Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Ronnie James Dio (2010) - Black Sabbath singer dies after losing battle with cancer

Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio dies after losing battle with cancer

Terje Bendiksby/Scanpix/Reuters
Terje Bendiksby/Scanpix/Reuters
Ronnie James Dio on stage in June 2009.
  May 16, 2010 – 5:14 PM ET | Last Updated: May 16, 2010 11:17 PM ET
Influential heavy metal frontman Ronnie James Dio has died according to this message posted by his wife Wendy on his official website:
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
Dio became well known as the singer who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in British group Black Sabbath in 1979. He also fronted less successful groups like Elf, Rainbow and his own, Dio.
Last November after he cancelled a European tour, it was announced that Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer and was being treated at the renowned Mayo Clinic.
Dio was 67.

Freddie Mercury (1991) of Queen

1991: Giant of rock dies
Freddie Mercury has died aged 45, just one day after he publicly announced he was HIV positive. The lead singer for rock group Queen died quietly at his home in west London of bronchio-pneumonia, brought on by Aids, his publicist said.
The flamboyant star is thought to have had the disease for two years, but he continued to make music and the decline in his health was only rarely glimpsed.
Mercury was born Farookh Bulsara in Zanzibar in 1946 and spent most of his childhood in India before his family settled in England in 1964. That year he enrolled in art school.
Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May and Mike Grose formed Queen in 1970.
Regarded by fans and critics alike as a consummate showman, Mercury was openly bisexual and enjoyed a colourful rock-star lifestyle.

Music critic Paul Gambaccini praised Mercury for his huge contribution to hard rock music.
"He gave a form which was pretty staid and sour, a great personality," he said.
The director of an Aids education charity, Dr Patrick Dixon, told the BBC that Mercury's greatest gift to his fans was admitting he was suffering from the disease.
"His hope was no doubt that through his openness many people throughout the world would see that Aids is a real illness - that it's killing people every day," said Dr Dixon.

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A great personality
Music critic Paul Gambaccini
Tributes from all over the world have been pouring in for the man who stole the show at Live Aid and wrote ground-breaking hits like Bohemian Rhapsody - which was number one in the UK for nine weeks.

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Freddie Mercury
Legend of glam rock Freddie Mercury: A consummate showman

The Queen's lead man Freddie Mercury passes away


In Context
A Freddie Mercury tribute concert for Aids awareness was held five months after his death at Wembley Stadium, London, and was attended by 72,000 people. Dozens of stars appeared at the event which was broadcast to 70 countries and raised about £20m for Aids charities.
His enormous contribution to music and his early death quickly cemented his reputation as a rock legend.
In August 2002 voters in a BBC poll voted him among their top 100 British heroes.

Robert Palmer

Singer Robert Palmer dies
Robert Palmer
Palmer died in Paris while taking a break with his partner
Singer Robert Palmer has died of a heart attack in Paris aged 54. The British star is best known for his hits Addicted to Love, Some Guys Have All the Luck and Didn't Mean to Turn You On.
He had been in the French capital on a two-day break with partner Mary Ambrose, after recording a TV appearance in the UK.
His manager said he suffered the heart attack in the early hours of Friday morning.
The Yorkshire-born singer had recently been on tour of Europe to promote his latest album Drive.
Palmer had been performing since the early 1970s, playing in bands including Mandrake Paddle Steamer and Dada, featuring Elkie Brooks.
He then went on to front Vinegar Joe, also with Brooks, releasing three albums with the band before launching his solo career.
Addicted To Love
Addicted To Love made Palmer a household name
Brooks said she was "devastated" at the news and had reconciled with Palmer after several "differences of opinion" over the years.
"Robert was a star - he was a great writer, a fabulous musician and a great singer," she said. "And he was stunning looking."
He had a strong influence over other musicians - especially visually, with his ground-breaking videos, she said.
"Robert was always one that wanted to be different, wanted to be trendy - from the way he looked to the music. He wanted to be a step ahead," she said.
Famous video
He was also a member of 1980s supergroup Power Station, which also included members of Duran Duran.
In a statement, Duran Duran said: "He was a very dear friend and a great artist. This is a tragic loss to the British music industry."
It was it was during the 1980s that Palmer achieved mainstream solo recognition.
Robert Palmer
He was something really rare in the music industry - he was an absolute gent
Ex-publicist Suzanne Parkes

