Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and co-founder of The Doors, has died at the age of 74.
Ray, who had struggled with bile duct cancer for a number of years, died at a clinic in Rosenheim, Germany. His wife Dorothy, and his brothers, were at his bedside.
The metal world is reeling today with news that founding member and guitarist Jeff Hanneman of Slayer died this morning from liver failure in a Southern California hospital. He was 49 years old. The band wrote in a statement on their facebook page:
Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.
Hanneman hadn't played with the band since 2011, due to a health scare from a spider bite that caused necrotizing fasciitis. After several surgeries and skin grafts (and learning to walk again), he was able to rejoin the band for a two-song encore during a "Big Four" show (with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax) in Indio, CA in April, 2011. He was not able to resume touring. It proved to be his final show with Slayer.
Sad news out of Germany as Red Tape Parade / The Sandwiches vocalist Wauz Kenobi has passed away after a battle with cancer. In addition to his musical output, Wauz was an accomplished videographer and occasional contributor to Punknews.org, including interviews with Bad Religion and The Casting Out. More than that, Wauz was a regular presence behind the scenes at the 'Org, relaying ideas in internal conversations with other staffers, giving feedback, nerding out over video gear, cracking jokes and just generally being a great dude to have around.
Wauz was a great friend to us and many others in the Punknews community, from fellow staffers to bands. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and fans. He'll be missed, but never forgotten.
Statements posted by Red Tape Parade and Boy Sets Fire can be read below. RIP, buddy.
Deftones bassist Chi Cheng passed away over the weekend; he was 42. Cheng had been in a coma since November 2008, recovering from serious injuries incurred from a car accident. Though he never made a full recovery, Cheng displayed incremental improvements over the last five years: He was taken off life support in May 2009 and was able to respond to certain outside stimuli, not to mention move his legs on command, in February of last year.
Our deepest condolences go out to Cheng's family, friends and fans. The statement from Cheng's mother can be read below.
Jason Molina (Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co.) passed away on Saturday at age 39, from organ failure related to alcoholism, reports Chunklet.
Molina's condition was made public in 2011 when a medical fund was posted on his band's website to help cover the costs of treatment, which he has been seeking for alcoholism for the past three years.
Molina began releasing music as Songs: Ohia in 1996 and was the core of the band with various musicians joining him on each release which eventually evolved into the Magnolia Electric Co.
Our deepest sympathies go out to his friends and family.
If you or someone you know suffers from alcoholism, there is help available. You can find your closest Alcoholics Anonymous support group here and see a list of clinics and rehab centers here.
It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform you Clive Burr, former drummer of Iron Maiden, has passed away. It has been reported that Clive, who has had health problems in the past from dealing with multiple sclerosis, died in his sleep this past Tuesday night. You can read part of the statement from his former band mates below and find the rest of the band's statement on their website.
This is terribly sad news. Clive was a very old friend of all of us. He was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out. This is a sad day for everyone in the band and those around him and our thoughts and condolences are with his partner Mimi and family at this time.-Steve Harris
Kent Abbott, guitarist of Burlington-based hardcore outfits Grade and Somehow Hollow has suddenly passed away. His former bandmates posted this on their Twitter:
Shocked and saddened to hear that friend and Grade/Somehow Hollow guitarist Kent Abbott passed away. All our thoughts are with his family. We will miss your energy, laughter and kind spirit. RIP Kent Abbott. Truly one of a kind.
Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.
This year, a reunited Grade was scheduled to perform at Pouzza Fest 2013 and Groezrock 2013.
We're sad to learn that Ministry and Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia has died. Scaccia collapsed on stage a few nights ago at a Rigor Mortis show in Texas, following requests to venue staff to turn off strobe lights. He had joined Ministry in 1989, and has appeared on my of the band's records since then. Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen released the following statement:
I just lost my lil' brother and my best friend - the 13th Planet compound is devastated, completely in shock and shattered. Mikey was not only the best guitar player in the history of music, but he was a close, close, close part of our family - and I just lost a huge chunk of my heart today. Our lives are forever changed. Life without Mikey is like orange juice without pulp - kind of bland. I have no words to express what this guy meant to me, my family, my career. . . . everything! … Rest in peace my brother, my friend, my heart. Please pray for Mike Scaccia and Jenny, his wife and their children, and his family.
Our deepest condolences go out to Mike's friends and family.
We're sad to report that tour manager Josh Stern has passed away. Stern managed tours for and worked crew for many bands over the years, including Senses Fail, Thrice, Bayside, and many more. He had just finished up New Found Glory's Sticks and Stones tour. Chad Gilbert of NFG posted the following:
Hug & be nice to your friends because you never know what could happen. 2 days ago I was with my tour manager. Now he's gone RIP Josh Stern
Our deepest condolences go out to Josh's friends and family.
Ebullition Records has announced that long time staple of the Bay Area punk scene, Sarah Kirsch, has succumbed to her long battle with Fanconi anemia. Kirsch is most known for her work with Fuel, Pinhead Gunpowder, Fifteen and many others. Green Day posted a tribute to Sarah on their website:
Sarah Kirsch, was an important figure and driving force in the '90s Bay Area punk scene and beyond. She continues to be an important part of our community, our culture, our music scene, and many of our lives. She has been a huge part of the punk/radical community for decades as Mike Kirsch (Fuel,Sawhorse, Pinhead Gunpowder, John Henry West,Torches To Rome, Bread And Circuits, Please Inform The Captain This Is A Hijack, Baader Brains,Mothercountry Motherfuckers, etc.). She not too long ago came out as a proud trans-woman, and almost immediately was confronted with these terrible health problems Sadly, Sarah passed away on December 5th.
A donation page has been set up to help offset the medical bills Kirsch amassed as a result of her treatment. Those wishing to donate can do so here.
All those at Punknews offer our deepest condolences to Kirsch's friends and family.