Jethro Tull Bassist John Glascock Dies In 1979 Aged Only 28.

John Glascock was an accomplished musician who played with Jethro Tull between 1976 and 1979, the year in which he died tragically at the age of only 28.
Glascock had come to the attention of Tull's frontman and founder, Ian Anderson, whilst he was playing bass for the Flamenco-Rock band Carmen.
Carmen were touring as support for Jethro Tull during their "War Child" tour in 1975 and shortly afterwards he joined them as bassist replacing previous incumbent Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond.
Tull were a prolific band with a history of recording and live performance successes under their belt and this was a significant appointment for Glascock.
Although it could be said that the band was passed its prime by the time Glascock joined he still went on to play on the albums "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!," "Songs from the Wood," "Heavy Horses, Live - Bursting Out," and some of "Stormwatch" - the album Tull was working on at the time of John's departure from the band due to ill health in 1979.

Soon after, on 17th November 1979, John died, in London, as a result of a heart condition that had been  exacerbated by an infection. He was only 28.

RockBottoms Recommended Reading

"Jethro Tull": A History of the Band 1968-2001 (Paperback)



This book is expensive @ £33.73 but it is very comprehensive and is probably essential reading for true Tull fans. There is good news, however, for those who would like a book about the band with a less challenging price tag because "Minstrels In The Gallery - A History of Jethro Tull" by Martin Rees is available as a Kindle edition for only £8.04 using the link below.



See the Celebrated RockBottoms Store for more Jethro Tull selected items.

Spooky Tooth Bassist Greg Ridley Dies Aged 56 In 2003

Actually, to refer to Greg as "Spooky Tooth's bassist is not really an adequate reflection of who and what he was.
Chronologically, he did find fame, if not fortune, with Spooky Tooth in 1968 and came to my attention mainly because of the wonderful cover version that they made of the Beatle's "I Am The Walrus."
You really should have that track on your MP3 so here is the link:

Spooky Tooth was relatively short lived however and things got much better for Greg when he joined forces with Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton to form, what became, one of the finest rock bands in history - Humble Pie.
In other articles I have discussed the virtues of several "Live" albums, including those by The Who, (Live At Leeds) and Thin Lizzy, (Live and Dangerous) but in any such list there is an album that simply must be included. That album is Humble Pie's live at the Fillmore epic - "Performance Rockin' The Fillmore," a double album when initially released on vinyl and now available as a download or on CD.

This link is for the CD version - visit the "Celebrated RockBottoms Store" for the downloads.
Humble Pie came to a stop in 1975 although there were other versions of the band with different lineups to follow but Ridley's involvement ended there, not counting a reunion of sorts much later in 2001 and again in 2003.
With the exception of those brief reunions, Greg's involvement with the music business came to an end, effectively, with the end of Humble Pie in 1975. It should be mentioned that he did have a short-lived association with Cozy Powell along with Humble Pie guitarist, Dave "Clem" Clempson, just after Humble Pie shut up shop, this collaboration being known as Strange Brew.

In 2001 there was a concert held as a tribute to Steve Marriott who had died in a house fire ten years previously. Greg teamed up with  Jerry Shirley, Peter Frampton and Clem Clempson for that event.

Greg Ridley died, in Spain, on 19th November 2003 at the age of only 56 from Pneumonia.

A Bad Day At The Speedway - Murder & Mayhem At 1969's Altamont Free Festival

There's a massive clue in the name, "Hell's Angels." These are not people that most of us would associate with good behaviour and respect for law and order.
Despite all of that, however, it was decided that they would be excellent chaps to keep the fans under control at a rock concert - well, more of a mini-festival really.
The event took place on December 6th 1969. Billed as the "Altamont Speedway Free Festival," several major acts were scheduled to appear including Santana, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jefferson Airplane and the top of the bill to be occupied by the Rolling Stones who, in some accounts, are credited with having organised the event.
So, what should have been a great day out with some serious music on offer, turned out to be a festival of violence, death and disaster. A total of four people died that day, one murdered and three as a result of accidents.

The Man Who Turned Down Led Zeppelin

Terry Reid, the man who was once billed as "the man with a hell of a story to tell," first impressed me back in the 1960's when I first heard his eponymous album, "Terry Reid".
Amongst other gems, this 1969 release included Terry's fabulous version of "Stay With Me Baby" his version of Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" and his own compositions "Rich Kid Blues and "Silver White Light."
The Dylan song sandwiched a version of his own song, "Friends" which was later recorded by Arrival and reached number 8 in the UK.

