R.I.P. Rick Hall.

Rick Hall, who produced dozens of hits as the owner of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., has died. He was 85.  If you think you've never heard of him, read on...


Grauniad Obit

Ultimate Classic Rock Obit.

Those Moodies Deram LP's 'Days of Future Passed', 'In Search of the Lost Chord' & 'On the Threshold of a Dream' were great albums.

2018 is really getting off to a flying start.  Dolores O'Riordan, lead-singer with The Cranberries, has passed away suddenly aged just 46.

NEWS

Not music related, but I was saddened to hear that former West Brom. and England footballer Cyrille Regis has died, aged 59.  He was both a pioneer and a role model for black players in the game.

Grauniad OBIT

Oh, that's sad. One of the great female rock voices.

I'll have to play Zombie at ear bleeding levels as a tribute

Oh Happy Day! No, not really. Edwin Hawkins, leader of THe Edward Hawkins Singers and four-time Grammy winner has died from pancreatic cancer, aged 74.

Grauniad Obit

It's truly one of the all-time great songs. Anti-terrorism, too.

Must be played LOUD.

Poor Tom. I know how it can be when pain is intense and wonder how people with constant, never ending chronic pain cope

Tom Petty died of 'accidental drug overdose'

and from what I read much the same for Prince.

My sympathies to anyone wth chronic pain. Careful with the pain killers 

Morphine is so dangerous.
Ok, wonderful even for the short term. Dangerous and also useless for long term pain.
If not working at the initial dose they double it.
Coming off it is difficult to put it mildly

From Tom Petty's family on Facebook

Our family sat together this morning with the Medical Examiner – Coroner’s office and we were informed of their final analysis that Tom Petty passed away due to an accidental drug overdose as a result of taking a variety of medications.

Unfortunately Tom’s body suffered from many serious ailments including emphysema, knee problems and most significantly a fractured hip.

Despite this painful injury he insisted on keeping his commitment to his fans and he toured for 53 dates with a fractured hip and, as he did, it worsened to a more serious injury.

On the day he died he was informed his hip had graduated to a full on break and it is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his over use of medication.

We knew before the report was shared with us that he was prescribed various pain medications for a multitude of issues including Fentanyl patches and we feel confident that this was, as the coroner found, an unfortunate accident.

As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives. Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.

On a positive note we now know for certain he went painlessly and beautifully exhausted after doing what he loved the most, for one last time, performing live with his unmatchable rock band for his loyal fans on the biggest tour of his 40 plus year career. He was extremely proud of that achievement in the days before he passed.

We continue to mourn with you and marvel at Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' incredible positive impact on music and the world. And we thank you all for your love and support over the last months.

Thank you also for respecting the memory of a man who was truly great during his time on this planet both publicly and privately.

We would be grateful if you could respect the privacy of the entire Heartbreaker family during this difficult time.

Dana Petty and Adria Petty

(statement also available at