RIP

Hot Chocolate lead singer Errol Brown has died aged 71, his manager has said. Brown had liver cancer and died at his home in the Bahamas, said Phil Dale. Hot Chocolate had hits in more than 50 countries worldwide, including You Sexy Thing - which Brown co-wrote - It Started with a Kiss and Every 1's a Winner. Brown was made an MBE by the Queen in 2003 and received an Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British music in 2004.

Tony Barrow, the longtime Beatles press officer who coined the term “Fab Four,” died at his home in Morecambe, England. He had turned 80 just three days prior. Barrow served as press officer for the legendary band during their heyday, from 1962-1968, and worked with a string of Hall of Fame acts through his career. 

Dave Swarbrick, best known for his work with influential folk group Fairport Convention, has died at the age of 75. Known as "Swarb", the musician performed mainly on the violin and wrote many of the group's songs. The band posted a tribute on their website calling him the "fiddler supreme".

Christina Grimmie, the singer best known for competing on The Voice has died after she was shot after a concert in Orlando. Grimmie and the pop/punk band Before You Exit were signing autographs and selling merchandise after their show at the Plaza Live Theater when a man walked up to her and shot her. Grimmie's brother tackled the assialant, who then shot himself.

Adrian Posse, the veteran composer, producer and industry exec who for years led the A&R departments at BMG and EMI Latin, has died. The cause was pulmonary fibrosis, diagnosed after doctors recently found a tumor in his lung. Posse produced albums for Juan Gabriel, José José, Alejandra Guzmán and Rocío Durcal, among others and also had key roles in Alexander Pires’ crossover into Spanish and Christina Aguilera’s extremely successful Spanish-language album. He was 67 years old.

Nicola Thorold OBE, executive producer at London music and arts venue the Roundhouse, has died aged 51 after a battle with cancer.

News has emerged tonight (July 16) that Alan Vega, founder of electronic proto-punk duo Suicide, has died at the age of 78. Vega was born Boruch Alan Bermowitz, and helped pioneer a new sound and style of electronic music, in particular with Suicide’s influential 1977 self-titled debut album. “RIP to the KING,” 

Matthias Müller, founder and president of Swiss festival Baloise Session, has died aged 51 after a long illness. Session Basel CEO Beatrice Stirnimann – who has, with artist liaison Kerstin Elgass, booked the festival for the past two years – says the festival will continue “according to [Müller’s] wishes, as we have done for the last 30 years, and thus honour his memory”.

Dan Panaitescu

And tragic news from the Sziget Festival: "Our colleague and friend, Dan Panaitescu, who has worked on Sziget and all of our festivals from the very beginning and who is one of the most well-known promoter, has died in a car accident last night. Dan was the one, who booked all those great artists to all of our festivals! Moreover, we can also thank him the ‘Best Line-up’ Award at the European Festival Awards for Sziget. We are speechless. We have always envied him for not getting older, but we have never ever thought that he would not get old… For hours now we are receiving condolences from musicians, managements, agencies and bookers from all over the world. The whole festival industry is grieving. Dan was an acknowledged professional, a great colleague, our friend and a caring father to two children. You will be missed, Dan! Rest in Peace!