RIP

Patrick Stansfield, the legendary tour and stage manager who helped create the modern arena rock concert, has died early. he passed on in his sleep at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif. He was 70 and died of kidney failure. Stansfield was involved over the years with artists including Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, the Grateful Dead, Santana, Tina Turner, and countless others. He produced Diamond’s film vehicle “The Jazz Singer” and Streisand’s “Barbra: The Concert.”

Felix Hines of Phoenix Music International has died whilst attending the Amsterdam Dance Event. Felix joined Phoenix in 2012 after a 7 year stint as MD of London publisher Westbury Music where he was responsible for the signings of Riva Starr, Theo Parrish and Ragga 
Twins, amongst others.

John Holt has died aged 69. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Holt joined ska band The Paragons in 1964, writing his first big hit in the now-iconic 'The Tide Is High', which rose to fame again when Blondie covered it in 1980.

The jazz clarinettst Acker Bilk has died aged 85.  Bilk began performing in the early 1950s, and was best known for his 1962 single 'Strangers On The Shore', which was the UK's highest selling single of that year. He last performed live in August last year at the Brecon Jazz Festival.

Saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft, who famously plays the sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street', has died aged 60 of a suspected heart attack. Ravenscroft later worked as a session musician with Pink Floyd, ABBA, Marvin Gaye and, more recently Daft Punk. A one-time music teacher at York College, he also published an instruction book, 'The Complete Saxophone Player' in 1990.

Singer Alvin Stardust has died aged 72 after a short illness. Alvin, who had earlier in his career performed as Shane Fenton,  had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and died at home with his wife and family around him, his manager said. Born Bernard Jewry in the East End of London in 1942, his hits included My Coo Ca Choo, Jealous Mind and I Feel Like Buddy Holly. The former glam rock star had been due to release his first studio album in 30 years this autumn.

Jack Bruce, the bassist and vocalist in the 1960s supergroup Cream, has died of liver disease, aged 71. Having played with Alexis Korner’s Blues Inc, the Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and Manfred Mann, Bruce formed Cream with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. Cream sold 35 million albums in just over two years and were awarded the world's first ever platinum disc for their LP Wheels of Fire. Bruce co-wrote and sang most of the songs, including "I Feel Free", "White Room" and "Sunshine Of Your Love".

The photographer David Readfern has died aged 78. David amassed a collection of over 200,000 images in his extraordinary career, and his subjects included legends such as the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, David Bowie and Frank Sinatra. Three of his images were chosen for the US Post Office's celebration of the history of American jazz included his iconic shot of Louis Armstrong.


Tim Hauser, the founder of Manhatten Transfer who had a global hit with Chanson D'Amour has died aged 72. 

Wayne Static, the singer and guitarist of Los Angeles industrial metal band Static X, has died at the age of 48. The news was confirmed by Wayne’s publicists at FiXT Publicity. 

All sadly mised.


                                                             *********************

And finally, http://wundergroundmusic.com/ebeneezer-goode-found-dead-after-ecstasy-overdose/ have confirmed that nineties cult hero Ebeneezer Goode has been found dead in his home after suffering a suspected ecstasy overdose. Close friends of Mr. Goode’s, Mr. Raider and Mr. Vain, have confirmed that Ebeneezer will be cremated with his ashes to be spread over the site of a disused warehouse in Essex, where Mr. Goode is believed to have taken his first pill. There will also be a plaque erected in his honour at the site which will be inscribed with “Naughty, naughty, very naughty.Ha ha ha ha ha” (which as we all know was once written by a great philosopher).  Respect, and relive the moment here.