RIP

Friday, November 20, 2009

"R/I/P/S/Y/H"

Posted by Megan Seling on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 4:15 PM

Theyre already dressed for their funeral.
  • They're already dressed for their funeral.
This afternoon, members of Schoolyard Heroes have posted "R/I/P/S/Y/H" on their Facebook pages, letting fans know that indeed, the end has come for the band.

"Steve [Bonnell] and Brian [Turner] have kind of phased themselves out over the last year or so, and it'd be weird going on with them," says Jonah Bergman, the band's bassist. "So our Home for the Horrordays show is going to be our last one."

Even though Schoolyard has been playing recently without Bonnell and Turner, the two will be rejoining the band for the December show, happening at El Corazon on December 19th. It will also be the last show for Kane Hodder, who have played many a show with Schoolyard over the years. (And they too will be performing with their original line-up, including bassist Nick Cates and guitarist Jeremy White.)

Despite the break up, Bergman and Co. probably aren't done with music. Schoolyard's music has always been about dead things coming back to life, after all. In fact, he stressed that all Schoolyard fans will want to be sure they arrive to the show on time to see the opening "special guests."

But before they look too far ahead, with or without new projects, they're concentrating on giving Schoolyard the funeral service it deserves. "This band has been the only thing that we’ve thought about, and done every day for the last 10 years and now it’s gonna be done."

RIP, Schoolyard Heroes.

Home for the Horrordays is Saturday, December 19th, at El Corazon with Schoolyard Heroes, These Arms Are Snakes, Kane Hodder, Sirens Sister, and special guests. Doors are at 7 pm, it's all ages, and tickets are available here for $15.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

RIP Jared Sletager

Posted by Megan Seling on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM

Jared Sletager, who played in local bands Pregnant and Elphaba, and also helped Adam Paysse co-found Rome Plow Records, passed away Sunday night. He was 29. In October the vehicle he was driving was struck by a drunk driver, putting him in a coma for a number of weeks. "He fought incredibly hard to live," says his friend and bandmate Matt Doctor, "but after many complications his body began to shut down and the decision was made to let him go. He was surrounded by many friends and family at his passing."

Elphaba was a great band, and Jared has been a proud supporter of the local all-ages music scene for many years. It was partly because of them that local label Rome Plow ever existed (and went on to release albums by the Assailant, Helms Alee, Blues and more). In an Underage column in 2006, Paysse said: "I had no intention of starting a label, but after hearing the songs Elphaba had recorded, I just couldn't stand by and let a record that brilliant go unreleased and unappreciated. So I offered to put it out."

Rome Plow has since stopped releasing records, but Paysse is bringing back the label to release a limited vinyl run of Elphaba's last record, a record that the band never got to release themselves. "Jared was particularly proud of the record and sad it was never released," says Matt.

Friends are also organizing benefit shows to help his family cover the costs of the funeral or to donate money to one of Jared's favorite charities. The first one is December 5th at the Black Lodge with Navigator vs. Navigator, Stres, and Happy Birthday Secret Weapon. The others have yet to be confirmed, but I'll definitely post details once they're worked out.

This is an incredibly sad story, and sincere condolences go out to his friends, family, and bandmates.

RIP, Jared.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Ben Hills Memorial Show Sunday Nov 22 at the Comet

Posted by Eric Grandy on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 4:26 PM

From Mama Casserole:

Many of you have probably heard that Benny Hills, one of my dearest friends and comet door person lost his life tragically in a house fire early wed morning. His death has been a shock to many of us in the Seattle music community, he was such a joyous soul. He also played drums in the power pop bands The Knast & The Shy Ones. Everyone who came into contact with benny was touched by his kindness. He was such a loving and beautiful man, and he made everyone coming to shows @ the comet feel special and welcome. His smile illuminated the planet! I can still hear him saying "maammmma" to me. In addition to this horrible passing, Benny's roomate, Raymond- our beloved comet bartender is now homeless and virtually penniless. He also needs our support and help after having to endure this first hand.

We are holding a celebration of Benny's life @ the comet this sunday 11/22 starting at 2pm -so many bands are volunteering to play and I am a bit overwhelmed-but I am trying to cancel the night show so we can do music from 2pm -1am -

The show is a benefit for the Hills' family and for lovely precious Raymond.

so far these bands have confirmed, but there are still many that will show up I am sure, just wanted to get the word out now.............love to all of you
Really hope you can all make it
Trying to set up a fund also for people who can't make it

CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE
THE ABSOLUTE MONARCHS
SHINY BEAST
TINY LIGHT
WILDILDLIFE
HOTELS
THE GREATEST HITS
BROKEN NOBLES
DJ Darryl

$10 (GIVE MORE IF YOU CAN)

Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson

Awkward Question: John Wolf

Posted by Kristen Blush on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 3:59 PM

"What was it like touching tongues with Benny Hills!?"

