It’s a sad fact of rock music that so many of the great riffs, poetic lyrics and impeccable vocals we play today come from artists who aren’t on this Earth any more.
This week saw yet more tragedy for Bob Geldof and his family with the death of 25-year-old Peaches Geldof on Monday. Bob’s daughter, who had two young boys of her own, lost her mother Paula Yates when she was just 11 years old in 2000, three years after Yates’s partner Michael Hutchence of INXS died in a chain of tragedy for the families.
The Australian rocker is one of so many musicians who passed on to that great gig in the sky way before their time. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin form part of the 27 Club, a name borne from the bizarrely high number of famous musicians who died at that age. In fact, it was this day 20 years ago, that the Seattle coroner’s office ruled that Kurt Cobain died by suicide, following the discovery of his body a few days earlier.
The Nirvana frontman joined the 27-Club in April 1994. This month also sees the first anniversary of Levon Helm of The Band, whose star-studded farewell gig in 1976, The Last Waltz, is now legendary.
The Sugar Club on Dublin’s Leeson Street will be hosting a tribute to the drummer and singer on April 19th. The Walls, Republic of Loose and The Last Waltz tribute act The Group will be amongst the performers paying homage to Levon Helm on the night, and raising money for the Irish Cancer Society in the process.
All proceeds raised go to the charity and tickets are a very reasonably-priced €12.50, available from www.ticketmaster.ie. It’s true what they say, whether an artist behind your favourite song or album is still alive or not, their music will live on as long as you play it: rock and roll will never die.
Dee Woods
Nova Nights Mon-Fri from 7pm and Saturdays from 10am
@RaDeeOh
