Rolling Obituary Thread: 2021

Been to the Jazz Mart every time I'm in Chicago and own a bunch of Delmark releases. RIP.

Been to the Jazz Mart every time I'm in Chicago and own a bunch of Delmark releases. RIP.

Sean Connery's brother Neil, who had a bit of a fitful career of his own:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.begg.77/posts/10160578878721756

Mostly well known for an amazing piece of MST3K fodder, Operation Kid Brother aka Operation Double 007, an amazing and shameless Bond rip/parody with about half cast being actors from the actual series -- Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Adolfo Celi aka the bad guy from Thunderball and more besides. Whether MST'd or not it's an amazing watch; Neil Connery has zero charisma and is dubbed and the whole thing is a bizarre lark -- and Ennio Morricone did the music! Theme song rules, in English or Italian:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfXEL6bVFQI

Actual movie itself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqsgzAyfAEo

And the MST take:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Mfmn7vN4g

Nick Page aka Count Dubula, 60.

there's a short obituary written by peter gabriel here:

https://realworldrecords.com/features/blogs/nick-page-1960-2021/

I screened the hilarious MST3K Operation Double 007 ep recently, which led me to the IMDB trivia that Lois Maxwell said she was paid more for that film than her combined salary from all the Bonds she appeared in.

To be strictly fair, and absolutely nothing against the greatness that was Lois, most of her Bond appearances were probably a day's worth of filming, maybe two? That she has an actual continuing role in Double 007 alone is a step up!

Lois Maxwell wrote a regular column in the Toronto papers when I was young, which I imagine paid better then than now.

XP I was thinking that too, with the mild realization that 99% of the budget for Double 007 (which I saw in one of the obits was also marketed under the ahead of it's time title OK Connery) went for the talent and 'talent', with rest going for everything else.

RIP Nick Page, his later act Dub Colossus are majorly slept on

NB that Neil Connery is dubbed into an American accent in OK Connery, but is in fact playing a Scottish character

I suspect his Ednburgh accent might have been a bit on the heavy side.

Post-It note inventor Spencer Silver
https://www.manufacturing.net/home/news/21427674/postit-note-inventor-dies-at-80

RIP big man, heaven needed an inspirational anecdote for motivational speakers

ECW wrestler New Jack

Bassist-composer Mario Pavone, collaborator with Bill Dixon, Anthony Braxton, Paul Bley, and many others.

Jim Klobuchar, Minnesota journalism giant and Amy’s dad, 93.

Mario Pavone did some good stuff under his own name as well. I liked Motion Poetry. RIP

I feel like the only records I have with him are by Bill Dixon, where he's one of two or three bassists so it's hard to immediately pick him out. I certainly know his name, though.

Posted New Jack over in the wrestler obits as well, but MAN, I really didn't think that anything could kill New Jack.

Pavone is the only bassist on Dixon’s Son Of Sisyphus, where tubist John Buckingham takes up the role of the second bassist.

xp

that one I mentioned is with guitarist Michael Musillami, it's one of them where it clicked with me at some point, but not in the same league as Bill Dixon but good stuff nevertheless.

The lovely Fred Dellar has gone. A feature at the NME from 1972 until at least 1996 and thereafter a valued contributor to Mojo. The kindest soul, he made new writers feel welcome. Always there with a story, facts and smiles like a best, encouraging uncle. pic.twitter.com/KjbZCHYSLW

— Stuart Bailie (@stu_bailie) May 16, 2021

;_; RIP Fred

Oh no,a wise old fixture of my music press reading since I was a nipper. RIP Fred.

Had his own FAC number from Factory
https://factoryrecords.org/factory-records/fac-227-fred-fact-nme-feature-pages.php

William Tsamis aka Destroyer, guitarist/composer of early 80s US power metal band Warlord. Probably not the biggest band on ilx, but they were largely-unacknowledged innovators whose records I played over and over through my teenage metal years till I near enough wore them out, so RIP big guy.

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/warlord-guitarist-composer-william-j-tsamis-dead-at-60/

Neal Ford, of '60s Texas Garage Legends Neal Ford & The Fanatics.

Franco Battiato :(

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/franco-battiato-dies-age-76.html

Roy Scammell, stuntman and stunt and fight coordinator of note on film and TV including Doctor Who, Bond and Alien.

Sad to hear that stunt legend Roy Scammell has passed away. #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/jGBxHQ5qdS

— Who FX (@who_fx) May 18, 2021

Charles Grodin, 86

That's too bad. RIP.

Aw, RIP. His Great Muppet Caper performance is one of my all-time favorite comedic roles. Had no idea he was that old.

I guess he was almost 60 when he did Clifford?!

Total hero. The glorious one-off partnership that was him and de Niro in Midnight Run alone but yes, Great Muppet Caper forever.

nooo, Clifford is one of my all-time faves. Weirdly, I have a blu-ray of it on its way to me right now and I was listening to the Blank Check ep on it when I saw this news. The Great Muppet Caper and Midnight Run are also up there. Went on a binge of his old Letterman and Carson appearances a month or so ago, too, and highly recommend pursuing that avenue for a taste of his unique comedic persona.

Oh man, love Charles Grodin. RIP.

He was so great early on (on Carson, too). Will have some pecan pie tonight in his honour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zLROW_1moQ

Midnight Run for the win, but also liked his talk show hosting a bit

he was the best

they talk in blank check about how he was always older than you thought he was - i think he got a later start, at least in movies, than people realize

he also looked like he didn't age from Heaven Can Wait (1978) to Midnight Run (1988)

And Dr. Hill in Rosemary's Baby!

ah he's so funny in heaven can wait

Had the stunning privilege of seeing Charles Grodin do a Q&A after a screening of Midnight Run in 2011. He spoke uninterrupted about criminal justice reform for at least 30 minutes, maybe even an hour before taking questions. Absolute god. RIP.

— Will Sloan (@WillSloanEsq) May 18, 2021

Im not sure too many could have managed that role in midnight run without sliding into either bill murray or dan aykroyd but he balanced it beautifully- he elevates the whole thing

RIP Charles Grodin. Things got heated enough between Letterman & Grodin that he brought out a lawyer to sit with him, while Grodin explained he planned to sue Letterman for libel. Grodin later said the attorney was “a burlesque comic” he’d hired. https://t.co/H5l9SdDp3l

— kentucker (@kentucker) May 18, 2021

I just tweeted at the guy, Don Giller, who does all the Letterman compilations on YouTube and he says that one for all of Grodin's appearances should be up by tomorrow.

I remember being struck by how old he seemed in Louie a few years back, and then realising that was because he was much older than I'd thought he was

I just skimmed this a bit, but it looks pretty great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT6HIfhwtKo

Godzilla vs. Mothra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEIIsYal890