RIP

Jonathan Athon from Black Tusk has died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. The band posted a message on Facebook saying "It is with deep regret and saddened hearts that we must tell you that Athon passed away this morning from injuries sustained from his motorcycle accident. Doctors told us that he suffered irreparable brain damage shortly after the accident.". He was 32 and his bandmates added that he would be "forever missed". 

Big Bank Hank (Henry Jackson) of the Sugarhill Gang, whose pioneering hit "Rapper's Delight" brought hip hop to mainstream audiences 35 years ago, has died aged 57 from complications from cancer.

Jeffrey Fletcher, 36, the guitarist with Northern Uproar has been killed instantly in a road traffic accident with a lorry in Stockport, Greater Manchester. His family said in a statement: "We wish to remember our loving, caring, gentle giant Jeffrey Fletcher for his love of music, his talent on lead guitar and most of all, his infectious laugh. The outpouring of love and wishes from friends old and new shows us how loved he has been and this is a comfort to his family."

Mowtown legend Jimmy Ruffin has died aged 78.  He was signed to Berry Gordy's label and had a string of hits in the 60s including 'What Became of the Broken Hearted' and in the 80s released the the top 10 hit 'Hold On To My Love'.  

Alexis 'Leki' Gotts, perhaps most widely known as one half of Yorkshire's Wet Nuns and latterly of new band Baba Naga, has died having taken his own life.

The Rolling Stones have said that they are devastated over the death of Bobby Keys, who played saxophone for them. The 70 year old Keys played with Buddy Holly, John Lennon and Eric Clapton but  was most famous for his work with the Stones on the classic track Brown Sugar and their album Exile On Main Street. He played on every album from 1969 until 1974 and from 1980 to his death, and performed on all Stones tours from 1970. Keys played during the band's Glastonbury headline slot in 2013, although later was forced to pull out of dates in New Zealand and Australia due to poor health. Keys released two albums of his own in the 1970s: a self-titled instrumental album on Warner Bros. Records that featured Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1972; and Gimme the Key on Ringo Starr's record label Ring O'Records in 1975.

Clive Palmer, the virtuoso banjo player, multi instrumentalist, songwriter and founding member of the mid-60s avant-garde folk group the Incredible String Band has died aged 71. Clive later brought his songwriting and instrumental talents to the Famous Jug Band.and ten Clive’s Original Band and was a mainstay of the Cornish folk scene.

Ian McLagan, the legendary keyboardist who was a member of the Small Faces and the Faces, has died. He was 69 years old. The popular London-born musician also brought his Hammond and Wurlitzer sound to acts including Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry and McLagan co-wrote a number of Faces songs including Cindy Incidentally, You’re So Rude, Bad’n’Ruin and Three Button Hand Me Down.


Nick Talbot, a.k.a. Warp Records artist Gravenhurst, has passed away. A statement from Warp reads: “We are shocked and saddened to share the news that Nick Talbot has passed away aged 37. An immensely talented singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and journalist, he will be hugely missed. " Talbot was due to begin the UK leg of a tour celebrating the tenth anniversary of his signing to Warp in Leeds. Last month he played the first three dates of the tour in Europe, performing his debut album for the label, 'Flashlight Seasons', in full.