April 5 has been a tough, tough day for rock and roll artists. I really didn’t want to do this topic, but sometimes these phenomena insist that you pay attention. Consider the following:
Bob “The Bear” Hite, born February 28, 1943, in Torrance, CA; died April 5, 1981
The Bear was the hard-partying, mountainous, 300-pound lead singer and harmonica player for the blues rock band Canned Heat. They performed both Woodstock in 1969, and the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Canned Heat was famous for revitalizing the careers of old-time bluesmen with whom they collaborated, e.g. John Lee Hooker. The band was partying it up between sets at the Palomino in LA, when The Bear snorted a vial of powder that a fan had given him. It was heroin, and caused a fatal heart attack The Bear was 38.
Danny Rapp, born May 9, 1941, in Philadelphia, PA; died April 5, 1983
Danny was the front man in the popular 50s doo-wop group Danny and the Juniors. Their hits included “At the Hop” and “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay.” Rapp committed suicide by handgun at a motel in Quartzite, AZ, near the California border. He had left a month-long gig in Phoenix, AZ, a few days earlier. He was 41.
Kurt Cobain, born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, WA; died April 5, 1994
Kurt was the troubled lead singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band Nirvana. We discussed him in February this TIMH. Kurt committed suicide by gun at his home in Seattle. He was 27.
Cozy Powell, born December 29, 1947, in Cirencester, England; died April 5, 1998
Collin Trevor “Cozy” Powell was an English rock drummer who played with The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Robert Plant, Brian May, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath and Emerson, Lake and Powell. He was fascinated with fast cars and motorcycles. Cozy Powell was killed when he lost control of his car on wet pavement going over 100 mph. Powell was intoxicated, talking to his girlfriend on his cell phone and not wearing a seat belt when he hit a road barrier near Bristol, England. He was 50.
Layne Staley, born August 22, 1967, in Kirkland, WA; died April 5, 2002
Layne was the lead singer of Seattle rock band Alice In Chains. TIMH has touched on the group here, and here, and here. Layne deteriorated physically and emotionally over a period of years in the late 90s and early 2000s. He apparently accidentally OD’d in his Seattle condo the day after celebrating bassist Mike Starr's birthday, but owing to his self-isolation, was not discovered for two weeks. He reportedly weighed 86 pounds when he died. Layne was 34.
Don't know what else to say, except R.I.P.
