We look back and pay our respect to some of the greats we’ve lost this year.
Buster Stiggs (Mark Hough), January 7, aged 64
He came to Australia with the Swingers – he was the all-important timekeeper on “Counting The Beat” – and then joined The Models. Back in 1976 in New Zealand, he played drums in Neil Finn’s first band After Hours, before forming punk outfit Suburban Reptiles.
Fast Eddie Clarke, January 10, aged 67
The last surviving member of the classic “Ace of Spades” Motorhead line-up, Fast Eddie played the licks that influenced virtually every metal band that followed, from Metallica on down.
Delores O’Riordan, January 15, aged 46
We’re maybe – and sadly - getting used to losing artists in their 60s and older, but the passing of the Cranberries singer was particularly shocking and tragic; she was only 46. We'll always remmeber this voice.
Jeff St John, March 6, aged 71
One of our great voices, St John was a significant figure in Australian music from the mid-60s to the mid-70s and maintained a dedicated following for the rest of his life.
Stuart Matchett, April 3, aged 66
One of the early Double J presenters back in the 70s, and later the music director of Triple J and founder of Dig, Stuart had an influence on the way millions of us listened to music. Back in the mid-80s, he co-produced and presented a radio series for JJJ called Rockwizz, featuring two teams, each led by a famous musician, who went head to head in a rock music quiz. Sound familiar? Check out an episode here.
Paul Gray, April 23, aged 53
The face and voice of 80s Australian pop group Wa Wa Nee, best known for the 1985 #2 hit single “Stimulation”, went onto work with the likes of Tina Arena and Kate Ceberano before reforming the old band. He was only 53.
Phil Emmanuel OAM, May 24, aged 65
Older brother of Tommy, and a guitar master in his own right, Phil was considered by some to be Australia’s greatest electric guitar player. Although he often performed with his brother, they were quite different players; Glenn A Baker once described the difference as “While his brother Tommy plays it sweet; Phil plays it from the street.”
Anthony Bourdain, June 8, aged 61
A man who made food rock, Bourdain loved music and musicians loved him. His chat with Iggy Pop in 2015 was absolutely brilliant.
Danny Kirwin, June 8, aged 68
A key figure in Fleetwood Mac’s long and convoluted history, golden boy Danny was always in the shadow of the band’s frontman Peter Green but contributed to classic tracks like “Oh Well” and the exquisite “Albatross”.
Vinnie Paul, June 22, aged 54
The drummer and co-founder of Texas metal favourites followed his late brother and Pantera mainstay Dimebag Darrell, who was shot dead on stage in Ohio in 2004, into the grave following a massive heart attack. He was only 54.
Spencer P. Jones, August 21, aged 61
A true underground Australian rock icon, even if he was a Kiwi. Spencer had an international impact as a member of the Beasts of Bourbon, and was adored locally upfront of the Johnnys in the 80s. He also played with the likes of Renee Geyer and Paul Kelly – half the country knows his licks on “How to Make Gravy” - and created a substantial body of solo work that people will be discovering for years to come. (Note: Spencer’s longtime Beasts bass player buddy, Brian Henry Hooper passed away not long before Spencer, making his final appearance on stage at his own tribute show, at Melbourne’s Prince Of Wales Hotel. Spencer made his last public appearance that night too…)
Conway Savage, September 2, aged 58
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ longtime keyboard player was a long-time member of the Prahran/St. Kilda Melbourne music mafia. When Spencer P Jones passed, a lot of people posted the video of Spencer’s song “Execution Day”, commenting that, of all the people in the video, which also included Spencer, Rowland S. Howard, Brian Henry Hooper, and drummer Peter Jones, Conway was the only one left. Less than two weeks later he was gone too.
Tony Joe White, October 24, 2018, aged 75
The Swamp Fox will be forever remembered for “Polk Salad Annie” – Elvis’s version and his own – but his catalogue runs deep and he was a true original.
Stan Lee, November 12, aged 95
Stan had a massive direct cultural impact through his comics and the various films and TV shows they inspired, and also an indirect influence through the other artists he inspired, including countless rock musicians. KISS even had their own Marvel comic in the 70s, but perhaps it was the Ramones who captured the misfit sensibility of early Marvel the best.
Aretha Franklin, August 16, aged 76
The Queen of Soul, and one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. ‘Nuff said.
John Power, November 30
Most famous for his bass playing with Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, John also had an impact with the Foreday Riders, Company Cane and the Hippos. And as the original co-owner of Sydney’s Red Eye Records Store. John’s old mate Joe Camilleri posted: “Loved his company, his wit and musicality… walked into each other’s lives not too much was said. John played bass and could sing in that world… he was the business.”
Pete Shelly, December 6, aged 63
The amount of coverage that Pete Shelly’s passing has had around the world reflects the truly profound influence that the man and his songs have had over the last 40 years. A national treasure in the UK, where the Buzzcocks had actual hits, here he was known in mainstream circles for the solo hit “Homosapien”, and for the song “Ever Fallen In Love” which was a hit for the Fine Young Cannibals. But his influence ran deeper, as any punk garage or indie band with a heart will tell you.
Anthony O’Grady, December 19, aged 71
As we just reported, Anthony O’Grady, the founding editor of RAM magazine, the hugely influential Australian rock paper that started in 1975, passed away this week. A’OG helped give exposure to and provided context and honest criticism of a local scene that was just starting to bust out. His championing of the likes of Skyhooks, Radio Birdman, Cold Chisel, The Angels and Midnight Oil gave all those bands vital exposure when they needed it. Anthony went on to start music industry tipsheet The Music Network, write the first book on Cold Chisel, and work in radio and TV.
