Obituaries for 2017

[skeeter]

RIP: Bruce Brown, 1937-2017: Iconic California surf filmmaker passes away (The Endless Summer)

Drew Kampion
Surfline
December 11, 2017

More

Wikipedia

IMDb

Official site

RIP Bruce Brown. Loved his work.

[EasyAce]

In memory of Bruce Brown, and in honour of his signature film . . .

The Beach Boys, "Surf's Up"

! No longer available

[edpc]

Pat DiNizio, The Smithereens Lead Singer, Dies at 62


Pat DiNizio, lead singer of The Smithereens, has died. He was 62.

The death of the singer, songwriter and founding member of the band was announced on his Facebook page Tuesday night.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pat DiNizio, lead singer and songwriter of the influential New Jersey rock band, The Smithereens – America’s Band,” the post said.

https://www.thewrap.com/pat-dinizio-smithereens-lead-singer-dies-62/

[Neverdul]

Damn. I loved The Smithereens. I had a chance to see them in concert at venue in Annapolis, MD but couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me. I should have gone anyway.   

[catfish1957]

Damn. I loved The Smithereens. I had a chance to see them in concert at venue in Annapolis, MD but couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me. I should have gone anyway.   

We are coming to that time where iconic rockers are coming to that age of mortality,,,,  plus add the hard partying lifestyle.

This year's Tom Petty passing probably affected me the most of this type since John Lennon.

[Cyber Liberty]

Last year was the tough one for me.  Keith Emerson committed suicide and Greg Lake died of cancer within months of each other.  2/3 of my favorite Prog Rock band, <Poof!>

[catfish1957]

Last year was the tough one for me.  Keith Emerson committed suicide and Greg Lake died of cancer within months of each other.  2/3 of my favorite Prog Rock band, <Poof!>

As a musician, I can honestly say that ELP collectively had the most talent (musically) of any rock band in history.  (Close behind are Rush, Pink Floyd, and Yes). 

They may have not made the best music, but there is no denying they being the best at what they did.

[Applewood]

Now that I'm 65, I think 60 plus years old is still young.  Seems many rockers are gone even before they reach 60.  And then we have rappers like that kid Lil Peep -- dead in his early 20s.

Is it the hard living lifestyle?  Perhaps.  But then there is David Crosby who partied hardy and he's still kicking despite diabetes and a liver transplant.    Tony Bennett is still performing in his 90s.  Johnny Mathis is in his 80s.  The rock n roll lifestyle was around when Bennett and Mathis were in their prime and they did their share of bad stuff.  Yet they are still alive and still singing.  Why did all of these guys escape an early death when so many younger ones are gone too soon?

I guess we mortals will never understand and maybe we aren't meant to.

[catfish1957]

The rock n roll lifestyle was around when Bennett and Mathis were in their prime and they did their share of bad stuff.  Yet they are still alive and still singing.  Why did all of these guys escape an early death when so many younger ones are gone too soon?

I guess we mortals will never understand and maybe we aren't meant to.

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Of course Keith Richards has been able to defy all odds and expectations.  He should have died long ago.  Mortality is puzzling in many ways.

[Gefn]

We are coming to that time where iconic rockers are coming to that age of mortality,,,,  plus add the hard partying lifestyle.

This year's Tom Petty passing probably affected me the most of this type since John Lennon.

Yep.

[Cyber Liberty]

As a musician, I can honestly say that ELP collectively had the most talent (musically) of any rock band in history.  (Close behind are Rush, Pink Floyd, and Yes). 

They may have not made the best music, but there is no denying they being the best at what they did.

They were very good, but it's been a while since I've listened to them.

Every year is another snub at the R&R HOF....

[catfish1957]

They were very good, but it's been a while since I've listened to them.

Every year is another snub at the R&R HOF....

The R & R HOF is basically run by the idiots at Rolling Stone.  They can't like something they can't understand. 

[Applewood]

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Of course Keith Richards has been able to defy all odds and expectations.  He should have died long ago.  Mortality is puzzling in many ways.

Make no mistake.  Even non-rockers have been affected by drugs, booze and indiscriminate sex.  Those things didn't start with rock n roll.  They've been around for years.

As to Keith Richards, there are some who joke that he really died years ago, but he is reanimated every time he's needed to perform.    LOL

[catfish1957]

Make no mistake.  Even non-rockers have been affected by drugs, booze and indiscriminate sex.  Those things didn't start with rock n roll.  They've been around for years.

