Hero's are remembered * Legends are never forgotten!!
"THEIR SPIRIT AND MUSIC LIVE ON"
TRIBUTES FROM THE SOUTHERN OUTLAW BAND
In appreciation for the lives lost in Operation Iraqi Freedom!!
In memory of all that was lost September 11, 2001
Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, who was one of the band's founding members, was discovered dead on Friday, July 27, Jacksonville, Fla.; Wilkeson died in his sleep.
"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?"
Free Bird (the song Ronnie wrote as a tribute to Duane Allman) is now a tribute to him.
I think Ronnie knows the answer to that! "How 'bout you?"
photo credits: Lynn Pelham
ALLEN COLLINS
JOHN BONHAM: 21 YEARS GONE...
THE LEGEND LIVES ON...
BONZO & SON JASON
One of the greatest drummers of all time. I think anyone who has
heard him can agree with that. Bonham and Robert Plant were
childhood friends. Later they combined there musical talents and
formed their first band "The New Yardbirds" which later
became known as Led Zeppelin. Today Zeppelin is called the greatest
rock n' roll band of all time. Bonham was truly missed by the entire group.
His son Jason is following in his footsteps today. Jason even played drums
with Zeppelin at their reunion concert years ago. For more info on
Bonham and the group go to:
JOHN LEE HOOKER
June 17, 1920 - June 21, 2001
This man really knew how to burn those strings. If you have never
heard him play, you should check him out!! With hits like "Boogie Chillun",
"Goin' Mad", and "Hobo Blues", he hit his mark on the music industry.
He may not have had many #1 hits, but that wasn't his fault.
During his time he was competing with groups like Pink Floyd, ABBA,
and Jim Croce. The folks just preferred that type of music.
Nevertheless, he prevailed and became one of the greatest blues
guitarist of all time. Eric Clapton will tell you that!!
STEVIE
RAY VAUGHAN
I hear a blues riff in the still of the night.
Is that you little boy blues?
Your cross was found on some faraway hill,
They say where wild flowers grow.
Are you up there somewhere playing your blues?
Oh Lord I think I know . . .
--- Joe Boy Cook (Stevie Ray's uncle)
"HIS SPIRIT AND MUSIC LIVE ON"
Stevie Ray was killed in a helicopter crash along with the pilot and
three members of the Eric Clapton entourage. They had just finished
a show and were heading to Chicago for their next gig. Stevie was
scheduled to ride on the bus (but like so many musicians) at the
last minute chose to fly. He was sure to be one of the greatest of
all time. He is missed by family, friends, and fans.
JACO PRASTORIUS
DECEMBER 1, 1951 * SEPTEMBER 12, 1987
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF JACO(I MAY BE WRONG), BUT HE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A MUSICAL GENIUS. HIS PLAYING STYLE HAS INFLUENCED AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF BASS PLAYERS.
JACO ACTUALLY STARTED OUT PLAYING THE DRUMS WITH A GROUP CALLED THE SONICS IN 1963. IN THE SUMMER OF 1967 HE SWITCHED TO THE BASS. HE RECORDED SEVERAL JAZZ & BLUES ALBUMS WITH GROUPS LIKE WAYNE COCHRAN & THE C.C. RIDERS AND LITTLE BEAVER. IN 1976 HE JOINED THE GROUP CALLED WEATHER REPORT. AFTER HAVING SOME FAME, JACO WENT THROUGH A ROUGH PERIOD WITH MANIC DEPRESSION. HE WAS PUT ON MEDICATION AND HOSPITALIZED FOR HIS CONDITION. AFTER SOME TIME, JACO QUIT TAKING HIS MEDICATION AND BEGAN CRASHING CONCERTS(JUMPING UP ON STAGE WITH GROUPS LIKE SANTANA) AND LOCAL CLUBS. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1987, EARLY IN THE MORNING, HE TRIED TO CRASH AN AFTER HOURS CLUB AND WAS BEATEN SENSELESS. HE WAS RUSHED TO THE BROWARD COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE LIED IN A COMA. LATER THAT NIGHT HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 1O:OO PM. WHAT A TRAGEDY IT WAS!! IF YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD HIS MUSIC, YOU CHECK OUT SOME MP3 FILES ON-LINE.
JIM MORRISON
LIZARD KING
THE DOORS
WHAT IS THERE TO SAY ABOUT HIM? SOME THOUGHT HE WAS CRAZY AND INSANE, OTHERS THOUGHT HE WAS A GOD!! YOU CHOOSE!! BUT, NO ONE CAN SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT HIM. YOU COULD CALL HIM POETIC, STRANGE, INSIGHTFUL, MESMERIZING OR A FLAKE!
ON JULY 3, 1971 JIM WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS BATHTUB. HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE STATES THE CAUSE WAS HEART FAILURE. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT JIM DIED OF A DRUG OVERDOSE(HEROIN). HOWEVER THERE IS NO PROOF AND NO AUTOPSY WAS EVER PERFORMED. NEVERTHELESS, THE WORLD LOST WHAT SURE TO BE ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATEST.