Known for his sharp dress sense, his solo album Riptide produced the top five hit Addicted to Love, which was backed with one of rock music's most famous videos.
It featured Palmer backed by a band featuring identically-dressed woman, who were also made up to look the same.
But after scoring hits with She Makes My Day and Mercy Mercy Me he turned he returned to his rhythm and blues roots.
His Ridin' High album in 1992 was a mix of genres from Tin Pan Alley and cabaret classics.
A greatest hits album was released in 1995 and reached number four in the UK charts.
TV appearance
Although born in Batley, West Yorkshire, he spent much of his childhood in Malta before moving back to the UK at the age of 19 where his family settled in Scarborough.
Later on he spent time living in New York, the Bahamas and Switzerland, but also stayed close to his roots.
Rock journalist Paul Lester, from Uncut magazine, said Palmer rose from northern clubs to become "elegant and sophisticated" and the master of several styles.

"He was kind of a pioneer of blue-eyed soul, which is white men doing black music and R&B pretty well. He had two or three careers," Lester told BBC News Online.
Palmer filmed his parts for a regional TV show, My Kinda People, about his musical influences, for Yorkshire TV on Wednesday.
'So much fun'
Robert Palmer
Palmer appeared on stage with Chaka Khan at Wembley Arena recently
"At the moment, no decision has been made regarding the future of this programme as everyone's thoughts are with Robert's family and friends," a spokesman said.
Suzanne Parkes, who worked as Palmer's publicist for Power Station's Living in Fear album in 1996, told BBC News Online: "He was something really rare in the music industry. His offstage persona was even nicer than that onstage, he was an absolute gent.
"I'm really sad, but I remember the times with Robert as just so much fun.
"I remember going with him to this secret karaoke club in Soho once - and he actually got up on stage and did karaoke to his own songs, to Addicted to Love, just for a laugh."

Monday, March 28, 2011

Easy-E

Eazy-EPhoto by Peter Dokus

Born Eric Wright on Sep 7, 1964 in Compton, CA
Died Mar 26, 1995 in Los Angeles, CA
Years Active1910 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2000
GenresRap
StylesGangsta Rap West Coast Rap Hardcore Rap G-Funk Dirty Rap
MoodsBoisterous Humorous Reckless Street-Smart Brash Confident Confrontational Harsh Menacing Provocative Rebellious Rowdy Sleazy Thuggish InstrumentsVocals Executive Producer
Other EntiresMovie Entry AMG Artist IDP 33Corrections to this Entry?Biographyby Steve Huey

Whether as a member of N.W.A., a solo act, or a label head, Eazy-E was one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap. While his technical skills as a rapper were never the greatest, his distinctive delivery (invariably described as a high-pitched whine), over-the-top lyrics, and undeniable charisma made him a star. Following N.W.A.'s breakup, E's street credibility took a major beating, though his recordings continued to sell well when they appeared; unfortunately, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1995, and died not long after.

Eric "Eazy-E" Wright was born September 7, 1964, in Compton, CA, a rough part of the Los Angeles metro area that N.W.A. would later make notorious. A high school dropout, Wright turned to drug dealing to support himself, and eventually used the profits to start his own rap label, Ruthless Records, with partner and music-business veteran Jerry Heller. E discovered a major performing talent in the D.O.C., and recruited Ice Cube and Dr. Dre to write songs for his stable of artists. When their composition "Boyz-N-the Hood" was rejected by Ruthless signee HBO, Cube, Dre, and E formed the first version of N.W.A. to record it themselves. Their first album, N.W.A. and the Posse, was released in 1987 and largely ignored; after a few tweaks of the lineup and the rough-edged subject matter, 1988's Straight Outta Compton made N.W.A. into superstars. E seized the opportunity to release a solo project later in the year, titled Eazy-Duz-It, which would be the only full-length album he would complete; it would sell well over two-million copies.