So why is Terry a RockBottom?

Well, the main reason is that he missed, due to unfortunate circumstances and probably no fault of his own, the opportunity to be a part of one of the world's most succesful bands.
It all happened in 1968 when the Yardbirds were disbanding and Jimmy Page wanted Reid to take on the vocalist job in, what was then called, the "New Yardbirds." Unfortunatelt Terry was already committed to a tour supporting Cream and was unable to accept recommending instead that the New Yardbirds consider a certain Robert Plant for the job.
The rest, as they say, is history - but not quite. Terry had another bite at the big band cherry when he was considered for the vocalist role in Deep Purple following the departure of their then singer Rod Evans. As most of you will; know, that job eventually went to Ian Gillan.

Terry would undoubtedly have done a superb job in either role but has, in any case produced a fine body of work for us to enjoy.

Terry Reid was born on 13th November 1949 and is still active.

RockBottoms Recommended Listening



Superlungs
This album contains the complete studio recordings of Terry Reid between 1966-1969 and includes "Superlungs," "Silver White Light," and the wonderful "Stay With Me Baby" which is worth the download price on its own! 37 tracks, all remastered - check out why Jimmy Page thought Terry would have been a great vocalist for Led Zeppelin.

This link is for the MP3 download, visit the "Celebrated RockBottoms Store" for the CD version and for individual track downloads.

Sandy Denny Dies After Falling Down Stairs In 1978 Aged 31.

Sandy Denny joined Fairport Convention in 1968 and was involved in 3 of their finest albums, Unhalfbricking, What we Did On Our Holidays and the critically acclaimed "Liege And Leif." She left the Fairport's in 1969 to form Fotheringhay and made only one album with them before the band split up and she pursued a solo career.
Undoubtedly one of the finest vocalists of all time, her voice could handle everything from traditional folk such as "Matty Groves" & "Tam Lin" from "Liege and Leaf," through to touching ballads such as the beautiful "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" which she wrote and which appeared on "Unhalfbricking".
Although Sandy's time with Fairport was brief, she contributed more than just a few songs and the vocals on three albums. She helped them to become the iconic folk rock pioneers that they were throughout the seventies and beyond.
Another notable achievement of Sandy's is that  she is the only guest vocalist ever on a Led Zeppelin studio album. She shared vocal duties with Robert Plant on "The Battle of Evermore" which appears on Led Zeppelin IV released in 1971.
I remember, with great sadness, the news of Sandy's tragic death, aged only 31 in 1978 and barely started on what should have been a long and memorable career. Memorable it certainly was, but long it wasn't.
It is fair and true to say that Sandy was not exactly looking after herself in the final years, she was a heavy drinker at times and used drugs regularly. It is not reported whether this was a direct cause of the fall down a flight of stairs from which she died  a few weeks afterwards, after falling into a coma at the home of a friend. It is cited in some works that the fall took place at a family cottage in Cornwall and that after the fall, sandy's mother refused to take her to the hospital.
Whether that is true or not, we lost Sandy just a short time afterwards.
There is much to remember about Sandy, the songs she wrote and/or recorded are examples of what is great about British music, both then and now. Great songs, a strong voice with passion and emotional power and the company of some of the finest musicians on the planet.

Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny, known as Sandy Denny was born on 6th January 1947 and died on 21st April 1978 aged 31.

RockBottoms Recommended reading:



No More Sad Refrains, available for Kindle or as a paperback, by Clinton Heyling, is a poignant yet very readable account of Sandy's life. There 288 pages with some photographs. Although not an official biography this is probably the best account of her life currently available.

For more Sandy Denny recommended reading and listening, visit the "Celebrated RockBottoms Store".

John Entwistle - Death At The Hardrock Hotel 2002

In June 2002 the Who were just about to begin their US Tour and Entwistle was staying at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The cause of his death was stated as being due to a heart attack induced by cocaine. John was only 57 when he died during the night of the 27th June 2002. He was found, dead, by the woman who had spent the night with him, when she awoke in the morning.
John was the bassist with one of the planet's biggest and most important rock band, the Who. He was a member of that band since its inception in the early 1960's. He was a school friend of future bandmate, guitarist Pete Townsend.
You get something of the kind of man John was when you hear former Rolling Stones Bassist Bill Wyman speaking of him as, "the quietest man in private but the loudest man on stage." He certainly was an impressive bass player, experimenting with amplification and playing techniques to great effect. What is less well known is his ability as an arranger and a horn player, the fruits of which are heard on several Who numbers.