As to Keith Richards, there are some who joke that he really died years ago, but he is reanimated every time he's needed to perform.    LOL

Agreed, but the "rock and roll lifestyle" is pretty much synonymous with taking this to the extreme.

[Cyber Liberty]

The R & R HOF is basically run by the idiots at Rolling Stone.  They can't like something they can't understand.

RS haaaaaated ELP.  Never could figure out their problem.

[sneakypete]

As a musician, I can honestly say that ELP collectively had the most talent (musically) of any rock band in history.  (Close behind are Rush, Pink Floyd, and Yes). 

They may have not made the best music, but there is no denying they being the best at what they did.

@catfish1957

I would disagree with any group being more musically gifted than Pink Floyd,but I would also put ELO's Jeff Lynnne and Steve Winwood on that list.

[sneakypete]

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Back when Tony Bennett was young,all the white hep cats were smoking reefer.

As for Keef,he is maybe/probably the toughest man who ever lived. I am in absolute awe of his survival abilities.

[dfwgator]

Back when Tony Bennett was young,all the white hep cats were smoking reefer.

As for Keef,he is maybe/probably the toughest man who ever lived. I am in absolute awe of his survival abilities.

Keith Richards?  Never heard of her.

[Sanguine]

Keith Richards?  Never heard of her.

Ginger Baker is still alive? 

[Ghost Bear]

Former Atlanta Falcons, Texas great Tommy Nobis dies at 74

ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the expansion Atlanta Falcons and a hard-hitting middle linebacker who was never fully recognized for his talents on a struggling franchise that failed to make the playoffs during his long career, died Wednesday. He was 74.

...

A native of San Antonio who sported a red-headed crew cut, Nobis starred on both sides of the line at the University of Texas, where his No. 60 is one of six numbers retired by the school. Despite being slowed by a knee injury during his senior season, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best all-around player and the Outland Trophy as top lineman. He also finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting — highest among those who played defense — and appeared on the cover of Life and Sports Illustrated.

excerpted, more at the link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/12/13/former-atlanta-falcons-great-tommy-nobis-dies-at-74/108572034/

[Sanguine]

Former Atlanta Falcons, Texas great Tommy Nobis dies at 74

ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the expansion Atlanta Falcons and a hard-hitting middle linebacker who was never fully recognized for his talents on a struggling franchise that failed to make the playoffs during his long career, died Wednesday. He was 74.

...

A native of San Antonio who sported a red-headed crew cut, Nobis starred on both sides of the line at the University of Texas, where his No. 60 is one of six numbers retired by the school. Despite being slowed by a knee injury during his senior season, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best all-around player and the Outland Trophy as top lineman. He also finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting — highest among those who played defense — and appeared on the cover of Life and Sports Illustrated.

excerpted, more at the link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/12/13/former-atlanta-falcons-great-tommy-nobis-dies-at-74/108572034/

Hook 'em.

[EasyAce]

Ginger Baker is still alive?

Yes, strangely enough. If you're thinking of Cream, bassist/composer Jack Bruce was the first
to go . . .

! No longer available

[goatprairie]

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Of course Keith Richards has been able to defy all odds and expectations.  He should have died long ago.  Mortality is puzzling in many ways.

"He should have died long ago."

I think he did die decades ago. Ever hear of Zombie Keith? 

[TomSea]

Macon Brock, Dollar Tree Store Founder has passed away at 75.

http://www.richmond.com/ap/state/dollar-tree-co-founder-and-randolph-macon-college-benefactor-macon/article_2f9d640b-3ed3-55f8-bc35-dc2fbfdcc964.html

[jmyrlefuller]

Macon Brock, Dollar Tree Store Founder has passed away at 75.

http://www.richmond.com/ap/state/dollar-tree-co-founder-and-randolph-macon-college-benefactor-macon/article_2f9d640b-3ed3-55f8-bc35-dc2fbfdcc964.html

They're one of the last national holdouts on the "everything's $1" business model. They just opened one up in my area a few months ago. Although I liked it better about a decade ago when there was one in the town where I went to college (that's what inflation does, of course), there are still a few surprisingly good deals available.

It does make me wonder how much longer that model will be able to hold out before it goes the way of the five-and-dime.