[DeadCelebrityAlert] Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane Dies at 74 Read More: Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane Dies at 74

 

Paul Kantner, who helped pioneer psychedelic rock as the guitarist and founder of Jefferson Airplane and its splinter group Jefferson Starship, has died of multiple organ failure and septic shock. He was 74.

SF Gate reports that he had suffered a heart attack earlier in the week. He'd endured numerous health problems in recent years, including a previous heart attack in March 2015.

Born in San Francisco on March 17, 1941, Kantner had been a folksinger in the Bay Area when he met another folike, Marty Balin, in 1965. Over the next couple of years, they recruited guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, drummer Skip Spence and vocalist Signe Anderson. After releasing their 1966 debut, Spence and Anderson left and were replaced by, respectively, Spencer Dryden and Grace Slick.

The first album with the new lineup, Surrealistic Pillow, was one of the original albums of the growing psychedelic movement, hitting stores four months before the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It spawned Top 10 singles in "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit." They performed at both Woodstock and Altamont, the latter of which saw Balin knocked unconscious by a Hells Angel during their set. Kantner sarcastically thanked the motorcycle gang for their action.

But by 1970, after five albums, the band split apart. Kantner and Slick, who by now had become a couple, brought together a handful of their fellow San Franciscans and released an album called Blows Against the Empire. The concept album, about humans leaving Earth for outer space, was credited to Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship.

After a couple more records in this loose all-star format, Kantner, Slick settled on a lineup for the band, and brought Balin back. Jefferson Starship had a poppier edge than its predecessor. Balin's "Miracles," a No. 3 hit in 1975, pushed Red Octopus into the top slot on Billboard's album chart. But after 1978's Earth, which had two more hits in "Count on Me" and "Jane," the internal fighting returned, and Balin and Slick, whose relationship with Kantner ended in 1975, left. Kantner kept Jefferson Starship alive through various incarnations until 1984, when Starship was formed.

He revived Jefferson Starship in 1992, and they remained a viable touring act. Jefferson Airplane were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Kantner is survived by China Kantner, his daughter with Slick, and two sons, Gareth and Alexander.

Read More: Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane Dies at 74 | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-kantner-dies/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276&trackback=tsmclip

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[DeadCelebrityAlert] Abe Vigoda, Sunken-Eyed Character Actor, Dead at 94

 

Abe Vigoda, Sunken-Eyed Character Actor, Dead at 94

Character actor Abe Vigoda, whose leathery, sunken-eyed face made him ideal for playing the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970s TV series "Barney Miller" and the doomed Mafia soldier in "The Godfather," died Tuesday at age 94.

Vigoda's daughter, Carol Vigoda Fuchs, told The Associated Press that Vigoda died Tuesday morning in his sleep at Fuchs' home in Woodland Park, New Jersey. The cause of death was old age. "This man was never sick," Fuchs said.

Vigoda worked in relative obscurity as a supporting actor in the New York theater and in television until Francis Ford Coppola cast him in the 1972 Oscar-winning "The Godfather."

Vigoda played Sal Tessio, an old friend of Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) who hopes to take over the family after Vito's death by killing his son Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). But Michael anticipates that Sal's suggestion for a "peace summit" among crime families is a setup and the escorts Sal thought were taking him to the meeting turn out to be his executioners.

"Tell Mike it was only business," Sal mutters to consigliere Tom Hagen, played by Robert Duvall, as he's led away.

In a statement, Duvall said Tuesday it was "great working with Abe in 'The Godfather' and wonderful to have him among us. We had some great memories together and he will really be missed."

The great success of the film and "The Godfather Part II" made Vigoda's face and voice, if not his name, recognizable to the general public and led to numerous roles, often as hoodlums.

But it was his comic turn in "Barney Miller," which starred Hal Linden and ran from 1975 to 1982, that brought Vigoda's greatest recognition.

He liked to tell the story of how he won the role of Detective Fish. An exercise enthusiast, Vigoda had just returned from a five-mile jog when his agent called and told him to report immediately to the office of Danny Arnold, who was producing a pilot for a police station comedy.

Arnold remarked that Vigoda looked tired, and the actor explained about his jog. "You know, you look like you might have hemorrhoids," Arnold said. "What are you — a doctor or a producer?" Vigoda asked. He was cast on the spot.