SURELY, WHEN JIM DIED THE WORLD STOPPED JUST A FEW BRIEF MOMENTS!!
TODAY THE DOORS MUSIC IS INFLUENCING MUSICIANS BOTH YOUNG AND OLD. JIM'S POEMS AND ODD LYRICS STILL LIVE ON TODAY! IN OUR MINDS HE WAS A BIT ECCENTRIC, BUT HE WAS GREAT AND WENT WHERE OTHER MUSICIANS WERE SCARED TO GO!!
THIS IS ONE MAN WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! YOU CAN TELL BY THE PICS OF JIM GRAVE SITE BELOW!!
Steve Clark
Def Leppard
January 8, 1991
Def Leppard Guitarist Steve Clark died of a fatal mixture of alcohol and drugs, according to the coroner's report released in London on February 27th. The report said Clark died of respiratory failure due to a compression of the brain stem resulting from excess quantities of alcohol mixed with antidepressants and painkillers. The Westminister Coroner's Court issued a verdict of accidental death caused by non-dependent use of drugs and alcohol, with no evidence of suicidal intent. The thirty-year-old guitarist was found dead in his London home on January 8th.
According to the report, Clark fell asleep on a sofa after drinking heavily in a local pub with a friend. The coroner disclosed that the alcohol level in Clark's blood was three times the British legal limit for driving. Clark had battled alcoholism for several years and had undergone clinical treatment during the past year and a half. The autopsy revealed traces of valium and morphine along with a fatal quantity of codeine. Clark had been taking painkillers as a result of a back injury. Although some British newspapers reported that traces of heroin had been found as well, the coroner found no evidence of the drug.
Rock on Steve!!
BON SCOTT
FEBRUARY 19, 1980
THE VOICE WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!
Bon Scott was a man who brought AC/DC into sharp focus. He was a unique personality, a man of such charisma that he could make every single fan in an audience of thousands feel like he was performing just for them, while also having the ability to make the local pub seem like an arena. He enjoyed life and loved nothing better than giving pleasure to others. Yet Bon was also an excessive and this would ultimately lead to tragedy. After a night of heavy drinking, Bon died in a car parked outside a friends flat sometime on February the 19th 1980. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Kings College Hospital. Bon Scott lies in the Freemantle Cemetery’s Memorial Garden in Western Australia.
DUANE ALLMAN BERRY OAKLEY
10-29-71 11-10-72
Duane Allman and Berry Oakley both of The Allman Brothers Band tragically died in motorcyle accidents less than a year apart. What is so strange about it, is that they both died on motorcycles and the accidents happened only a block away from each other. They are also buried at the same cemetary in Macon Georgia. These two guys were legends in their time. They gave us that good ole' southern rock n' roll that we still listen to today!
JIMMI HENDRIX
"THE ELECTRIC GYPSY"
November 27, 1942 * September 18, 1970
Johnny Allen Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942. On September 11, 1946 his father officially changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix. Jimmi was noticed by Chas Chandler, bass player for "The Animals", and soon became his manager. Jimmi formed "The Experience" with Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mithchell (drums). They released their first single "Hey Joe" on December 13, 1966. Jimmi went on the perform many great hits and played all over the world.
He is known today as one of the greatest musicians and guitar players to ever live. He expressed his emotions through his music. His version of the Star Spangled Banner is a great example. Jimmi is called a genius, poet, unpredictable and controversial. He was all these things and more. Jimmi took the guitar to places it had never been before and rock and roll would never be the same.
Jimmi died at the age of 27 at a hotel room in London. He was found unconscious, having vomited in his sleep. Rescue men were anable to revive him and he was taken to St. Mary Abbots Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead just after midday. The pathologist reported a large amount of Seconol in his blood, but no reason to assume suicide was the cause of death. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetary in Renton, Seattle.
Janis Joplin
January 19, 1943 * October 4, 1970
Janis Joplin, the first female rock and roll superstar. Joplin showed that women could be rock singers. Almost 30 years after her death she is remembered as the best white blues singer of the 1960s. Famous for her stage performances, her tangos with the bottle, her turbulent love life, and her fatal attraction with drugs, her musicial legacy change rock and roll for women.
At first Joplin found work in country and western clubs in Houston and other Texas cities. She moved on to the folk circuit in Austin, but later moved on to San Francisco and briefly, New York City. She played at famous venues such as: Madison Square Garden, Paris, London, Woodstock, and Harvard Stadium. She is known for her single Piece Of My Heart.
Joplin had an addiction to amphetamines. Her attempts to clean up were unsuccessful. She became dependent on drugs and alcohol. On October 4, 1970, Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose. She was only 27.
She was cremated and her ashes were scattered off the California coast.