"Like touching all of the other guys tongues in Capitol Hill. Ha ha, Ben and I both freaked out and wiped our tongues off right after!"

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Benny's memory will forever be cherished by all who knew him. Rest in peace, friend. You meant the world to all of us. Benny was featured in "Awkward Question" in September. Memorial concerts will be held this weekend at Central and Comet.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Also Tonight: Ben Hills' Birthday/Memorial

Posted by Eric Grandy on Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Today would have been Ben Hills' 25th birthday, which was to be celebrated with a party tonight at Vermillion from 6-10pm. The party will go on, only now it will be for friends to remember Ben and celebrate his life.

Also, from the truly touching comments on that post, a note from Ben's dad:

There will be a Mass @ St Cecilia's Catholic Church in Stanwood WA, Tuesday, November 17th @ 4PM, followed by a wake @ Sons of Norway Hall in Stanwood.

I appreciate all Ben's friends, and the support and love I'm seeing. I'm going to do my best to come down to the Comet Tavern and have a beer in Ben's memory this Saturday early afternoon. We love you all and thank you!
Greg Hills (Ben's dad)
Posted by Greg Hills on November 12, 2009 at 4:41 PM

RIP, Ben.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Comet Bouncer Ben Hills Killed in Fire

Posted by Eric Grandy on Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 1:52 PM

The man killed in the house fire reported on Slog this morning was Comet bouncer Ben Hills:

This is terribly sad news. RIP, Ben.

Update: From the comments:

Friends of ben are meeting up at the comet right now to remember how truly awesome of a guy ben hills was.
Posted by R.I.P. Ben on November 11, 2009 at 3:10 PM

Sunday, November 8, 2009

RIP, DFA Drummer Supreme Jerry Fuchs

Posted by Dave Segal on Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 12:47 PM

Jerry "Gerhardt" Fuchs, the drummer who provided propulsive, motorik and disco beats for the Juan Maclean, !!!, Turing Machine, Maserati, and others died in the early morning hours today after falling down an elevator shaft at a party in Brooklyn.

Fuchs put on an amazing percussion display during the Juan Maclean's last date at Nectar in June. His contributions to the Juan Maclean were invaluable, and the albums he recorded with Turing Machine—especially Zwei—are crucial, too. He will be dearly missed.

Chunklet magazine's Henry Owings has written a powerful remembrance here.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

RIP Chuck Biscuits

Posted by Megan Seling on Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 10:57 AM

Drummer Chuck Biscuits—who has played with Black Flag, Danzig, the Circle Jerks, and Social Distortion—passed away Saturday afternoon from throat cancer. He was 44 years old.

The blog JG2 has a great write up about all of his musical accomplishments here.

UPDATE: According to the latest update on the JG2 blog, Chuck Biscuits is not dead. His wife has contacted the author of the post, saying Chuck is alive. Apparently the writer got bad information from a source claiming to be someone they weren't. Strange.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Weekender

Posted by Dean Fawkes on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Flowered Up - 'Weekender'

Flowered Up's Liam Maher just died.

Maher was the lead singer of London's early '90s answer to the acid-house baggy sound of Manchester's Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses, and rarely got much credit from the press despite a mad live reputation and being behind one of the era's most ambitious never-ending anthems.

"Weekender," nearly thirteen minutes long and released on Heavenly Records (Beth Orton, Saint Etienne, Manic Street Preachers) is what you get when the scene's earth-breaking hedonism flouts the abyss with an ever-changing epic of quintessential attitude, monstrous drugs, echoed guitars, a sort of daft earnestness, and electric currents of positivity, essentially becoming both an emblem and a tribute to the sound of the times.

Heavenly writes:

It ran through styles faster than kids escaping from a corner shop break in, sprinting from guitar-heavy mooching shuffle to stoned ambient middle to final insanity race to the end, all the while Liam railing against weekend clubbers, promoting a fatalistic 24-7 party lifestyle.

The song spawned a short film by seminal music-video director Wiz.




As well as The Twang's entire career.



Maybe now they'll be missed.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Rock In Peace, Brian Redman

Posted by Kristen Blush on Sat, Oct 3, 2009 at 2:17 PM

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Brian Redman's memorial was held last night at Doyle's in Tacoma.

More photos after the jump...

Continue reading »

Friday, October 2, 2009

My Radio

Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 10:30 AM

A big chunk of hiphop history died this morning of a heart attack:

One of Hip Hop's earliest radio allies, pioneering deejay John "Mr. Magic" Rivas died, which has been confirmed by numerous sources in and around the Rap industry. In addition to being one of the culture's gatekeepers through his position at radio station at 105.9 WHBI FM, Mr. Magic is considered to be a co-founder of The Juice Crew, the legendary 1980s outfit of Marley Marl, MC Shan Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Roxanne Shante, Fly Ty Williams, Biz Markle, Craig G, TJ Swan, Masta Ace and Tragedy Khadafi.

