The late Ronnie James Dio would have been 68 years old today. RIP RJD, the world is a lot less awesome, without you.

More on Ron English here.

This footage was shot just a few short months before Dio announced he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. While the words “still got it” come to mind watching this video, I believe that the phrase “never lost it” more appropriately describes this performance by the then 68 year old metal god, Ronnie James Dio and his band, Heaven and Hell. RIP Ronnie. You might be gone, but you’ll never be forgotten.

The Ronnie James Dio “STAND UP AND SHOUT CANCER FUND” is now up and running. You can send donations to the Niji Entertainment Group, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #837, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. There is also direct link to the PayPal page for the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund via www.ronniejamesdio.com.

Metal icon Ronnie James Dio passed away yesterday after a courageous battle with stomach cancer. Dio was 67. Dio’s wife Wendy broke the collective hearts of millions of metal heads yesterday when she made the sad announcement via Ronnie James Dio.com.

Rest in Peace, Neon Knight. Devil horns out forever.

More on Dio’s passage here.

5/23/10 UPDATE: You can hear yours truly give a short but sweet eulogy for RJD on Episode #68 of the Movies About Girls podcast. Stream it via Loudcaster or, listen to it directly on the Movies About Girls website now.

Read my full eulogy to Ronnie James Dio after the jump…

Ronnie James Dio didn’t come into this world born of fire and wizard tooth in a remote castle somewhere in the hilltops of England. Dio was born Ronald James Padavona in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Catholic parents. At the age of five, Ronnie started playing the trumpet and gradually progressed to the french horn. Dio credited his powerhouse vocals not to professional training or some deal with the Devil but, to his early experience as a horn player.

Ronnie James Dio never stopped working. Literally. His recording career spans over 50 years. Despite Black Sabbath’s intimidating catalog,1980’s Heaven and Hell is considered one of the greatest rock/metal albums of all time. When Dio was offered a scholarship to the famed Juilliard School of Music, he turned it down, preferring to lend his vocal prowess to the band, Elf.

Dio’s passing touched off an outpouring of grief and emotion across the music community. As a testament to how loved Dio was, Lemmy Kilmister himself said he was left “devastated” by Dio’s death. Dio’s former timekeeper Simon Wright was quoted saying that Ronnie was like “a father” to him.

In Italian, “Dio” means God and Ronnie James Dio was a God. A modern day, heavy metal messiah. A neon knight with a voice and image permanently imprinted on millions. Ronnie James Dio was 67 years young when he passed away on Sunday, May 16th, 2010 in the company of his family and close friends after a courageous battle with stomach cancer.

Rest in Peace Ronnie James Dio – forever may you slay dragons up in Heaven.

DJC

The Lusty Lady will officially close it’s doors sometime during morning of June 13th, 2010. Known for it’s classic tongue-in-ass cheek billboards, a site called Publicola has launched an homage to the famous billboards with a contest that challenges you (yeah, you) to come up with a last, naughty salutation, for the Lusty Lady’s final marquee.

More on Seattle’s Lusty Lady via HistoryLink.org.

Punk star maker and culture innovator Malcolm McLaren passed away today at the age of 64. Today is also the 69th birthday of McLaren’s former girlfriend (and mother of McLaren’s only son) fashion icon, Vivienne Westwood.

More on McLaren’s passing via the New York Times.

Although details regarding the death of designer Alexander McQueen are limited, it’s rumored that McQueen hung himself.  McQueen’s untimely death comes less than a week after his own Mother’s passing.

Alexander McQueen’s impact on the world of fashion was nothing short of remarkable. The young Britt was known for his theatrical and envelope pushing fashion shows as well as his designs which many consider wearable works of art. Alexander McQueen was only 40 years old. His sudden passing is as shocking as it is sad.

RIP Alexander McQueen. You will be deeply missed.

Source.

On March 9th Valleys of Neptune, a dozen previously unreleased tracks (as well as alt versions of Fire, Stone Free and Red House) recorded by Jimi Hendrix during 1968 and 1969, will finally see the light of day.

Some of the tracks are making the rounds online as well as the dial if you’re lucky. Unquestionably, March 9th, 2010 is going to be a good day for your ears.

More via Jimi Hendrix.com.

Letters to Bon Scott’s wife Irene Thornton and other AC/DC Melbourne-esque memorabilia will be on display starting Thursday along AC/DC Lane in Melbourne, AU.

James Young (no relation), the owner of Cherry Bar (!) said that they plan to bring AC/DC “to life through AC/DC-inspired art and music”. Young purchased the letters and some photos at an art auction in 2006. Here’s an passage from one of the letters Scott penned to Thornton from the road during his all too short, long way to the top:

I just wanna get a lot of money soon so I can change a few things about myself. More booze and dope. Not really. I just wanna be famous, I guess. Just so when people talk about ya, it’s good things they say. That’s all I want.

AC/DC will kick off the one time only celebration on Thursday night with a three-night stint at Etihad Stadium.

For more info visit Cherry Bar.

Howard Zinn, a man who intelligently embodied and displayed the highest level  anti-establishment action and philosophy, has passed away.

Howard Zinn was 87.

Angry garage-punker Jay Lindsey, a.k.a. Jay Reatard, was found dead today in his home in Memphis, TN. Reatard apparently died in his sleep last night. No other details about Reatards passing (which yours truly has been hoping was just a mean Internet prank for the last few hours) have been released. However, a “Tweet” from Reatard just a few days ago said that he was feeling “sick”.

Jay Reatard was a very talented and innovative performer with bright future potential. He will be missed…

1/14/10 Update: According to the Memphis PD, Jay Reatard’s death is now being investigated as a homicide.

