Ronald E. Smith – the guitarist for local rock cover band the Great Pretenders for 40 years – has died. He was 67 and had been battling prostate cancer before he passed away on Jan. 30.

“I just remember all the good times with Ron. There’s just too many of them even to mention,” said band mate Charlie Hollis who started the Great Pretenders with Smith in 1971. “You start going back and thinking about all the things, all the places this band has played in the Northwest; all the legendary times at the Firwood Tavern for years and …

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Another big loss for the rock world as legendary photographer Jim Marshall has died at 74. He captured some of rock’s most iconic images. That photo of Jim Hendrix torching his guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival? Him. That t-shirt you still see people wearing with Johnny Cash flippin’ the bird? His image, too.

I once has the privilege of interviewing the guy – and cantankerous counterpart Baron Wolman – back when I was a cub reporter at the University of Kentucky’s Kernel newspaper. Rolling Stone has an obit and a …

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Looks like the influential leader of Big Star has died of a heart attack. He was 59.

Here’s an excerpt from the L.A. Times obit.

Alex Chilton, the mercurial leader of the Box Tops and Big Star who burst from the Memphis music scene in 1967 singing “The Letter” in the smoke-gravel voice of a grizzled soul man even though he was just 16 at the time, has died. He was 59.
[snip]
Big Star was scheduled to play a

…

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Chart-topping R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass died yesterday following a bout with colon cancer. Excerpts from the Rolling Stone obit:

Teddy Pendergrass, one of the most successful R&B singers of the 1970s and ’80s, passed away yesterday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 59. Pendergrass was diagnosed with cancer last year and had a difficult time recovering from surgery; he died at Bryn Mawr Hospital outside of his native Philadelphia, ABC News reports. The five-time Grammy-nominated singer had chart-topping hits in three different decades with 1978’s “Close the Door,” 1988’s “Joy” and 1991’s “It Should’ve

…

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I’ve caught wind of a couple of tributes to Mark Renninger, Ronald Owen, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards, the four Lakewood police officers who were gunned down Sunday morning.

First, Fitz from KKWF-FM (The Wolf, 100.7) is asking listeners go gather for a candlelight vigil at Lakewood town center from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday (Dec. 4), and form in the shape of a heart in honor of the Lakewood Four. Participants will gather in the Lakewood Towne Center parking lot behind Target, 5731 Main St., SE, in Lakewood.

And I’m also hearing that …

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Seattle’s Mad Rad headlines a promising hip-hop/electronica bill that Artifakt has put together for Jazzbones this Friday (Nov. 13). But a lot of local music fans will be more focused on the opening act, Tacoma’s Nasty Left.

The band’s vocalist died from cancer this summmer. And as promoter Matt Eklund explains, “This is Nasty Left’s first show since the untimely passing of front man Daniel Colin Cline, aka ‘D-Child.’ We are paying tribute to him with the celebration of music. D-Child has performed with the Biznautics & Nasty Left. Come show your support …

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Vancouver, BC’s 3 Inches of Blood returned to Tacoma this weekend to pay tribute to fallen former bass player Brian Redman. Here is some video from early this morning at Hell’s Kitchen. Hit the “more” button for the next clip, and stay tuned. I may have some good stuff to share from the Jet City Fix performance, too.

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Vancouver, BC’s 3 Inches of Blood was on the road touring in support of new CD “Here Waits They Doom” when the band’s former bassist, Tacoma’s Brian Redman, died on Sept. 27.

So 3IOB had to wait until this weekend to return to it’s home away from home (the bulk of 2007′s “Fire Up the Blades” was written in T-town) for a tribute show. The band will headline a benefit for Redman’s widow, Dana, on Saturday (Nov. 7) at Hell’s Kitchen, a bill that also includes locals Monuments Collide, the Jet City Fix and Glimpse.

Recently I caught up with 3IOB vocalist Cam Pipes who talked about how he learned the bad news. Click here to listen to some of what he had to say about Brian’s time in the band and learning about his tragic accident.

Then click the “more” button to check out a cool video CMH Pro posted from the Oct. 2 memorial show at Doyle’s.
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Vancouver, BC thrash-metal outfit 3 Inches of Blood will headline a tribute show for fallen bassist Brian Redman at Hell’s Kitchen on Nov. 7, booking agent Flash Connel tells me.

That night’s bill will also include local favorites the Jet City Fix, Glimpse and Monuments Collide with a 9 p.m. start time and a minimum $10 donation requested. Proceeds will go to Redman’s wife, Dana, Connel said.
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For those who couldn’t be there, here’s a clip of Dirty Knockers paying tribute to their fallen band mate, the late, great Brian Redman. An army of local rockers, including Zeke, Glimpse, Top Heavy Crush, Helm’s Alee, Pioneers West, the F—ing Eagles and many more, turned out to Doyle’s Public House to see him off. Rest in peace, Brian.