Category: Obits

Spin, 1985-2012: Magazine unceremoniously halts publication, goes web-only

Spin, 1985-2012: Magazine unceremoniously halts publication, goes web-only

There’s been no announcement about the fate of the 27-year-old magazine, but now it’s official: As The Daily Swarm points out, Spin subscribers are receiving the current issue of Car and Driver with letters advising them that Spin “ceased publication” after that September/October issue.

Dennis Flemion, of The Frogs, 1955-2012

Dennis Flemion, of The Frogs, 1955-2012

Dennis Flemion, who co-founded the cult indie-pop act The Frogs with his younger brother Jimmy in Milwaukee in 1980 and rose to minor alt-rock celebrity in the ’90s, is missing and presumed dead in a Wisconsin lake, Matador Records co-owner Gerard Cosloy announced on the label’s blog tonight.

Beastie Boys' Adam 'MCA' Yauch, 1964-2012

Beastie Boys’ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch, 1964-2012

Beastie Boys co-founder Adam Yauch — known by his on-stage and behind-the-lens alter egos MCA and Nathanial Hörnblowér, respectively — lost a nearly 3-year-old battle with this morning, passing away in a New York hospital and leaving a deep musical and activist legacy that spanned the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s.

R.E.M., 1980-2011: Genre-defining college rock band breaks up after 31 years

R.E.M., 1980-2011: Genre-defining college rock band breaks up after 31 years

R.E.M. — the iconic college-rock band that soared to major-label uperstardom in the late ’80s and early ’90s before suffering the loss of a key original member — announced today that it has ‘decided to call it a day as a band’ after 31 years together.

Martin Rushent, producer of Human League, Buzzcocks and Stranglers, 1948-2011

Martin Rushent, producer of Human League, Buzzcocks and Stranglers, 1948-2011

British record producer Martin Rushent — who helmed The Human League’s genre-defining 1981 album ‘Dare,’ as well as beloved post-punk/New Wave-era records and singles by The Stranglers, Buzzcocks, XTC, The Go-Go’s and more — died Saturday. He was 63.

Poly Styrene, of X-Ray Spex, 1957-2011

Poly Styrene, of X-Ray Spex, 1957-2011

Punk icon Poly Styrene — who fronted the late-’70s group X-Ray Spex, still best known for its anthem ‘Oh Bondage Up Yours!’ — succumbed to cancer Monday night on the eve of her new record’s U.S. release. She was 53.

Mick Karn, of Japan and Dalis Car, 1958-2011

Mick Karn, of Japan and Dalis Car, 1958-2011

Mick Karn — who played bass in the acclaimed art-rock act Japan from the mid-’70s through the early ’80s and teamed up with Peter Murphy for the singer’s post-Bauhaus project Dalis Car — died today following a six-month battle with cancer. He was 52.