RIP- musicians

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

Walter Becker of Steely Dan   only 67. May you forever jazz-rock Walt x

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/walter-becker-steely-dan-co-founder-dead-at-67-w500956

[bassline (Mike)]

I finally did something I've wanted to do for a looong time....I bought a ticket to see Steely Dan for a UK show next month....R.I.P Walt...I'll never get to see you now, but your music will live on.....

[Dan O.]

RIP Walter Becker, very sad news.

Here's Donald Fagen's tribute :

"Walter Becker was my friend, my writing partner and my bandmate since we met as students at Bard College in 1967. We started writing nutty little tunes on an upright piano in a small sitting room in the lobby of Ward Manor, a mouldering old mansion on the Hudson River that the college used as a dorm.
We liked a lot of the same things: jazz (from the twenties through the mid-sixties), W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, science fiction, Nabokov, Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Berger, and Robert Altman films come to mind. Also soul music and Chicago blues.
Walter had a very rough childhood – I’ll spare you the details. Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny. Like a lot of kids from fractured families, he had the knack of creative mimicry, reading people’s hidden psychology and transforming what he saw into bubbly, incisive art. He used to write letters (never meant to be sent) in my wife Libby’s singular voice that made the three of us collapse with laughter.
His habits got the best of him by the end of the seventies, and we lost touch for a while. In the eighties, when I was putting together the NY Rock and Soul Review with Libby, we hooked up again, revived the Steely Dan concept and developed another terrific band.
I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band."

[GubGub (Al)]

I am broken hearted.

Was so excited to be going to see the Dan in October. I wonder what the implications are for the O2 show, given Donald's comments above. I would rather it was cancelled but it sounds as though it might not be.

[Andy]

Walter Becker's passing has definitely given me pause. Steely Dan appeared on the OGWT in about 1972 and I've been a fan ever since. I'm listening to Becker's "Circus Money" album right now. Despite the critical acclaim that Aja garnered, 1973's "Countdown to Ecstasy" remains my favourite Steely Dan album.

My twin favourites on that album are My Old School and Bodhisattva. On balance, the former is the better by a smidgin of pinch. Today, anyhow.



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[Bingers (Chris)]

Big shock at the passing of Walter Becker. I was lucky enough to see The Dan a few years ago in London and remember a great night. RIP

[blagden]

Sad news RIP.

[bassline (Mike)]

I am broken hearted.

Was so excited to be going to see the Dan in October. I wonder what the implications are for the O2 show, given Donald's comments above. I would rather it was cancelled but it sounds as though it might not be.

I'm going too...Donald did some shows in July without Walt when he fell ill, so I guess it will go ahead.

[Chris]

Yup, I'm going as well.

[Brendan]

Not 100% but I think the marvellous Mick Softley knowing me it was years ago but sad news all the same!

[John From Austin]

We saw Donald Fagan and his auxiliary band, the Nightflyers, last night at ACL Live.  It was a fabulous show and he was in a great mood.  In addition to DF solo tunes and a fascinating selection of covers ("Shakedown Street" by the Grateful Dead, anyone?), he played a selection of the most popular Steely Dan tunes:  Hey Nineteen, Bodhisattva, My Old School, Dirty Work, Kid Charlemagne, and Reelin' In The Years
 
After such a tremendous evening, it was heartbreaking to wake up to this news today.

I interpret DF's statement to mean that the musical entity known as "Steely Dan" will continue.  After last night, I can say with confidence that DF can carry the torch quite nicely.

[Alan2]

Not 100% but I think the marvellous Mick Softley knowing me it was years ago but sad news all the same!

Mick Softley has passed away??  

Edit: It's already on Wikipedia. Died 1st Sept. This is just too much. Any Mother Doesn't Grumble was the reissue of last year, for me. It always baffled me Mick Softley wasn't better known and appreciated.

[PaulT]

Can founder, bassist, sampling pioneer Holger Czukay, aged 79. I remember seeing the Tago  :'(Mago album in a Liverpool record shop and asking to hear it. The track selected was Oh Yeah, and I listened to it through handheld headphones. The bass just blew me away, and I was hooked. Holger's "Movies" album will be played today, along with the Can Singles cd. RIP.

[Bob Barrows]

Dave Hlubek, founding member of Molly Hatchett, succumbed to a heart attack - age 67.

[JohnP69]

Can founder, bassist, sampling pioneer Holger Czukay, aged 79. I remember seeing the Tago  :'(Mago album in a Liverpool record shop and asking to hear it. The track selected was Oh Yeah, and I listened to it through handheld headphones. The bass just blew me away, and I was hooked. Holger's "Movies" album will be played today, along with the Can Singles cd. RIP.

Excellent choices there Paul
I shall be giving "Movies" a spin tonight and toasting the great man.
R.I.P Holger

[Shane (Skirky)]

Dave Hlubek, founding member of Molly Hatchett, succumbed to a heart attack - age 67.

Aww, that's a shame. Fond memories of learning 'Boogie No More' (well, the chords, at least) at a formative age.

[Delfini (Diane)]

And sadly Bob Welch also:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18363214

That was 2012, I believe, according to the report.

[Chris]

As was the post you replied to!

[Delfini (Diane)]

As was the post you replied to!

Yes, I realised that straight away and tried to remove it. I thought I'd done so, but clearly
the iPad wasn't co-operating.

My apologies for the stupidity.

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

Don Williams.