I Read The News Today, Oh Boy

Another bad week for rock musicians...

I read today that Gary Strater from Starcastle died on Sunday.  He'd been sick for awhile I gather.. I remember they were having a fundraiser for his medical expenses not too long ago.  And Johnny Ramone died last Wed.... of prostrate cancer. He'd also been sick for a few years... he was only 55.

R.I.P. boys!

With no attempt to be humorous, we also lost Rick James and Laura Branigan.  Say what you will about their music, they were icons in their own genres.

Peace.

Yep, and another one of the NY Dolls past away a few months ago.  The bassist, Arthur Kane.

"Arthur "Killer" Kane, legendary bassist for the New York Dolls, passed away in an L.A. area hospital on July 13 from an advanced case of leukemia that he didn't even know he had. Arthur had not been feeling well ever since returning from the Dolls' triumphant pair of reunion performances at London's popular Meltdown Festival in June, where he'd been reunited with the other two surviving Dolls, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain. After feeling progressively worse, Arthur finally went to the emergency room around 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of July13. By 5:30 p.m., he had been diagnosed with leukemia. And by 7:30 p.m., he was dead."

One night at Max's Kansas City, (I was about 17), one of the NYC Hells Angels grabbed me by the back of my hair and decided i should sit on his lap for awhile.  Arthur came over grabbed me by the collar of my jacket and lifted me right off the guys lap and said "She belongs to me, keep your hands off her".. and he quietly put me down and told me to go sit with Syl.  He was always a hero in my book... cause that specific Hells Angel (Vinnie) was arrested a few months later for throwing a 15 year old girl off the roof of the Hells Angel house on 3rd St.

More bad news for Progressive Rock lovers in the northeast US...

Clear Channel New York Radio and Q104.3 are saddened by the passing of Q104.3 personality Scott Muni last night. He was a magnificent individual, who was passionate about radio, and truly loved by listeners. He was 74 years old.

When I first came to NYC, Scottso was the DJ at NYC's only progressive rock station, WNEW.  I met him a few times over the years.. backstage at concerts or on radio interviews.. He was truly a nice man and my favorite DJ.  He was always good to ELP.. he is the first DJ to play ELP's PAAE in its entirety on the radio. He will always be a hero to us.

His favorite was the Beatles and Floyd... so  "Shine On, Scottso"!

I had seen Scott Muni a few years ago backstage at the Garden (where I always seem to see him).. this time was for a Q104 Christmas concert .. he looked really good for being over 70.  I understand he had a stroke last year.. and his one hour show on 104 has been pre-recorded since then.

My favorite Scott story... at one concert in the Garden for my favorite band... the other famous WNEW DJ... Allison Steele (the night bird) was doing a good job at coming-on to someone I have a particular connection too. This guy says to me, "I'm going to go have a drink with Allison, I'll see you in the room later"...

Well I was a little upset.. and I guess it showed, so Scott whispers in my ear..."I can assure you honey, that there is no way that he would rather be up her skirts, than yours"...  He made me laugh..and he's always been that kind of guy.

Its really the end of an era..