"The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows," a reference book, commented that Vigoda was the hit of "Barney Miller." ''Not only did he look incredible, he sounded and acted like every breath might be his last," it said. "Fish was always on the verge of retirement, and his worst day was when the station house toilet broke down."

Vigoda remained a regular on "Barney Miller" until 1977 when he took the character to his own series, "Fish." The storyline dealt with the detective's domestic life and his relations with five street kids that he and his wife took into their home.

The show lasted a season and a half. Vigoda continued making occasional guest appearances on "Barney Miller," quitting over billing and salary differences.

But he remained a popular character actor in films, including "Cannonball Run II," ''Look Who's Talking," ''Joe Versus the Volcano" and "North."

His resemblance to Boris Karloff led to his casting in the 1986 New York revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace," playing the role Karloff originated on the stage in the 1940s. (The murderous character in the black comedy is famously said by other characters to resemble Boris Karloff, a great joke back when the real Karloff was playing him.)

Born in New York City in 1921, Vigoda attended the Theater School of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall. In the early 1950s, he appeared as straight man for the Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn TV comedies.

For 30 years, he worked in the theater, acting in dozens of plays in such diverse characters as John of Gaunt in "Richard II" (his favorite role) and Abraham Lincoln in a short-lived Broadway comedy "Tough to Get Help."

Vigoda attributed his high percentage in winning roles to his performance in auditions. Instead of delivering the tired soliloquies that most actors performed, he wrote his own, about a circus barker. At a surprise 80th birthday party in New Jersey in 2001, he gave a spirited recital of the monologue to the delight of the 100 guests.

Reflecting on his delayed success, Vigoda once remarked: "When I was a young man, I was told success had to come in my youth. I found this to be a myth. My experiences have taught me that if you deeply believe in what you are doing, success can come at any age."

"Barney Miller" became his first steady acting job.

"I'm the same Abe Vigoda," he told an interviewer. "I have the same friends, but the difference now is that I can buy the things I never could afford before. I have never had a house before, so now I would like a house with a nice garden and a pool. Hollywood has been very kind to me."

He was married twice, most recently to Beatrice Schy, who died in 1992. He had his daughter with his first wife, Sonja Gohlke, who has also died. Vigoda is survived by his daughter, grandchildren Jamie, Paul and Steven, and a great-grandson.

Reruns of "Barney Miller" and repeated screenings of the two "Godfather" epics kept Vigoda in the public eye, and unlike some celebrities, he enjoyed being recognized. In 1997 he was shopping in Bloomingdale's in Manhattan when a salesman remarked: "You look like Abe Vigoda. But you can't be Abe Vigoda because he's dead." Vigoda often appeared on lists of living celebrities believed to have passed away.

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[DeadCelebrityAlert] Mott the Hoople Drummer Dale Griffin Dies at 67

 

Drummer Terence Dale "Buffin" Griffin, a founding member of Mott the Hoople, has passed away at the age of 67 following a struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

Griffin's passing has been confirmed by associates at Angel Air Records, who shared the news on Facebook with a post referring to him as "one of the nicest, friendly and talented men I have ever known" and saying he "died peacefully in his sleep" on Jan. 17.

"All he ever wanted was for his beloved Mott the Hoople to reform and it was his determination that achieved that very feat in 2009," adds the post. "Sadly by then he was too ill to perform at the five sold out dates though he did join the band for encores."

Griffin discussed his diagnosis in a Wales Online profile published in 2010, sharing his struggle with a series of frank quotes that included the painful admission that he'd occasionally felt abandoned by old friends who weren't sure how to handle his deteriorating condition.

"Many old friends now avoid me as they do not know what to say, which is really hurtful," said Griffin. "I just wish they would realize that, inside, I am still the same old Buffin I always was. We have to make people aware of this horrible disease. The main thing is to get the word out. There are still a lot of people who think that Alzheimer's is just people getting old and that it's no bother, no bad thing. But I think it is a big deal – when you live with it, it can be pretty grim at times."

9

'One of the Boys'

From: 'All the Young Dudes' (1972)

 

 

After making four albums that very few people heard, Mott the Hoople were about ready to call it quits when red-hot Bowie stepped in as the band's producer, handpicked some great songs for them to cover, encouraged their own songwriting and contributed the great 'All the Young Dudes' (see No. 1 on our list of the Top 10 Mott the Hoople Songs) to the project. It completely turned the group around. Clocking in at close to seven minutes, 'One of the Boys' is the album's longest songs and the tightest link to their bluesy past.

