (Ghanaian-British drummer for Osibisa), 84

[13 Dec 2022] Grand Daddy I.U. (American rapper), 54

[13 Dec 2022] Lalo Rodríguez (Puerto Rican salsa singer), 64

[11 Dec 2022] Angelo Badalamenti (film composer, Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet), 85

[10 Dec 2022] J. J. Barnes (American R&B singer), 79

[08 Dec 2022] Yitzhak Klepter (Israeli singer-guitarist, The Churchills), 72

[06 Dec 2022] Jet Black (drummer, The Stranglers ), 84

[06 Dec 2022] Hamish Kilgour (The Clean), 65

[04 Dec 2022] Manuel Göttsching (Ash Ra Tempel), 70

[03 Dec 2022] Svenne Hedlund (Swedish singer for Hep Stars), 77

[30 Nov 2022] Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), 79

[25 Nov 2022] Irene Cara (of "Fame" fame), 63

[23 Nov 2022]  Shel Macrae (The Fortunes), 77

[21 Nov 2022] Wilko Johnson ( Dr. Feelgood), 75

[19 Nov 2022] Danny Kalb (Blues Project), 80

[17 Nov 2022] B. Smyth (American R&B singer), 28

[11 Nov 2022] Keith Levene (Public Image Ltd/The Clash), 65

[11 Nov 2022] Rab Noakes (Stealers Wheel), 75

[10 Nov 2022] Nik Turner (Hawkwind), 82

[10 Nov 2022] Chris Koerts (Dutch guitarist for Earth and Fire), 74

[09 Nov 2022] Gal Costa (Brazilian singer), 77

[08 Nov 2022] Pierre Kartner (Dutch musician and songwriter), 87

[08 Nov 2022] Garry Roberts (Boomtown Rats), 72

[08 Nov 2022] Dan McCafferty (Nazareth), 76

[07 Nov 2022] Jeff Cook (Alabama), 73

[06 Nov 2022]  Dan Fawcett (Helix), 52

[05 Nov 2022] YOSHI  (Japanese singer and actor), 19

[05 Nov 2022] Mimi Parker (Low), 54

[05 Nov 2022] Tyrone Downie (Bob Marley and the Wailers), 66

[05 Nov 2022] Aaron Carter (American singer), 34

[03 Nov 2022] Noel McKoy (British soul singer), 62

[02 Nov 2022] Atilio Stampone (Argentine pianist, composer and arranger), 96

[01 Nov 2022] Takeoff (Migos), 28

[28 Oct 2022] D. H. Peligro (Dead Kennedys), 63

[28 Oct 2022] Jerry Lee Lewis ("the killer"), 87

[24 Oct 2022] Gregg Philbin (REO Speedwagon)

[18 Oct 2022] Robert Gordon (rockabilly singer), 75

[18 Oct 2022] Franco Gatti (Ricchi e Poveri), 80

[15 Oct 2022] Joyce Sims (soul singer/songwriter), 63

[15 Oct 2022] Noel Duggan (Clannad), 73

[10 Oct 2022] Anita Kerr (jazz singer), 94

[08 Oct 2022] Steve Roberts (The Exploited/U.K. Subs), 68

[04 Oct 2022] Loretta Lynn (country singer), 90

[28 Sep 2022] Coolio (rapper), 59

[24 Sep 2022] Pharoah Sanders (jazz saxophonist) 81

[22 Sep 2022] John Hartman (Doobie Brothers), 72

[21 Sep 2022] Anton Fier (Golden Palominos/The Feelies), 66

[14 Sep 2022] Irene Papas (Greek actress/singer), 93

[13 Sep 2022] Jesse Powell (soul singer/songwriter), 51

[12 Sep 2022] Ramsey Lewis (jazz pianist), 87

[2 Sep 2022] Drummie Zeb (Aswad), 62

[26 Aug 2022] Luke Bell (country singer), 32

[25 Aug 2022] Mable John (Motown recording artist), 89

[22 Aug 2022] Jerry Allison (The Crickets), 82

[21 Aug 2022] Stuart Anstis (Cradle of Filth), 48

[08 Aug 2022] Olivia Newton- John ("Grease" soundtrack), 73

[15 Aug 2022]  Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper/Onslaught), 62

[08 Aug 2022]  Lamont Dozier (soul singer/songwriter), 81

[08 Aug 2022] Darryl Hunt (The Pogues), 72

[07 Aug 2022] Gord Lewis (Teenage Head), 65

[05 Aug 2022] Judith Durham (The Seekers), 79

[04 Aug 2022] Ray Majors (Mott/The Yardbirds), 73

[04 Aug 2022] Sam Gooden (The Impressions), 87

[29 Jul 2022] Jim Sohns (The Shadows of Knight), 75

[27 Jul 2022] Tom Springfield (The Springfields/The Seekers), 88

[24 Jul 2022] Bob Heathcote (Suicidal Tendencies), 58

[20 Jul 2022]  Frederick Waite Jr. (Musical Youth), 55

[20 Jul 2022] Jody Abbott (Fuel)

