It’s a terrible shame that so many public figures are dying. Having only recently lost Peter Steele and Ronnie James Dio it has emerged that Slipknot bass player Paul Gray has died from causes unknown. In addition to this the legendary actor Dennis Hopper has also passed away after a long illness with prostate cancer.

Love them or loathe them there’s no denying that Slipknot’s brand of accessible Extreme Metal has opened up a lot of worlds for many teens since their debut album in 1999. With a mix of Nu-metal, Death Metal, Grunge and Hip Hop the band’s sound is certainly eclectic. The skill involved in playing in a band such as that is without question. And as the band’s bass player Paul Gray was in the middle of that sonic maelstrom.

Many traditional Metalheads may pooh-pooh the news of Gray’s passing but to a generation of kids who first discovered Slipknot in 1999 and were in turn compelled to check out this newly opened up world of Extreme Metal, the news will be met with great sadness.

It was well documented that Paul had problems in the past with drugs, getting into trouble with the police after being pulled over with cannabis, cocaine and assorted paraphernalia in his car. But that shouldn’t detract from the music he helped to create.



RIP Paul Gray

What can you say about Dennis Hopper? The actor, director and artist’s work was prolific. From his early film roles alongside James Dean, to the seminal counter-culture classic Easy Rider, and into his well earned reputation as one of the statesmen of Hollywood Hopper thrilled his audience. Even in his so-called “outcast years” Hopper exuded a cool credibility. Most will know him though for his major film roles such as Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Blue Velvet and Rumble Fish - However Hopper had an incredibly well developed artistic side. Working in poetry, paint and photography he could turn his hand to many different styles in these mediums. Like so many geniuses though, his personal life was troubled - his relationship problems and drug use being well known.



Dennis Hopper was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in October 2009 after being admitted to hospital the previous month. Reports soon followed that it was terminal. Hopper’s Hollywood walk of fame ceremony in March this year was overshadowed by the frail frame of the legendary actor and he later died on the 29th of May.

Hopper was buried yesterday at Jesus Nazareno Cemetery, Ranchos de Taos.



RIP Dennis Hopper

This is a transferred post from my previous wordpress blog published on: May 17, 2010.

It has emerged that legendary Heavy Metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio has died as a result of his recent battle with stomach cancer. Dio, born Ronald James Padavona, was known for his work within such classic Heavy Metal bands as Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath / Heaven & Hell, and his own solo band Dio.


Dio's passing is a major blow for the world of Heavy Metal. Recently Dio had been collaborating with his former Black Sabbath band mates under the moniker Heaven & Hell - the result of which had been 2009's commercially and critically acclaimed 'The Devil You Know'. Dio's voice onstage was distinctive and powerful (despite receiving no vocal training) - his voice offstage was friendly and good humoured which has secured him a spot as one of Metal's most loved characters.



Prior to his fame as a Heavy Metal front man, Dio's career in music can be traced back to the late 1950's with bands such as The Vegas Kings (1957–1958), Ronnie & The Rumblers (1958), Ronnie and the Red Caps (1958–1961), and Ronnie Dio and the Prophets (1961–1967). But it was first as a member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow where he first captured our ears, before solidifying his place as one of Metal's greats by steering the Ozzy Osbourne-less Black Sabbath back to success with the phenomenal album 'Heaven & Hell'. Dio's solo career was one of the most prolific in the genre. From his 1983 opus 'Holy Diver' to 2004's 'Master of the Moon' he and his band always seemed to be touring and delighting legions of Metalheads.

Then last November it was announced he was suffering from stomach cancer. There was very little news after that but things began to look bad when Heaven & Hell announced they were cancelling all their Summer dates. And yesterday it was announced the Ronnie James Dio had passed away.

Dio's legacy to music is simply astonishing and well be very difficult for anyone to ever match.



RIP Ronnie James Dio

This is a transferred post from my previous wordpress blog published on: Oct 10, 2008.

It has emerged that former Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids bassist and Unpop artist Gidget Gein has died.

Gidget (real name Brad Stewart) co-wrote many of Marilyn Manson's early songs and played on the 1994 debut album Portrait of an American Family. He is also credited as the main influence behind the early visual aesthetic of the band.

After being forced out of the band on the eve of the release of the album, Brad moved to New York and formed his own art-rock band The Dali Gaggers, and released one album; Confessions of a Spooky Kid. After moving back to his home state of Florida, Gein worked as a 'bag boy' for the coroner's office, which he recorded on his official website http://www.gidgetgein.com/.

 

He mended the bridge with former bandmate Marilyn Manson and appeared in the video for (s)AINT along with a sculpture (later bought by the video's director, Asia Argento) entitled In Case of Emergency Break Heart.

He moved to Los Angeles in order to further persue his Art and Fashion, and became a member of the Unpop art movement (alongside such notoraries as Boyd Rice, and Adam Parfrey). He was exhibited at a number of shows in the Hollywood area, and made his art available through his fashion line Gollywood. Gidget's art dealt with alot of themes common to the unpop movement - degenerate art thematically heavy with aspects of American pop culture now swept under the carpet. In 2006 he appeared as Detective Jeffery Mourir in the film Black Dahlia. In 2007 he released three new albums of music and recently began playing live again as part of the band People.






The one constant in Gidget Gein's varied and artistic life was his battle with drug addiction and on the 9th of October 2008, it was a battle he finally lost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gidget_Gein






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I had communicated with Gidget numerous times via his personal myspace page and had always found him to be a wonderfully polite, smart, witty, and obviously a very talented person. As a fan and admirer I am deeply saddend by this news and my heart goes out to his friends and loved ones.

RIP GG