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I have experienced two real revolutions in my life. One was the war for independence in Zimbabwe (1975 to 1980); the other was the revolution in popular music that emanated from New York City (1979 to 1989). Mr. Magic's show on WBLS was one of the two main bases for the musical revolution (the other was KISS FM with Red Alert and Chuck Chill Out). Mr. Magic lived to see hiphop's triumph.


From 1983 to eternity, The Juice Crew:

Monday, September 28, 2009

RIP Brian Redman

Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 10:09 AM

Local musician Brian Redman died Saturday night in a tragic car accident. Brian was the bassist for Trial, and has also played in bands Left With Nothing, Three Inches of Blood, and the Dirty Knockers.

Redman was a monster on the bass—Trial's reunion performances at the Vera Project this year, and then again at Burning Fight in Chicago, were two of the best live shows I have seen all year.

RIP, Brian. You will be missed.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

RIP, X-Ecutioners' Roc Raida

Posted by Dave Segal on Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 9:13 PM

One of the greatest turntablists ever, Roc Raida, passed away Sept. 19 from complications arising from an accident, according to Wikipedia, although allhiphop.com reports that the actual cause of death remains unclear.

I had the good fortune to witness Raida, who was Busta Rhymes' tour DJ and winner of the 1995 DMC World DJ Championship, perform about a half dozen times with the X-Ecutioners. They never failed to dazzle with their precise, intricate, witty, and funky routines. The amount of rehearsal time, arranging skills, and hand-eye coordination required to execute their Technics & wax compositions boggles the mind. To hell with anyone who thinks turntablists aren't musicians.

RIP, Roc Raida.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary dead at 72

Posted by Terry Miller on Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 9:46 AM

Mary.jpg
When I read those words this morning I nearly wept.

I know it's silly, Peter, Paul & Mary can be mocked as much for their children's music ("Puff The Magic Dragon") as for their pop, white-bread versions of Dylan classics ("Don't Think Twice, It's Alright", "Blowin' In The Wind"). For me, though, Peter, Paul & Mary meant much more.

I was a child of baby boomers; culturally more than literally. My father was born at the end of the great depression, and my mother was a war baby. That's World War II. Even though they were born just before the massive boom of childbirth at the end of the war, most of their friends and co-workers through their lives and careers were of the generation that brought folk music to the world stage.

When growing up I used to go into our basement where my mother kept all her old records, reel-to-reel tapes and her hi-fi stereo and tape deck. I would hook them up myself (her original hi-fi was one of the traveling record players who's speakers folded in on top of the player so it could be carried to a party like a dinosaur version of the boom-box, which itself is extinct now....) stretching the speakers way out to each side of the room so i could experiment with the balance nob and listen to how her old "In Living Stereo" records were divided up between the left and right speakers.

My mother would have killed me had she known I was doing this. For her, this was akin to the rifling through parent’s drawers that all kids do when they come home from school and their parents aren't home. She didn't like for her old music to be messed with. Every album and every tape were numbered and filed using something like the Dewey system; each with it's correct place in the collection. Alphabetized and categorized. (Did I tell you she started her career as a librarian, then moved on to be a clerk for the government?)

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The reel-to reel tapes were the most unwieldy. Sometimes, with my brother’s help, we would put them up on the machine, carefully feeding the tapes through the player head, then onto the second reel, and listen to what my mother had recorded on them. Some of them contained old Ray Conniff albums, or recordings of the Kingston Trio or The Weavers. More than a few contained audio of my mother coaxing her children to sing into the microphone songs we had learned at pre-school or on Sunday at church. "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam", "This Little Light Of Mine", "Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho" and my favorite "Puff The Magic Dragon".

I guess now you would say my mother had passé taste. Her music collection comes to a complete halt in the mid '60's just before my brother was born. As The Beatles started storm America, take over the airwaves and record stores, putting the folk-singers out of business, my mother stopped buying records. So her collection at times seemed frozen in amber. But her records and hi-fi system were an amazing thing to me, and through them I learned to love old folk music. I use to think it was so cool how Joan Baez and Odetta and Peter Paul & Mary could turn performances at concerts and festivals into rapturous sing-a-longs. Turning even the most stale environments into backyard "hootenanys".

When I was finally old enough that my parents thought me responsible enough to have my own little tape player, they joined the Columbia Music Club and bought a few tapes for the family to listen to on my new little stereo. The first was Peter Paul & Mary’s greatest hits collection, “10”.

