Tag Archives: obituary

Van Conner, the bassist who cofounded the influential hard-rock group Screaming Trees alongside his brother, Gary Lee, and singer Mark Lanegan, has died. “Van Conner bassist and songwriter of Screaming Trees died last night of an extended illness at 55,” Gary Lee wrote on Facebook. “It was pneumonia that got …

Wes Freed, the visual artist whose surreal Southern-gothic images of shadowy figures, ominous owls, and black flamingos adorned album covers by Drive-By Truckers, has died at 58. Freed was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in January and a GoFundMe campaign was underway to help pay for his treatment. The band’s publicist …

Alec John Such, founding bassist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted member of Bon Jovi, has died at the age of 70. The band confirmed the death of their former bassist Sunday in a statement on social media. No cause of death was provided. “We are heartbroken to hear …

Dallas Good, singer, guitarist, and founding member of the Canadian garage-country-rock band the Sadies, died Thursday at the age of 48. His death was confirmed by Andrew Colvin, the Sadies’ longtime agent; no cause of death was given. As one of the lead singers of the Sadies, alongside his brother …

Ivan Reitman, the Canadian writer-director who brought gross-out, slobs-versus-snobs comedy to the mainstream with hit movies like MeatballsandStripes, pioneered the 1980s blockbuster with Ghostbusters and helped Bill Murray transition from SNL veteran to movie star, died Saturday at the age of 75. Reitman’s family confirmed the filmmaker’s death to the …

J.D. Crowe, a pioneering banjo player with his progressive bluegrass group the New South, died Friday morning, according to a post on the musician’s Facebook page. He was 84. “This morning at around 3 a.m. our dad, JD Crowe, went home,” Crowe’s family wrote. “Prayers needed for all during this …

Billy Hinsche, singer in the Sixties boy band Dino, Desi and Billy and longtime member of the Beach Boys’ touring unit, has died at the age of 70. Lucie Arnaz — the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and whose brother Desi Arnaz Jr. was a member of Dino, …

Pee Wee Ellis, the influential jazz saxophonist best known for his work with James Brown, Van Morrison, and Ginger Baker, has died at age 80. His death was announced Friday on Ellis’ Facebook page. “With great sadness we have to announce that Pee Wee passed away last night following complications …

Norm Macdonald, the celebrated stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member, died Tuesday in Los Angeles after a private battle with cancer. He was 61. Macdonald’s manager, Marc Gurvitz, confirmed the comedian’s death to The New York Times. Macdonald had reportedly been battling cancer for nine years, but did …

Robert Ross, the rapper who performed as Black Rob and scored his biggest hit with 2000’s “Whoa!”, died Saturday afternoon at the age of 52 at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. His death was confirmed by friend and fellow rapper Mark Curry, who was with Ross at the time of his …