After Ice Cube's bitter departure from N.W.A. toward the end of 1989 (precipitated in part by Heller's business tactics), Eazy-E took over his not inconsiderable share of the rapping and songwriting duties, becoming the group's dominant voice on 1991's Efil4zaggin. His taste for cartoon-ish vulgarity began to undermine the claims of realistic inner-city reporting that the group had used to defend themselves. Disputes between the members led to N.W.A.'s breakup that summer, and a court battle between Ruthless and Dre's new label Death Row soon followed, with Eazy alleging that Death Row head Suge Knight had coerced Ruthless into releasing Dre from his contract. The case was eventually thrown out, but a bitter feud between Dre and Eazy raged for the next several years; Dre's seminal solo debut The Chronic made merciless fun of Eazy. E's 1992 solo EP 5150 Home 4 tha Sick sold well, but did little to dispel his increasingly cartoon-ish image; he found more success running the Ruthless label, with a roster that included Above the Law, N.W.A. bandmate MC Ren, the poorly received all-female group H.W.A. (Hoez With Attitude), and, eventually, the lucrative Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Eazy addressed his feud with Dre on the 1993 EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, which famously included an actual photo of Dre wearing makeup and sequins during his World Class Wreckin' Cru days. Still, save for dissing Dre, Eazy didn't seem to have much to say, and despite healthy record sales, his artistic credibility was declining at an alarming rate. Eazy didn't help matters much when, in early 1993, he spoke out in support of Theodore Briseno, the only LAPD officer involved in the Rodney King beating to express displeasure; later in the year, he paid 2,500 dollars to attend a Republican fund-raiser, which his detractors saw as a further betrayal of his roots.

In early 1995, Eazy entered the hospital with respiratory difficulties, believing he had developed asthma. The diagnosis was far more serious: he had contracted AIDS. Eazy announced his plight to the public shortly thereafter, winning admiration for his straightforward attitude. Sadly, just a few weeks later, on March 26, 1995, the disease claimed his life. The record he had been working on, Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, was released posthumously (in unfinished form) later on in the year. In 2002, on the seventh anniversary of his death, some previously unreleased material from the Ruthless vaults was released as the EP Impact of a Legend, which was accompanied by a DVD.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Actor Chris Penn Found dead in L.A. home (Reservoir Dogs)

Actor Chris Penn found dead in L.A. home

No foul play suspected in death of Sean Penn’s brother


Image: Chris Penn
Fred Prouser  /  Reuters file
Chris Penn’s latest film, “The Darwin Awards,” was scheduled to premiere Wednesday at the Sundance Film Festival.
Chris Penn, a younger brother of Sean Penn who played supporting roles in films such as “Reservoir Dogs” and “Starsky & Hutch,” was found dead in his Santa Monica home, authorities said. Police do not suspect foul play.
Penn’s body was discovered in bed inside the condominium on Ocean Avenue, said Capt. Ed Winter of the county coroner’s office. He said the actor’s housekeeper called authorities.
There were no obvious signs of foul play, Lt. Frank Fabrega said. Autopsy results were pending. Police said Penn was 40 years old, though several celebrity Web sites list his age as 43.
“The Penn family would appreciate the media’s respect of their privacy during this difficult time,” Mara Buxbaum, Sean Penn’s publicist, said in a statement.
Chris Penn’s credits included “Rumble Fish,” “All the Right Moves,” “Footloose,” “Rush Hour,” “Corky Romano” and “Starsky & Hutch.” He also played Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino crime drama “Reservoir Dogs.”
Although he was not as well known as his brother Sean, 45, critics said he often was underrated.
“Just as talented as Sean — just a lot less cocky,” Slate magazine critic Cintra Wilson wrote of him last year. He “makes you seamlessly believe in characters so much you barely even notice them.”
Penn’s late father, Leo Penn, directed television shows. His mother, Eileen Ryan, is an actress whose credits include “I Am Sam,” “Magnolia” and “Parenthood.” His brother is musician Michael Penn.
Chris Penn’s latest film, “The Darwin Awards,” was scheduled to premiere Wednesday at the Sundance Film Festival. The film also stars Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder and David Arquette.

