This year saw several tragic deaths, perhaps most notably the unexpected death of Keith Flint and Kim Shattuck losing her years-long battle with ALS, both dying at very young ages. We also lost one of the most innovative voices in alternative pop with Ric Ocasek’s death at the age of 75, and one of the most iconic voices of arena rock with the loss of Eddie Money at the age of 70. Here are the members of the music community we lost in 2020.
Pegi Young – December 1, 1952 – January 1, 2019
American musician and former wife of Neil Young, Pegi Young, died on Jan. 1, after a year-long battle with cancer, at the age of 66. Young released her last album, Raw, in 2017. Young and her ex-husband, Neil, founded the Bridge School in 1986, a school which provides aid to children with physical and speech impairments.
– Ashwin Chary
Juice WRLD – December 2, 1998 – December 8, 2019
To say the life of Jarad Anthony Higgins was cut short would be an understatement. At 20, Higgins, better known as the rapper Juice WRLD, launched at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 for “Lucid Dreams,” back in 2018 and was a rising star in the burgeoning cloud rap scene until his death earlier this year. The rapper’s two album projects Goodbye & Good Riddance and Death Race for Love show a promising talent, gone too early.
– Aaron Grech
David Berman – January 4, 1967 – August 7, 2019
– Aaron Grech
Dr. John – November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019
Pianist and singer, Malcolm Rebbennack Jr., widely known as Dr. John, passed away at the age of 77, earlier this year. Rebbennack has allegedly passed away due to a heart attack, at a non-disclosed location. Rebbennack is native to New Orleans, which positively influenced his musical style in the late 1980s.
– Ashwin Chary
Daniel Johnston – January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019
Daniel Johnston is one of the most revered outsider artists of the last half-century. His from-the-heart lyrics and amatuerish arrangements endeared the Texas singer-songwriter to masses of alternative music fans. He died on September 11 this year at the age of 58, having spent years battling the mental illnesses that informed much of his creative output. A beloved musician and influence to many, he’ll be very missed.
– Matt Matasci
Photo Credit: Brett Padelford
Art Neville – December 17, 1937 – July 22, 2019
Art Neville, popularly known as Poppa Funk, passed away earlier this year, peacefully, at the age of 81, with his beloved wife, Lorraine, by his side. Neville, who co-founded The Meters and The Neville Brothers, faced complications after his back surgery, but the cause of his death is currently unknown.
– Ashwin Chary
Larry Wallis – May 19, 1949 – September 19, 2019
Larry Wallis was a founding member of Motörhead, one of the most seminal bands in the heavy metal movement. He was the band’s guitarist for two years, from 1975 to 1976, and played on their album On Parole. He would go on to perform in the band Pink Fairies for the majority of his career.
– Matt Matasci
Elijah Nelson of Black Breath – Died December 2019
Elijah Nelson, bassist of Seattle death metal band, Black Breath, passed away on Dec. 29. At the age of 40. Nelson took part in the recording of all four of Black Breath’s projects, as well as their last show on Dec. 31, 2016.
– Ashwin Chary
Neil Innes – December 9, 1944 – December 29, 2019
Singer-songwriter and comedian Neil Innes passed away at the tail end of the year at the age of 75. The performer co-wrote the comedic songs for the classic film Monty Python & The Holy Grail, and also created the classic Beatles satire The Rutles, and their accompanying mockumentary film All You Need Is Cash. Innes was one of the few people who both parodied a Beatle, and worked with one, as Paul McCartney co-produced the Innes-penned song “I’m An Urban Spaceman,” which was originally performed by Innes’ band The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band with Vivian Stanshall.
– Aaron Grech
Dave Riley of Big Black – July 30, 1960 – December 24, 2019
Paul Barrere of Little Feat – July 3, 1948 – October 26, 2019
Paul Barrere wasn’t a founding member of Little Feat, but having joined the band just three years after its inception, he played a crucial role in the rock band’s success. He was best known for his songwriting contributions to songs like “Skin It Back” and “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now,” and released several solo albums during his career. He was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2015 after several years of living with Hepatitis C, and passed away this October.
– Matt Matasci
Roy Loney of Flamin’ Groovies – April 13, 1946 – December 13, 2019
Roy Loney was a pioneer in the world of rock ‘n roll. His band the Flamin’ Groovies from San Francisco led the way for the garage rock explosion in the late ’60s. While the band would go on to have some commerical success in the power pop genre in the ’70s after Loney left the band, there’s no denying the Nuggets-style power of the band with Loney at the helm. Loney died earlier this month at the age of 73.
– Matt Matasci
Sleepy LaBeef – July 20, 1935 – December 26, 2019
Rockabilly veteran, Thomas Paulsley LaBeef, also known as Sleepy LaBeef, passed away on Dec. 26, at the age of 84, in his own bed, surrounded by his beloved family. LaBeef made his debut in the late ‘50s and gained major recognition in the late ‘60s and ‘70s as he regularly played live shows and played a role as the Swamp Thing in the 1968 movie The Exotic Ones.
– Ashwin Chary
Neal Casal – November 2, 1968 – August 26, 2019
Neal Casal, a member of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and a former bandmate of Ryan Adams, died in late August this year. He was only 50 years old. Casal recorded three records with Adams in their band The Cardinals, Easy Tiger, Cardinology, and III/IV.