Listen to 'One of the Boys'

 

 

8

'Jerkin' Crocus'

From: 'All the Young Dudes' (1972)

 

 

Once Bowie began steering the band in a more glam direction, Ian Hunter quickly stepped up with his own songs, twisting the blues-rock crunch of his previous work into showier and more stinging tunes. 'Jerkin' Crocus' is one of his earliest stabs at writing in the new style and a highlight of the 'All the Young Dudes' album.

Listen to 'Jerkin' Crocus'

 

 

7

'Crash Street Kidds'

From: 'The Hoople' (1974)

 

 

By 1974's 'The Hoople,' the band was beginning to fall apart. Guitarist Mick Ralphs was gone, and Mott's shifting personnel pretty much left Hunter in control of the group. But they managed to pull it together for their final album, their toughest-sounding LP and in some ways their most ambitious. 'Crash Street Kidds' is noisy excess, but it's totally glorious noisy excess.

Listen to 'Crash Street Kidds'

 

 

6

'Hymn for the Dudes'

From: 'Mott' (1973)

 

 

A sequel of sorts to 'All the Young Dudes' (see No. 1 on our list of the Top 10 Mott the Hoople Songs), 'Hymn for the Dudes' is the centerpiece of the band's quickly assembled follow-up to their breakthrough album, and this time they produced themselves. As its title lets on, 'Hymn for the Dudes' takes on some spiritual tones, with Hunter checking in with one of his all-time greatest performances.

Listen to 'Hymn for the Dudes'

 

 

5

'Roll Away the Stone'

From: 'The Hoople' (1974)

 

 

Even though they lost guitarist Mick Ralphs, who formed Bad Company with Paul Rodgers, Mott the Hoople packed their final album with some of their best singles. 'Roll Away the Stone' was one of the last records they made with Ralphs, but the version most people are familiar with is a re-recorded take featuring new guitarist Ariel Bender. It's also the version found on 'The Hoople.' Either way, it's a great song.

Listen to 'Roll Away the Stone'

 

 

4

'The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll'

From: 'The Hoople' (1974)

 

 

'All the Young Dudes' and 'Mott' are the band's two best albums, but there's plenty of terrific songs on the band's final record too (see No. 5 on our list of the Top 10 Mott the Hoople Songs). The LP's lead-off track and second single features a searing guitar solo by new member Ariel Bender and one of Hunter's most passionate vocals. Plus, that old-school rock 'n' roll thing they do swings like crazy.

Listen to 'The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll'

 

 

3

'Honaloochie Boogie'

From: 'Mott' (1973)

 

 

It took them more than four years and just as many albums until they had their breakout hit, thanks to Bowie's help. When Mott returned the following year, they produced themselves, closely following the template Bowie had laid out for them. 'Honaloochie Boogie' was the first taste of 'Mott,' and it's one of the group's best, a mid-tempo pop song with a glam-rock topping.

Listen to 'Honaloochie Boogie'

 

 

2

'All the Way From Memphis'

From: 'Mott' (1973)

 

 

With success came some typical rock-star problems. Like gear being lost during overseas tours. 'All the Way From Memphis' chronicles an incident in which Mick Ralphs' guitar was shipped to a different state than the one in which the band was playing. It's also a slam on rock-star excess, something the somewhat struggling Mott the Hoople still knew little about.

Listen to 'All the Way From Memphis'

 

 

1

'All the Young Dudes'

From: 'All the Young Dudes' (1972)

 

 

When David Bowie decided to step in and save Mott the Hoople's dying career, they were little more than a cult British boogie-blues band with a few decent songs in their catalog (see No. 10 on our list of the Top 10 Mott the Hoople Songs). Then Bowie — basking in the glory of 'Hunky Dory' — offered the group his newly penned 'Suffragette City.' They rejected it. Then he wrote 'All the Young Dudes' specifically for them, changing their course and fortunes. The song became an anthem for glam kids everywhere, and the band suddenly found themselves showered in glitter and global acclaim.

Listen to 'All the Young Dudes'

 

Read More: Top 10 Mott the Hoople Songs | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/mott-the-hoople-songs/?trackback=tsmclip

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