Annette CA on Facebook: Thoughts and Prayers for Robert Kirk and his family who lost their son Hayden Kirk (22 years old) in a car accident Sunday evening. Many of you may know Robert as he is the owner of Cheers in Thornton.
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We also received word that COMBO member Geno, guitarist and lead vocalist for the and Uncle Ewe passed unexpectedly last week. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and his many friends and bandmates. We have no more information at this time but will let you know as soon as we hear something.
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Annette CA on Facebook: Sad to report, but another Music Brother passed away (10/08/15) today. Complications from a stroke. Gordon Grip was a great guy and full of energy. He always gave me that ‘sweaty drummer’ hug and then talked my ear off about different cymbals! He will be missed. RIP Gordon. Dear Lord, hear our prayer for Gordon. Provide his family and loved ones with needed strength and understanding. Blessed be the Angels that carry him home. Amen.
Wild Bill: Very saddened to report that my good friend Gordon Grip, drummer for “Men From Mars”, “Wild Bill Band”, and many others through the years, has sadly passed away from complications from a recent stroke. He was a great guy with a great spirit. A great drummer who played the drums authentic to the records. Was an honor to know him and have him play in the “Wild Bill Band”. I’ll miss him very much. May he Rest In Peace.
Brian Hornbuckle: A great drummer, my old friend and quite the character, Gordon Grip died this morning. I started playing with him when we were both in the Billy Ryan band in ’96. In ’98 my brother and I had dragged him through every shit hole bar in town while trying to make a name for ourselves. That year we played Sturgis for the Rally and by the time that week was over I thought he would never talk to me again:-) Goodbye old friend, thanks for the great memories while you here with us.
Carla Jordan: Gordon Grip was a Denver drummer who just passed away from complications from a recent heart attack / or stroke. He wasn’t just a ‘drummer’ he was a really, really good guy. When I bought Ziggie’s 8 years ago, literally this week, Gordon was in a band called Ricky Rocket and the Men From Mars and they hosted the Monday night rock and roll jam. Every time I saw him I’d yell Gooooooorrrrrrdoooooonnnnnnnn and he’d yell back Carrrrrrrrrllllllllaaaaaa. He had a great sense of humor and a dry smirky smile. He was also in a band with Wild Bill and played with so many musicians in Colorado. I didn’t see him too often the last few years but when he was in the ‘hood, he’d stop by for a hug, a bottle of Bud, a visit, and he always had a story! I found a FB post that Gordon put up a while back… it reads:
“As I sat in a park near my home today, watching the expected weather coming in from the North, I noticed the neighborhood bald eagle riding a thermal nearby, circling and climbing, effortlessly. (I know he’s local – he once flew about 30 feet over my left shoulder as I sat in my car at the same park. Utterly magnificent. Words can not describe…) He got very high, to the limit of my vision, and I looked down for just a moment and lost him. He was gone – either he stooped or decided he was late for a modeling gig or something. How I envy that beautiful bird. To be able to fly, East in my case. Ride the wind. Let it take me home..”
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Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…
October 2015
14: Luiz Carlos Miele, 77, Brazilian music producer and television director.
13: Duncan Druce, 76, English composer and musicologist; Lidia Kozubek, 88, Polish pianist.
12: Hal Hackady, 93, American lyricist and screenwriter; Armin Kircher, 48, Austrian composer and conductor, heart failure.
11: Fernando Echavarría, 62, Dominican singer, heart attack; Jorge Garbett, 60, Paraguayan musician, heart attack; Smokin’ Joe Kubek, 58, American blues guitarist, heart attack; Carey Lander, 33, British keyboard player and singer (Camera Obscura), osteosarcoma; John Murphy, 56, Australian drummer, percussionist and multi-instrumental session musician.
10: Saša Britvic, 50, Croatian conductor, suicide; Steve Mackay, 66, American saxophonist (The Stooges), sepsis.
9: Cláudia Barroso, 83, Brazilian singer; Leny Escudero, 82, Spanish-born French singer; Ravindra Jain, 71, Indian composer, kidney illness; Koopsta Knicca, 40, American rapper (Three 6 Mafia), stroke; N. Ramani, 81, Indian flautist; Larry Rosen, 75, American jazz producer, brain cancer; Robbin Thompson, 66, American singer-songwriter (Steel Mill), cancer.
8: Jim Diamond, 64, Scottish singer-songwriter (“I Should Have Known Better”).
7: Jim Konya, 44, American musician, complication of stroke.