[19 Jul 2022]  Michael Henderson (jazz soul bassist/vocalist),72

[15 Jul 2022] Paul Ryder (Happy Mondays), 58

[14 Jul 2022] William Hart (The Delfonics), 77

[09 Jul 2022] Barbara Thompson (Colosseum), 77

[05 Jul 2022] Manny Charlton (Nazareth), 81

[23 Jun 2022] Massimo Morante (Goblin), 70

[19 Jun 2022] Jim Schwall (Siegel–Schwall Band) , 79

[19 Jun 2022] Brett Tuggle (Fleetwood Mac), 70

[09 Jun 2022] Julee Cruise (Twin Peaks, B52's), 65

[06 Jun 2022] Jim Seals (Seals and Crofts), 80

[05 Jun 2022] Alec John Such (Bon Jovi), 70

[30 May 2022] Hempo Hildén (Dokken), 69

[29 May 2022] Steve Broughton (Edgar Broughton Band), 72

[29 May 2022] Ronnie Hawkins (rock'n'roll singer), 87

[26 May 2022] Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode), 60

[26 May 2022] Alan White (Yes), 72

[18 May 2022] Cathal Coughlan (Microdisney/The Fatima Mansions), 61

[17 May 2022] Vangelis (Greek composer, keyboard player), 79

[13 May 2022] Rosmarie Trapp (Trapp Family), 93

[12 May 2022] Ben Moore (The Blind Boys of Alabama), 80

[10 May 2022] Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder), 41

[04 May 2022] Howie Pyro (D Generation), 61

[01 May 2022] Ric Parnell (Spinal Tap/Atomic Rooster) 70

[30 Apr 2022] Naomi Judd (The Judds), 76

[30 Apr 2022] Ray Fenwick (Spencer Davis Group/Ian Gillan Band), 75

[27 Apr 2022] Judy Henske (folk singer), 85

[26 Apr 2022] Randy Rand (Autograph), 62

[26 Apr 2022] Klaus Schulze (Tangerine Dream/Ash Ra Tempel), 74

[25 Apr 2022] Susan Jacks (Poppy Family), 73

[25 Apr 2022] Andrew Woolfolk (Earth, Wind & Fire), 71

[20 Apr 2022]  Guitar Shorty (blues guitarist), 87

[18 Apr 2022]  Jerry Doucette (Canadian singer-songwriter), 70

[17 Apr 2022] Rick Turner (Autosalvage), 78

[17 Apr 2022] Roderick "Pooh" Clark (Hi-Five), 49

[14 Apr 2022] Stavros Logaridis (Greek rocker, Poll/Akritas), 68

[12 Apr 2022] Charles E. McCormick (Bloodstone), 75

[09 Apr 2022] Chris Bailey (The Saints), 65

[08 Apr 2022] Con Cluskey (The Bachelors), 80

[07 Apr 2022] Ken West (Big Day Out), 64

[05 Apr 2022] Bobby Rydell (rock'n'roll singer), 80

[04 Apr 2022] Joe Messina (Funk Brothers), 94

[03 Apr 2022] Pamela Rooke (aka Jordan, Adam and the Ants) 66

[01 Apr 2022]  Bunny Simpson (Mighty Diamonds), 71

[30 Mar 2022] Tom Parker (The Wanted), 33

[30 Mar 2022] Yanick Étienne (Haitian singer, Roxy Music back.voc.), 64

[29 Mar 2022] Tabby Diamond (Mighty Diamonds), 67

[25 Mar 2022] Bobby Hendricks (The Drifters), 84

[25 Mar 2022] Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), 50

[24 Mar 2022]  Bert Ruiter (Focus/Earth and Fire), 75

[112022] Timmy Thomas, (R&B singer) 77

[10 Mar 2022] Bobbie Nelson (Willie Nelson's band), 91

[09 Mar 2022] Richard Podolor (The Pets), 86

[06 Mar 2022] Mike Cross (Sponge), 57

[05 Mar 2022] Jeff Howell (Foghat bassist), 61

[22 Feb 2022] Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), 57

[19 Feb 2022] Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), 76

[17 Feb 2022] Dallas Good (The Sadies), 48

[14 Feb 2022] Sandy Nelson (jazz drummer), 83

[13 Feb 2022] King Louie Bankston (Exploding Hearts), 49

[11 Feb 2022]  Chet McCracken (The Doobie Brothers), 75

[09 Feb 2022] Ian McDonald (King Crimson), 75

[09 Feb 2022] Betty Davis (soul singer), 77

[06 Feb 2022] Syl Johnson (blues singer),85

[02 Feb 2022] Willie Leacox (America), 74

[31 Jan 2022]  Jimmy Johnson  (blues guitarist, Syl's brother), 93

[30 Jan 2022] Hargus Pig Robbins (session keyboard player) 84

[30 Jan 2022] Norma Waterson (The Watersons), 82

[22 Jan 2022] Don Wilson (The Ventures), 88

[20 Jan 2022] Meat Loaf, 74

[18 Jan 2022] Dick Halligan (Blood, Sweat & Tears), 78

[15 Jan 2022] Rachel Nagy (Detroit Cobras), 48

[14 Jan 2022] Dallas Frazier (country singer), 83

[13 Jan 2022] Fred Parris (Five Satins), 85

[12 Jan 2022] Ronnie Spector,78

[11 Jan 2022] Rosa Lee Hawkins (Dixie Cups), 76

[10 Jan 2022] Burke Shelley (Budgie), 71

[7 Jan 2022]  R. Dean Taylor (Motown recording artist), 82

[7 Jan 2022] Bobby Harrison (Procol Harum/Freedom/Snafu), 82

[6 Jan 2022] Calvin Simon (Parliament-Funkadelic), 79