Alice in Chains' Founding Bassist, Mike Starr, Found Dead in Salt Lake City

Alice in Chains' Founding Bassist, Mike Starr, Found Dead in Salt Lake City

Mike Starr of Alice in ChainsMarty Temme, WireImage
The founding and, then, former bassist of Alice in Chains -- Mike Starr -- has been found dead in a home in Salt Lake City, according to a report first filed by TMZ.com. Police were called to the house at 1:42PM on Tuesday and found controlled substances including Xanex and the painkiller Opana, along with the dead body.

In 1987, Starr was friends with guitarist Jerry Cantrell and agreed to join his new project with vocalist Layne Staley and drummer Sean Kinney, under the name Alice in Chains. The Seattle-based band was signed to Columbia Records two years later, in 1989, and cashed in on the Seattle grunge movement when it broke in the early '90s, following Nirvana's unexpected, massive success. Suddenly, Alice in Chains was branded as an alternative rock band, instead of the heavy metal machine they first imagined themselves as, and the group scored a hit with the song, 'Would?,' which was featured on the soundtrack to the generation-defining film, 'Singles.'

Starr either quit the band, or else he was fired, in 1993. The official reason for his departure was a lifestyle change. On the record, Starr wanted to spend more time with his family, less on the road, and the split was amicable. Years later, Starr publicly said that, in actuality, he was kicked out due to his drug use, which was spiraling out of control.

In 2010, Starr joined the cast of VH1's reality television series 'Celebrity Rehab' for its third season. The show documented his recovery from heroin addiction and Starr returned to the series the following season as a special guest, appearing as something of a mentor for that season's recovering addicts.

Last month, on February 18, Starr was arrested in Utah on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance. We'll update this tragic story as it develops.

Watch Alice in Chains' Video for 'Would?'


Download Alice in Chains Songs | Buy Alice in Chains Albums

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Corey Haim

Corey Haim Died Broke & Alone, Says Corey Feldman

Thursday March 11, 2010 11:00 AM EST
Corey Haim Died Broke & Alone, Says Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman (left) and Corey Haim in 2007
Frazer Harrison/Getty
While Corey Feldman appreciates the outpouring of support over the tragic death of his longtime friend Corey Haim at 38, he's also "very troubled" as he wonders where the support was during Haim's life.

Feldman, who appeared on Larry King Live Wednesday night, said Haim was "very destitute, very broke," had no car and few friends.

"At the end of the day, Larry, where were all these people the last 10 years, the last 15 years of Corey's life?" asked Feldman, also 38. "Where were all these people to lend a hand out, to reach out to him and say, you know, you're a legend, you're – you're an amazingly talented, wonderful person who's really never gone out of his way to hurt anybody other than himself?"

Feldman also said Haim was recently seeing a new treatment specialist who put him on a new line of medications. Feldman did not specify which they were, but said, "Let's just say that they may not have corresponded properly with the medications that he was currently taking."

However, Feldman had noticed a marked shift in his friend since his mother, with whom Haim was living in a month-to-month rental property, was diagnosed with cancer. "He shaped up. He got his act together," Feldman said. "When his mom got ill, it was the first time I ever saw Corey grow up."


Feldman said "a sizeable memorial" will be planned for Haim – which he hopes will be well-attended. "You see these people making great statements and that's wonderful and I hope they're all there for the memorial and I hope they're all there for the funeral. But where were they during his life?"

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PeopleTV: 12 Years Ago: A Happy Corey Haim Steps Out with Fiancé