See also my article on another Who RockBottom, drummer Keith Moon, here.

Great News!!! The Who are touring in 2013 - this link will take you to Ticketmaster who, suprisingly, have tickets for the tour. The Who 2013 "Quadrophenia & More" Tour ticket link.


John Entwistle, full name John Alec Entwistle, was born October 9, 1944 and died 27th June 2002.

Most Popular Who Downloads:


Visit the Celebrated RockBottoms Store here to see our selected Who recordings and memorabilia.

Rock & Roll Icon Eddie Cochran Dies In Taxi Crash In 1960.

Eddie Cochran was only 21 when the taxi he was travelling in burst a tyre and struck a lampost at high speed. The accident happened in Chippenham whilst the young singer was touring the UK in April 1960 with fellow American rocker Gene Vincent.
Eddie was thrown out of the vehicle and sustained serious head injuries. He was taken to hospital in nearby Bath but died shortly afterwards.
Travelling with Eddie were his fiance Sharon Sheeley and singer Gene Vincent, both of whom survived, however Gene Vincent sustained injuries that compounded the damage to a previously injured leg.
Although Cochran died very young his output as a musician was extensive and more music was released posthumously than was ever released during his lifetime. He was a singer, songwriter and an accomplished guitarist.

Eddie, real name Ray Edward Cochran, was born October 3, 1938 and died April 17th 1960.

Most Popular Eddie Cochran Downloads:
Summertime Blues
C'Mon Everybody
Three Steps To Heaven

Visit the Celebrated RockBottoms Store here to see our selected Eddie Cochran recordings and memorabilia.

Read an interesting account of the 1960 tour and the fatal accident from BBC Wiltshire, here.

Lindisfarne Founder Alan Hull Dies 1995 Aged Only 50

Formed in the early 1970's, Lindisfarne had a very strong following in their native Newcastle. Several successful releases including "Fog On The Tyne," which became something of an anthem for the North East, and "Meet Me On The Corner" - one of my all-time favourites.
James Alan Hull, known as Alan Hull was the founder of Lindisfarne and a much loved and respected musician not just in his native Newcastle but worldwide.
He was an active supporter of the Labour Party and his death was mentioned in the House Of Commons by way of an early day motion.
Alan died suddenly, aged only 50 on 17th November 1995, from a heart thrombosis.

Virtuoso Guitarist Gary Moore Dies Aged 58.

Gary Moore was an exceptional guitarist who played in some of the most musically challenging bands of the seventies and beyond, notably Thin Lizzy and Colosseum II. He had a career-long friendship with Lizzy founder and bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott and worked with him both in and outside of, Thin Lizzy.
Losing talent like this is never easy and Gary's skills have been acknowledged by many in the music business but it is especially sad when such a special talent is lost at, what is nowadays, the relatively young age of 58.
It was a heart attack that killed Gary but it was an open secret that his consumption of alcohol played a significant part.

Sex Pistols Bassist Sid Vicious Dies From Heroin Overdose February 1979.

Although his musical skills were out that apparent, Vicious, real name john si Mon Richie certainly lived the life of the rock musician.

Clash Guitarist Joe Strumme Dies Suddenly December 2002

Strummer, real name John Graham mellor was only 50 years of age when he passed away suddenly on 22nd December 2002 at his somerset home.

Stones Founder Brian Jones Drowns In His Swimming Pool

Brian Jones formed the group which became the Rolling Stones way back in May 1962. It is said that he named the band somewhat hurriedly during a telephone conversation in which he was asked for the name of the band which, at that point, didn't really have one. Jones looked around him and spotted a Muddy water's album on which the track Rollin Stone caught his eye.

Whether true or not the band acquired a "g" at the end of "Rollin" and went on to become what is, arguably, the biggest rock band in music history. At he time of writing this, the Stones are still packing them into major venues worldwide and selling vast amounts of their music.

Jones then, as founder and guitarist, should have been sitting pretty but all did not go well for him. It is well reported that he gradually became involved in drugs and alcohol and was the subject of convictions for possessing drugs in 1967 and again in 1968 whilst still on probation for the earlier offence.

In itself this was not unusual, many musicians before and since Brian have faced similar convictions but the problem for him was that it prevented him from touring in the USA due to their strict anti-drug legislation.
Consequently Brian was dropped from the band in June 1969 and, within a month, was dead.