In Memoriam
Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode has passed away

Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode has passed away

Andy Fletcher, keyboardist and founding member of Depeche Mode, has passed away. He was 60 years old. No cause of death has been made public. Depeche Mode released a statement that reads,

"We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate Andy "Fletch" Fletcher. Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh, or a cold pint. Our hearts are with his family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy during this difficult time."

He formed Depeche Mode in 1980 along with Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, and Vince Clarke. The band released fourteen studio albums the last of which was Spirit in 2017 and they were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2020. We send our condolences to Andy Fletcher's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Ricky Gardiner guitarist for David Bowie and Iggy Pop has passed away

Ricky Gardiner guitarist for David Bowie and Iggy Pop has passed away

Ricky Gardiner, former guitarist for David Bowie and Iggy Pop, has passed away. He was 73. He had been battling a rare form of Parkinson's. His son Tom Gardiner released a statement on social media that reads in part,

"It's with great sadness and relief to announce the passing of my father Ricky Gardiner. Unfortunately he was suffering from a very rare form of Parkinson's known as PSP. Over the last 4 years I have been helping my mother in caring for him. It took every ounce of my energy body, mind, and soul to help attend to his every need. I have to be honest, I'm now completely exhausted. But much much wiser because of it. To know he was able to pass safely and peacefully at out family home was a huge comfort.
He was not only my dad, but my best friend and a huge inspiration. And I know it was the same for my sisters Annie and Lee, and my mother Virgina, and my nephews and nieces Jack, Harry, Izzy and Talula.

He may have been an inspiration to you too. In his professional life. He was a Guitarist, Composer, Musician. You can hear his work on Iggy Pops 'Lust for Life', and David Bowie's 'Low' Album. As well as his own band Beggars Opera who were signed to the famous Vertigo record label during the 70's.

After he finished touring he went on to write music for meditation. Including The Flood, Kumara, and his last work came in 2015's 'Songs For The Electric' which is a solo album. which really is beautiful

It was his spiritual side which really inspired and taught be so much. We would talk for hours and hours on end about the meaning of life, meditation, astrology you name it, it was always an open book.

He was also super funny and would make up comic nick names not only for me and my family, but alot of the time his friends too. A true piss taker, he taught me well btw…ha

Anyway, Dad If you can still here me, you've given me everything, and I can't thank you enough. See you on the otherside, where maybe we can catch a Jim Carrey film and have one last laugh together….

Take care my friend."

Iggy Pop also payed tribute writing,

"Dearest Ricky, lovely, lovely man, shirtless in your coveralls, nicest guy who ever played guitar. Thanks for the memories and the songs, rest eternal in peace."

Ricky Gardiner was self-taught and played on David Bowie's Low and Iggy Pop's Lust for Life. He playing can also be heard on Iggy Pop's live album TV Eye and compilation The Bowie Years. Ricky Gardiner also played in Beggar's Opera and released several solo albums. His last solo album was 2015's Songs For the Electric. We send our condolences to Ricky Gardiner's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder has passed away

Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder has passed away

Trevor Strnad, founding member and lead vocalist of The Black Dahlia Murder has passed away. He was 41. The band released a statement on social media that reads,

"It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Trevor Scott Strnad. Beloved son, brother, and Shepard of good times, he was loved by all that met him. A walking encyclopedia of all things music. He was a hugger, a writer, and truly one of the world’s greatest entertainers. His lyrics provided the world with stories and spells and horror and whimsy. It was his life to be your show.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255"

The Black Dahlia Murder released nine albums the last of which was Verminous in 2020. We send our condolences to Trevor Strnad's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Gabe Serbian of The Locust has passed away

Gabe Serbian of The Locust has passed away

Gabe Serbian, drummer for The Locust, has passed away. He was 44 years old. The Locust released a statement on Instagram that reads,

"It’s with heavy hearts that we have to share the passing of Gabe Serbian on April 30th, 2022. This world will miss Gabe as a friend, family member, musician, and artist. He will continue to live on in so many ways and through everyone he has connected with during his time with us. May 1st is his birthday, and we hope that you can find a way to celebrate his life. During this difficult time we ask that you give Gabe’s family privacy."

Gabe Serbian also played with Cattle Decapitation, Le Butcherettes, Zu, Retox, Holy Molar, Head Wound City, and Dead Cross. We send our condolences to Gabe Serbian's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Chris Bailey of The Saints has passed away

Chris Bailey of The Saints has passed away

Chris Bailey, co-founder and lead singer of The Saints, has passed away. He was 65. The band released a statement on Facebook that reads,

"It is with great pain in our hearts that we have to inform you about the passing of Chris Bailey, singer and songwriter of The Saints, on April the 9th 2022. Chris lived a life of poetry and music and stranded on a Saturday night.

Family and friends"

The Saints released 13 albums with the last one being King of the Sun in 2012. The band were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame in 2001. Chris Bailey also released seven solo albums, the last of which was Bone Box in 2005. We send our condolences to Chris Bailey's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Punk icon Jordan has passed away

Punk icon Jordan has passed away

Punk icon Jordan, aka Pamela Rooke, has passed away. She was 66 and died after a battle with bile duct cancer. Her family released a statement that reads,

"She died peacefully a stone's throw away from the sea in her home town of Seaford, East Sussex in the company of her loving family at 9pm last night (Sunday 3 April) … after a short period of illness, she succumbed to a relatively rare form of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Jordan (Pamela Rooke) has left her mark on this planet, whether it be as 'The Queen of Punk', or for her veterinary work and countless prize winning cats. She lived life to the full and was true to herself and others throughout the whole of her life. She was totally trusted and respected by all those who knew her Jordan was a wonderful woman and will be remembered for countless decades to come."