Continue reading »

Monday, September 14, 2009

Jim Carroll, Dead at 60

Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 8:19 AM

Author, poet, and musician Jim Carroll died of a heart attack in his Manhattan apartment on Friday, September 11th. He was 60 years old.

Also: he is also the man doing the spoken word part in Rancid's "Junkie Man":

RIP, Jim Carroll.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Most Unkindest Cunt

Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM

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Those British critics know how to slice and dice:
Fat handed rock lummoxes Oasis have finally been put out of our misery after splitting up yesterday (Friday).

The band, responsible for one good album, one alright album and a lot of cunting misery on top of that have split up five times before due to constant squabbling between the band's chief song writer Noel and genetically 'curious' singer, Liam.

The statement was made on the band's official website. Noel said: "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight.

Cracking me up: "Fat handed rock lummoxes..." and "a lot of cunting misery..."

Best of all is the paragraph that spreads a rumor:

Earlier it was announced the band had cancelled their second gig in the space of a week because of "an altercation within the band". Rumours at the time of publication that the brothers had fallen out after a heated debate about Jacques Derrida and the death of the author with Noel subscribing to a hard line Plato/logocentric position with Liam unable to convince him of the need to consider "fookin' Roland Barthes" remain unconfirmed.

Kick some ass, John Doran. As for my brother, I wonder how he is handling the collapse of his religion.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

FLASHMOB!

Posted by Adrian Ryan on Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 3:10 PM

First they said it was canceled; that it wasn't going to happen at all...

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But that was all a clever lie. A ruse. A canard!

For indeed, they met en masse at Cal Anderson Park this morning—people! tons of them!— at 10am to learn the proper choreography. You HAD to be there, and know the choreography, or they wouldn't tell you where the damn thing was actually going to happen—which was in three places, dotted all over town. Occidental Park. Pike Place Market. Kerry Park! And then, suddenly, at 1:10pm...at 2:05...and at again 3:00pm...in those three places respectively...THIS happened...

People! Beating it! All over the damn place!

Astonishing.

Happy dead birthday, Michael Jackson! Happy, happy dead birthday, indeed!

(Thanks Ruby Aquino and friends for the video!)

Friday, August 28, 2009

RIP DJ AM

Posted by Megan Seling on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 4:33 PM

TMZ is reporting that DJ AM was found dead in his New York apartment this evening.

(If I were one to entertain conspiracy theories, I'd point out that DJ AM, who, as we all know, survived a plane crash in 2008, was found dead on the same day The Final Destination opens in theaters, which is the fourth movie in a series of movies about people who survive a tragic accidents only to get stalked by and ultimately done in by death itself.)

Monday, August 24, 2009

Michael Jackson's Death Ruled Homicide

Posted by Eric Grandy on Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 3:05 PM

The AP reports:

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died on June 25.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Stars of the Lid’s “Requiem for Dying Mothers”

Posted by Dave Segal on Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 12:11 PM

This Stars of the Lid piece may be of some solace if your mother has passed away. If she hasn’t, you can still enjoy some beautiful, poignant music on an August weekend while cherishing the woman who gave you life.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

More Sad News....

Posted by Terry Miller on Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 10:03 AM

Les Paul. Dead at 94.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Heroine Sheiks' Shannon Selberg Poignantly Bids Farewell

Posted by Dave Segal on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 3:16 PM

Shannon Selberg of Cows/Heroine Sheiks non-fame reveals why the latter group is calling it a career on his MySpace blog. It's an enlightening, sobering read for any musician in a band struggling to stay afloat—or for anyone in any band, really.

A key passage:

To me, living as a person day to day, it seems that people like the idea that there is still a Cows, or a Heroine Sheiks, or a Shannon Selberg (whatever that is) out there, somewhere, like a grizzly, still living in the wild. I appreciate that too, but again, it does me no good. The wild is gone. And if a grizzly survives purely by eating from garbage dumps or only in a few zoos, is it still a grizzly? I don’t think so. I know, because I tried—you have no idea...

(Cows' cover of John Barry's "Midnight Cowboy" theme is appropriate exit music for Selberg, as it's the most poignant song ever.)

It's a Cold, Gray Elliott Day

Posted by Kelly O on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 1:30 PM

It's only 67 degrees in Seattle right now. Perfect for drinking hot coffee and listening Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith. He would have turned 40 years old today...

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photo by Autumn De Wilde

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The S

Posted by Charles Mudede on Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 9:11 AM

Because we know that no one just drops dead like that, we want to know why Baatin of Slum Village dropped dead this Saturday.
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Light is beginning to fall on the dark answer:

While the cause of [his] death has not been released due to pending toxicology reports, a source close to Baatin told AllHipHop.com the rapper may have died from a crack addiction or from complications related to crack cocaine use.

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