Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow
December is a time for remembering the highlights of the year, but it's also a month to reflect upon the musicians and other supporters of metal who are no longer with us. Sadly, we lost a lot of headbangers this year from various causes: murder, accident, overdose, illness and undisclosed reasons. The reaper, it seems, works on his own schedule, dispassionately snatching both those at death's door and those who seemingly have many years left. So, before we return to our celebrating our own lives and planning out events for 2008, let's pause to remember those who will not be toasting in the New Year with us:
Quiet Riot singer, Kevin DuBrow, 52, was found dead on November 25 at his Las Vegas home. Coroners later concluded cause was accidental cocaine overdose. DuBrow fronted Quiet Riot through their glory years in the early ‘80s, which peaked when their major label debut, Metal Health, became the first metal album to reach number on the Billboard album chart.
Ministry and Killing Joke bassist, Paul Raven, was found dead on October 20 in a private home in a small French village on the Swiss border. He was 46. Raven, who most recently co-wrote and played on the new Ministry album, The Last Sucker, is believed to have died of a heart attack.
Decapitated drummer Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka, died in a Russian hospital from head injuries he suffered on October 29 when the band’s tour bus crashed into a truck carrying wood in Gomel on the border of Russia and Belarus. He was 23.
Kiss’ short-lived guitarist Mark St. John, 51, died on April 5 from a brain hemorrhage. St. John played with the band on Animalize in 1984, however an arthritic condition known as Reiter’s Syndrome caused his hands and arms to swell and rendered him unable to continue in the group and after three live shows he was replaced by Bruce Kulick.
Girlschool guitarist Kelly Johnson died on July 15 after a six-year battle with cancer of the spine. She was 49. Johnson was part of the band’s classic lineup, which played a significant role in the new wave of British heavy metal movement and received support and praise from Motorhead. She left the group in 1984 after four albums, but rejoined in 1993.
Arsonists Get the Girls bassist, Pat Mason, died in his sleep of unknown causes on November 30, the day after his 21st birthday. The Santa Cruz progressive hardcore band released its first album, Hits From the Bow, in 2006.
Damien “Damo” Morris, the singer of Australian-based The Red Shore, died when the band’s minivan swerved off the Pacific Highway in New South Wales and hit a tree. The group’s driver and merch guy, Andy, was also killed. At the time of the accident, The Red Shore were on the Christmas Carnage tour with All Shall Perish.
Mario Gutierrez, 37, guitarist for the Los Angeles death/thrash metal band, Engrave, died from gunshot wounds on November 22. Gutierrez was having thanksgiving at his sister’s house when he got into a heated argument with his 27-year-old brother-in-law, who allegedly insulted Gutierrez’s wife. During the fight, the brother-in-law pulled out a gun and shot Gutierrez dead. A few hours later, he turned himself in to police.
Hilly Krystal, the founder of the legendary New York City punk rock club CBGB, died on August 28 from complications of lung cancer. He was 75. CBGBs was a Mecca for musicians in the ‘70s and ‘80s and helped launch the careers of the Ramones, Talking Heads, Television and Bad Brains. In the ‘80s, the club hosted hardcore matinees, which served as a stomping grounds for Agnostic Front, Murphy’s Law, Token Entry, Gorilla Biscuits, Warzone and others.
Pepsi Tate, bassist for the UK glam band Tigertailz, died from pancreatic cancer on September 18 at the Holme Towers cancer hospice in Penarth Cardiff. He was 42.
Chris Resch, 48, the lead singer for California ‘80s metal band Pandemonium died on August 24 at his home in Fairbanks, Alaksa of unknown causes. Pandemonium released three albums between 1983 and 1988.
Ron Johnson, the singer of ‘80s Michigan-based metal band Salem’s Wych, died on April 23 in Lima, Ohio after a severe motorcycle accident.
Don Arden, notorious thuggish British manager, and father of Sharon Osbourne, died in a Los Angeles nursing home on July 21. He was 81. Arden is best known for managing Black Sabbath, The Small Faces and Electric Light Orchestra. After Ozzy was fired Sabbath, Sharon Osbourne and Arden had a major falling out over the control of Ozzy’s career, which caused her to cut off all contact with him until 2002, after he had developed Alzheimer’s Disease.
Heavy metal journalist and editor, Bob Muldowney, died on November 5 following a battle with cardiomyopathy. He was 44. Muldowney was best known for publishing and editing the ‘80s fanzine Kick*Ass, which promoted then-underground bands such as Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer.
