RIP

Musician Chris Hardman, best known as Lil Chris, has been found dead. He was 24. Hardman first found fame when he appeared in the second series of Channel 4's 'Rock School' in 2006, in which young musicians were mentored by Kiss bassist Gene Simmons. After the series ended, he signed to Sony/RCA, releasing his debut single, 'Checkin It Out', which went to number three in the UK singles chart.

Nick Mann. ASFAR Editor and Sometime Louder Than War Contributor has died. Louder Than War commented "The hardcore community have lost a gentle but stalwart soldier in Nick Mann and he’ll be greatly missed". A keen Shrewsbury Town FC fan, Nick died in tragic circumstances on the London Underground at Old Street attempting to save his brother’s life. Fans at the weekend's Shrewsbury's match held a minute's applause in honour of Nick. His brother Robert is still in a critical but stable condition at the Royal London Hospital.

Former Pentangle guitarist John Renbourn has died, aged 70. He was found by police at his home on Thursday morning, after he failed to appear for a live performance in Glasgow the previous evening. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack.

Julian Lennon has released a new song as a tribute to his mother, Cynthia, who has died She had been suffering from cancer. The track was published via a new website at cynthialennon.memorial, and is titled 'In Loving Memory'.

Soul singer Percy Sledge died from liver cancer. He was 74. His hits included  'When A Man Loves A Woman', which would remain the song he was best known for throughout his career. Sledge inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2005 and Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame in 2007. He continued to record and perform until close to the end of his life. He played his final show last year, after undergoing surgery for liver cancer. He is survived by his second wife Rosa and twelve children.

Bob Burns, a founding member of rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died in a car crash at the age of 64. The drummer, who played on the band's first two albums, was killed when his car left the road on Friday, striking a mailbox and a tree. Georgia State Patrol spokeswoman Tracey Watson said Burns, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was killed in the wreck.

Sir John Read, chairman of EMI at the time the Sex Pistols were signed to and then rapidly dropped from the label after public outcry after the release of 'Anarchy in the UK' and their appearance on the Today programme, has died aged 97. Sir John was also a senior executive for Ford and chairman of the TSB banking group.