Rolling Obituary Thread: 2020

Kurt Luedtke, journalist and screenwriter (Absence of Malice, Out of Africa)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/08/09/kurt-luedtke-former-free-press-editor-and-oscar-winning-writer-dies/3315562001/

Just rewatched Absence of Malice within the past two weeks--solid film.

RIP Julian Bream. :(

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Thanks, Morbs for posting that particular obit for Kurt Luedtke. He was my uncle so I felt weird about posting it myself, but that obit is the best one I've found online for him yet so I'm glad to maybe direct a few more eyeballs towards it. He would have particularly appreciated how they didn't make any mention of Random Hearts, which was a film he never had much faith in and just did as a solid for Sydney Pollack, and instead it mentions both Rain Man and Schindler's List, both of which he didn't get formal credit for but probably could have if he wanted to as, at least according to him, most of what wound up in both movies was his work (of course, both also wound up then winning best screenplay Oscars, too). His split with Spielberg on Schindler's List was a particular sore spot as he spent over 4 years working on it, but just couldn't square up his own research on Schindler (which largely revealed him in an unflattering, self-serving light) with Spielberg's desire to lionize him with all those big, showy speeches towards the end (none of which ever happened in real life). Ever the truth seeking newspaperman, he just couldn't put his name on something that he felt was dishonest and I always really respected him for it. He truly was a one of a kind guy who I always really looked up to growing up and he will be missed.

Wow. I'm sorry for your loss.

A friend has just pointed out that a bunch of British people of a certain age already have a strong attraction to a Julian Bream piece: https://youtu.be/gt-gTDF32gQ

RIP J Bream. I often return to those BBC Masterclasses of his on YouTube - he's intense and funny and of course the technique is wonderful to see broken down, up close.

informative background on luedtke!

Pete Way, of UFO and Fastway

https://loudwire.com/pete-way-ufo-death/

aw rip Pete

"This girl, she didn't know where she was gonna go or what she was gonna do. Maybe she'd meet up with a character. I was really hopin' things would work out for her. She was a good friend of mine."

Rest in peace, Linda Manz. pic.twitter.com/Dhrl7IYlDt

— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) August 15, 2020

She was the best. The Gummo tap scene remains one of my favorite movie scenes of all time

Her performances in Days of Heaven, Out of the Blue, and Gummo were absolutely unforgettable. RIP.

Robert Trump

Whoa

wrong kid died

Steve Grossman, saxophonist who took over when Wayne Shorter left Miles Davis's band. He also played with Elvin Jones in the early 70s, and maintained a solo career subsequently.

Tetsuya Watari from Tokyo Drifter and Graveyard of Honour, 78.

Singer Willie Torres (Joe Cuba Sextet, Alegre All Stars, Orlando Marin, La Playa Sextet, etc, etc...) passed away on Sunday. RIP

hockey hall of famer dale hawerchuk, 57

Actor Ben Cross

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/18/ben-cross-chariots-of-fire-actor-dies

Whoa.

Roger Quigley of The Montgolfier Brothers

Ron Gorchov, artist.

Dele Fadele, NME writer and musician:

Very sad to just find out that Dele Fadele has passed away. Great, insightful, and much-loved NME writer and founder member of the band Welfare Heroine. pic.twitter.com/f1FjhwEzKf

— Dave Haslam (@Mr_Dave_Haslam) August 20, 2020

I'd heard something very quietly about this the other day (not directly, I hasten to add) but I guess the news is starting to break.

Sad to hear about the passing of Dele Fadele; fine NME writer, dedicated supporter of new acts & a good musician too. Used to see him at gigs all the time in the 90s with his inevitable plastic bag of records, talking about being the only black guy at NME. Inspirational. RIP Dele https://t.co/LCbwY9Y3EU

— Carl Loben (@CarlLoben) August 20, 2020

"Some burly skinhead is making a rude gesture in the direction of Kristin Hersh. I feel like nutting him, but he's twice my size. Dunno what he's complaining about: Throwing Muses are in splendid form" opening of Dele Fadele piece in Melody Maker, July 1989. RIP

— Bowiesongs (@bowiesongs) August 20, 2020

Oh. Sat with him and Mark s for an hour or so one time in North London pub listening to them chat about the old times. Knew the name from having devoured the nme growing up and it was nice to put a face to it.

This breaks my heart. I’d heard a rumour a few years ago, but I thought it was malicious because the source was one of the biggest jerks in magazine publishing, who could have made a material difference to Dele’s career and never did.

He died in 2018? I find that chilling but I do understand that it's not that people failed to notice he wasn't around. I didn't know anything about him other than his name when I read his distinctive NME reviews, but I appreciated that in contrast with the loudmouths and their subsequent media careers.

there's more abt DF here: The NME: Do the critics have personality?

Thank you.

I almost get a sense that his family was extremely private, which may explain this.

He came from a very good, upper-class family who were also Seventh-Day Adventists. He told me once that he told them he was a social worker so they wouldn’t wonder why he was so skint all the time.

Not sure what the deal is with the 7DAs, although I have had some quite pleasant interactions with them.

Frankie Banali

It is with heavy heart that I share the news of Frankie Banali’s passing. Please read his wife’s Regina’s statement. pic.twitter.com/B7YrhdvE1I

— Mitch Lafon (@mitchlafon) August 21, 2020

I feel bad that I primarily know him as the guy who did the weakest guitar solo on Hear 'n' Aid's "Stars"

I feel slightly worse in that I only know him from the deathpool thread.

I just feel bad because he was a fkn great drummer!!!
Banali was a huge part of the “classic” lineup of Quiet Riot, man they ruled. Their ending has been too sad, what with Kevin Dubro’s suicide & all. :( :( :(

He was good value for an interview too, i always liked when he showed up on those old vh1 talking heads clip shows.

We must protect Rudy Sarzo at all costs

I had no idea, or had forgotten, about Kevin DuBrow's demise. Rudy Sarzo's full name is Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont, which should be enough to form some kind of protective talisman around him.

Kevin DuBrow's brother is a reality TV star and plastic surgeon, and he talks about his brother from time to time on Botched .

Now I feel worse because I confused him with Carlos Cavazo

ok yr banned lol

Jack Sherman, a guy who put up with more than enough shit and tried to make things work on the first Red Hot Chili Peppers album and tour.

https://pitchfork.com/news/former-red-hot-chili-peppers-guitarist-jack-sherman-dead-at-64/

Word going around that Walter Lure from the Heartbreakers (Johnny Thunders's that is) has passed on.

:(

Just saw this.
https://deaddeath.com/walter-lure-death-walter-lure-obituary-cause-of-death/

Percussionist-composer Charlie Persip, collaborator with (among many others) Eric Dolphy, Lee Morgan, Art Farmer, and Hank Mobley.

Very sadly, Justin Townes Earle, Steve's son, has passed on:

Very very sad news to hear about the passing of Justin Townes Earle. https://t.co/nzSPrJwOlo

— Some Velvet Jawn (@somevelvetblog) August 24, 2020