– Matt Matasci
Scott Walker – January 9, 1943 – March 22, 2019
Scott Walker, American-born British singer, composer, and record producer, passed away this year on March 22nd at the age of 76. Walker passed away after battling cancer, and his passing sent ripples through the music community. Radiohead’s Tom Yorke, Cat Stevens, and others were quick and eager to commemorate the life of one of music’s most influential experimental composers and producers.
– Drew Feinerman
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
Bushwick Bill – December 8, 1966 – June 9, 2019
Jamacian-American rapper Bushwick Bill passed away on June 9th of this year at the age of 52. One of the founding members of the Geto Boys, Bushwick Bill was able to bring greater popularity to the hip hop scene during the late 1980’s and early 90’s. He passed away after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
– Drew Feinerman
Nipsey Hussle – August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019
In a city as rife with inequality as Los Angeles, many become tempted to abandon their community in favor of Wilshire penthouses, to Beverly Hills mansions. Nipsey Hussle however, made a point to stay in his community, and used his wealth to buy up his block on the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson, one of the most notorious areas of South Central Los Angeles to make a statement.. In an era when the city is becoming more gentrified and unequal than ever, Nipsey chose to forego outside investment, and kept the money within his community, providing many resources and opportunities for the youth of South Central, so they would ultimately avoid life that would end up taking his on March 31st. As we look back on the legacy of Ermias Joseph Asghedom, we should remember that he was more than a rapper, more than an entrepreneur, but a symbol of what someone in a community can do to make a brighter future.
– Aaron Grech
Roky Erickson – July 15, 1947 – May 31, 2019
Founding member of 13th Floor Elevators, Roky Erickson died on May 31st of this year at the age of 71. Erickson made great contributions to psychedelic rock in the 60’s and 70’s, and although he was plagued with mental illnesses throughout his career, Erickson was still able to pioneer the psychedelic wave of rock.
– Drew Feinerman
Marie Fredriksson – May 30, 1958 – December 9, 2019
Lead singer for Swedish pop-rock band Roxette, Marie Fredriksson passed away on December 9th of this year at the age of 61. Roxette was very active in the 80’s and 90’s, and her influence in the pop and rock genres can still be heard today.
– Drew Feinerman
Peter Tork – February 13, 1942 – February 21, 2019
Keyboardist and bass guitarist of The Monkees, Peter Tork passed away this year on February 21st at the age of 77. He became a teen icon in the 1960’s, and would later go on to record music with other bands, as well as various solo projects. In addition to music, Tork contributed to the film and television worlds as well.
– Drew Feinerman
Mark Hollis – January 4, 1955 – February 25, 2019
English musician and singer Mark Hollis passed away on February 25th this year at the age of 64. He was the principal singer and songwriter of the band Talk Talk, and continued to contribute to the music world for four decades.
– Drew Feinerman
Ginger Baker – August 19, 1939 – October 6, 2019
Drummer and co-founder of British rock band Cream, Ginger Baker died on October 6th of this year at the age of 80. Cream’s psychedelic style perfectly encapsulates the attitude of the 1960’s, and Baker’s work in Cream solidified him as one of rock’s most important drummers of all time.
– Drew Feinerman
Dick Dale – May 4, 1937 – March 16, 2019
The king of surf guitar, Dick Dale, died on May 4th this year at the age of 83. Dale earned the title of the king of surf guitar through his use of reverberation combined with elements of eastern music, such as quarter tones in harmonic minor scales. Dale’s sound can be recognized from the shores of Malibu to the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Although Dale was suffering from numerous health problems, he remained both active and positive in his late years, and even planned on touring in 2019.
– Drew Feinerman
Keith Flint – September 17, 1969 – March 4, 2019
Founding member of the English electronic dance act the Prodigy, English artist Keith Flint passed away on March 4th of this year at the age of 49. Although Flint’s death was not investigated initially, it was later discovered that Flint tragically took his own life. Flint’s legacy was solidified with the Prodigy, and people across continental Europe and the world paid tribute to Flint following his death.
– Drew Feinerman
Photo: Marv Watson
Kim Shattuck – July 17, 1963 – October 2, 2019
Kim Shattuck, lead singer, songwriter, and founder of the Muffs, passed away this on October 2nd of this year after a lengthy battle with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gherig’s Disease. Shattuck was an important pioneer for punk rock and grunge in the early 90’s, and her contribution to both the Muffs as well as collaborations with other punk rock artists. The Muffs released their 7th studio album on October 18th of this year, just 16 days after Shattuck passed. Shattuck was 56 at the time of her death.
– Drew Feinerman
Eddie Money – March 21, 1949 – September 13, 2019
American pop-rock icon Eddie Money died on September 13th this year at the age of 70. His best known song, “Take Me Home Tonight,” was nominated for a Grammy in 1987.
– Drew Feinerman
Ric Ocasek – March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019
Co founder, rhythm guitarist and lead singer of the Cars, Ric Ocasek passed away this year on September 15th, when New York City police found him in his bed unresponsive. Ocasek had recorded music with the Cars until 2011, and recorded several solo albums in addition to his work with the band. Ocasek helped to spark the resurgence of power-pop in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and the legacy he left behind will be remembered for decades to come. Ocasek was 75 at the time of his death.
– Drew Feinerman
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