Jordan worked with Vivienne Westwood and helped shape the look of British punk in the 70s along with Soo Catwoman and Siouxsie Sioux. She also managed Adam and The Ants (as well as singing on their song "Lou") and Wide Boy Awake. She went on to become a veterinary nurse and bred Burmese cats and released her autobiography Defying Gravity: Jordan's Story in 2019. We send out our condolences to Jordan's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Nicky Tesco of the Members has passed away

Nicky Tesco of the Members has passed away

Sadly, Nicky Tesco, original singer of The Members, has passed away. He was 66. A cause of death was not given. He left the band when they broke up in 1983, and played with them briefly in 2007 and 2oo9. Following his time in the Members, Tesco was an actor and film score composer. We send our condolences to Tesco's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees has passed away

Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees has passed away

Mark Lanegan, vocalist for Screaming Trees and solo artist, has passed away. He was 57. No cause of death has been released. A statement released on his official Twitter account reads,

"Our beloved friend Mark Lanegan passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland. A beloved singer, songwriter, author and musician he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley. No other information is available at this time. We ask Please respect the family privacy."

Mark Lanegan also worked with Queens of The Stone Age, grunge supergroup Mad Season, and The Gutter Twins among others over the course of his career. He went on to release twelve solo albums, the last of which was Straight Songs of Sorrow in 2020 and released his last book Devil in a Coma in 2021. We send our condolences to Mark Lanegan's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Dallas Good of The Sadies has passed away

Dallas Good of The Sadies has passed away

Dallas Good, singer and guitarist of The Sadies, has passed away. He was 48. A statement released by the band reads,

"It’s with unfathomable sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dallas on Thursday, February 17th. Forty eight years old, he died of natural causes while under doctor’s care for a coronary illness discovered earlier this week. A son, a brother, a husband, a friend, a bandmate, a leader, a force to be reckoned with, we have no words for the shock we are all feeling. We join the rest our music community and fans in grief. The stage is dark today with the all too soon passing of one of music’s brightest lights. We love you Dallas."

Dallas Good also performed with The Unintended, Phono-Comb, and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet among others. The Sadies released a new single, "Message to Belial" last month and released Northern Passages in 2017. We send our condolences to Dallas Good's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Rachel Nagy of Detroit Cobras has passed away

Rachel Nagy of Detroit Cobras has passed away

Sadly, Rachel Nagy, co-founder of the Detroit Cobras has passed away. No cause of death was given. The band's current label, Third Man Records, issued a short statement: "“In both her voice and personality, Rachel Nagy was the perfect balance of tough badass and absolute sweetheart.” The band released five albums and a number of singles, with the most recent being 2020's "Feel Good." Punknews sends its condolences to Nagy's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Mensi of Angelic Upstarts has passed away

Mensi of Angelic Upstarts has passed away

Sadly, Thomas Mensforth aka Mensi, singer for Angelic Upstarts has passed away at 65. He had been fighting Covid for the past few weeks. The band stated: "Today we lost a punk rock legend.Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those he inspired."

We send our condolences to Mensi's family, friends, and fans.

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In Memoriam
Gared O'Donnell of Planes Mistaken for Stars has passed away

Gared O'Donnell of Planes Mistaken for Stars has passed away

Gared O'Donnell, lead vocalist, guitarist and founding member of Planes Mistaken For Stars, has passed away. He passed November 24 at the age of 44 after a battle with esophageal cancer. The band released a statement on their social media pages that reads in part,

"It is impossible to express the depth of sorrow in which we must announce that Gared O’Donnell, our brother, our leader, our captain, who has done more to cultivate love and light in this world than any of us can understand, has moved on from his physical form here with us and crossed the rainbow bridge into the eternal ether. In his final days/hours, he was surrounded by the love of his family, his friends, his bandmates, and many others from afar.

A titan, a pillar, a beacon, no one that knew him wasn’t touched or inspired. The gift he gave us was himself, fully unselfishly pouring his life, love, and soul out to the world, so honestly that it hurt.

His passion was infectious drawing us all to him and to each other. The family we have is vast because of Gared. Through the sheer force of his will, he helped to sculpt the reality we all inhabit. His impact on us all will never die.

At the end of every Planes show, Gared urged us all to take care of each other. It wasn’t just something to say, it was a plea for us all to open our hearts and see everyone for what they are, our brothers and sisters. A plea for us to appreciate every heart wrenching, beautiful, and terrifying moment life has to offer.

Gared O’Donnell, mythical beast, in one way or another, helped make us all who we are today.

Gared spent the last year of his life doing exactly what he loved, writing and recording music. We are currently working hard to bring these multiple final projects to completion. It is heartbreaking to do this without him, but we know that he would want for us to complete what we had started together. We will do our absolute best to honor his legacy and spread word of the legend that he embodied.

All of you have helped Gared to fulfill his dreams in life and provided him an extensive family bigger than he ever could have imagined. His love will live on in us for the rest of our days. So thank you all for your love and support over the years. His life was richer because of it.

Love to you all. May the light of our collective love carry Gared onto his next journey. Thunder in the night forever!"

Planes Mistaken for Stars formed in 1997 and released four full-length albums, the last of which was Prey in 2016. We send our condolences to Gared O'Donnell's family, friends, and fans.

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