This painting of Elvis Presley by Andy Warhol recently sold to a Elvis fanatic for $100 million dollars. Ironically, Eight Elvises fetched approximately $57 million more dollars than Warhol’s 200 One Dollar Bills did at an auction last month.

In other news, Andy Warhol died in 1987. True story.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to hell just for posting this but, I’m pretty sure I’m going to hell anyway so what’s the diff…

A cleaner looking version of Goodnight Keith Moon can be viewed here.

A Seattle Ninja is in serious condition after getting impaled on a 5 foot metal fence when he attempted to jump over it. The Seattle PD says alcohol may have been better have been involved.

Source.

If you had a pulse and you regularly paid your cable bill back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, you will remember Ken Ober as the host of MTV’s game show, Remote Control. On Saturday, Ober told a friend he was experiencing flu-like symptoms and was planned to see his doctor as soon as possible. He was found dead in his California home on Sunday.

Ober was only 52 and was a native of Boston.

Source: Dlisted.

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, something happens that makes me want to crawl back into my bed for a forever nap. Usually it’s a just a bad hangover but today, it’s that pesky Internet whispering shit into my ear that I don’t want to believe. Today, and until further notice, the flag outside Cherrybombed.com will be flying at half-mast until I hear the straight dope from Steven Tyler himself, and not Joe Perry’s “Twatter“ account. Because if I believe the latest out of Perry’s trout-mouth, Aerosmith is over. Commence 70’s Rock freak-out in 3, 2, 1…:

Steven quit as far as I can tell. I don’t know any more than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don’t know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don’t know.

I’d be lying to you if I said that I actually listen to any of Aerosmith’s music that post-dates 1995. What’s to be mourned here is the possible end of a nearly 40 year run by one of the greatest bands in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Under less than amicable circumstances. As if this most recent rumor about Aerosmith wasn’t bad enough, Perry’s already talking about replacing Tyler and his mike stand isn’t even cold yet. Brutal…:

We’ll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we’ll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch.

Yeah, Joe. I hear YouTube is a great place to find vocalists. You should look into that. All speculation aside, if Steven Tyler has actually “quit” Aerosmith then, Aerosmith is truly dead. There is no Zep without Plant, no VH without Diamond Dave (yes, really) and there ain’t no song and dance for Aerosmith without Steven Tallarico.

True (although I hope it’s not really) story.

Thanks: Dlisted.

Alan Kaufman, or Buzzy to pretty much everyone in Boston, passed away late last month at the age of 72 in Florida. When I was growing up in Boston, there were pretty much three places we ate. Buzzy’s Roast Beef, Kelly’s or Mike’s Pizza in Davis Square. Buzzy’s was an iconic Boston landmark and late night, 1,500 calorie, drunk snack stop. Buzzy’s was demolished in 2002 to make way for Mass General Hospital expansion.

Rest in peace Buzzy. Even though I haven’t had the pleasure of you’re food clogging my arteries for the last 20 years, I’ll still miss you.

Thanks!: Big Mattress.

More vomiting gourds after the jump. Now, JUMP…!

Dios mio! Damn you El Día de los Muertos! I’ll never drink Blanco again…


That’s what you get for drinking exported beer.

This gives the name Jack ‘O’ Lantern a whole new meaning…


I told you beer-bongs were a bad idea…

Chuck Biscuits, a timekeeper who was a cut above most, passed away on Saturday at the age of 44 from throat cancer. In addition to Black Flag, Biscuits musical collaborations run the gamut from Danzig to Run DMC. Rest in peace Chuck, I will miss hearing your turbo charged quad-beat-three.

Thanks to Noah for the link.

*3:17 PM PST UPDATE: Sources close to Biscuits’ family are reporting that Chuck is alive and well:

Chucks family has not been notified of a death. Normally they are told if their brother or son is sick or dead. A rumor started in August about cancer, Chuck was fine then too.

I’ll keep you posted as reliable information becomes available. Thanks to Noah for the update.

7:40 PM PST UPDATE: Chuck LIVES! According to Blabbermouth.net.

Wrestling superstar and Cindy Lauper’s video Dad, Captain Lou Albano, passed away today in New York. He was 76. Wrestlers Rescue is accepting donations for Albano’s family to help with their massive medical expenses.

In other news, I’d like to ask the death-filled year of 2009 to consider offing members of Nickelback or Creed next time. Stop killing my childhood memories dammit!

Poet, author, musician and eternally young punk idol, Jim Carroll, died of an apparent heart attack on Friday in New York. Carroll’s ex-wife, Rosemary Klemfuss, confirmed Carroll’s passing to Reuters today. He was 60.

Incredible heavy sadness.

I’m just getting settled here and this is the first I heard of Les Paul passing away earlier today. He was 94. I’m counting on the fact that some of you might not be aware that Les Paul is the singular innovator when it comes to the creation of the solid body guitar. Everyone from Ace Frehley to Bob Marley have played Les Pauls. Marley loved his custom Les Paul so much, he was buried with it. 

Because of  Les Paul, Jimmy Page banged out “How Many More Times” in 1969. Page’s defiant and ground-breaking sound defined Page as much Les Paul guitars. Very simply, Rock ‘n’ Roll is, because Les Paul was. 

Thank you Les Paul for giving so much of your life to all of us.  May you rest in peace.

Despite the fact that I’m a huge Aerosmith fan, I still can’t bring myself to put any of my Aerosmith WBCN bumper stickers on my car. Or anything else for that matter. Ten days and counting until ‘BCN goes off the air on Tuesday, August 16th, 2009.

A publicist for John Hughes confirmed that the film maker, who was responsible for movies like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, passed away earlier this morning. Hughes reportedly suffered a heart attack during a morning walk in Manhattan. He was only 59.

John Hughes was a living legend, may he rest in peace.

For more visit Barely Digital.