Friday, April 18, 2008

TWIR: RIP

Rest In Peace Danny Federici from the E Street Band. The keyboardist succumbed to melanoma on Thursday. While looking up his information I came across a few other passings that weren't widely noted, so this week's The Week In Review will make those notes:

Klaus Dinger (61), March 26. Founding member of Kraftwerk and originator of the motorik beat (listen to dance music today and you'll hear it). Kraftwerk was too weird for most Americans but Autobahn is an all-time favorite of mine.

Neil Aspinall (66), March 24. The Beatles' road manager, he brought pop music into the world of legitimate business, and so for better or worse, he helped changed western culture.

Ola Brunkert (61), March 16. Studio musician who played on all of ABBA's hits. A steady drummer who is part of your everyday lexicon.

Buddy Miles (60), February 26. Mostly known as Jimi Hendrix's drummer, Buddy is a personal hero of mine for his incredibly smooth melding of jazz and rock drum styles. I've stolen more licks from Buddy Miles than I care to admit and I am saddened by his all-too-early passing.

All of these people played a bigger role in your life's soundtrack than you know and they all died way too young.

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