Sharon Jones, 1956-2016

Sharon JonesWe are deeply saddened by the loss of soul singer extraordinaire Sharon Jones. Brainwashed was fortunate enough to feature an interview and early performance of Miss Sharon Jones with the Dap Kings back in 2004 for our video feature, The Eye. Her story has been told in the documentary, Miss Sharon Jones, which came out earlier this year. She will be missed.

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Alan Vega, 1938-2016

2016 has claimed yet another undeniably important musician of our lifetime. We are all heartbroken at the loss of Alan Vega here at Brainwashed and are thankful for his years of contribution to music, challenging not only the institution of pop and rock, but even challenging the conventions within the punk scene of the '70s, most significantly alongside Martin Rev in Suicide. Vega remained active in music both with Suicide and other collaborations through last year and our hearts go out to his family and friends.

http://variety.com/2016/music/news/alan-vega-dead-suicide-1201816050/

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Thom Martin, 1975-2015

We are devastated at the unexpected loss of Thom Martin this week. Thom was a dear friend and multimedia artist, whose works included the eponymous Dresden Dolls album and visuals for both Brainwaves festivals. He is a longtime friend and our love goes out to his family and friends.

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Tod Dockstader, 1932-2015

Not only was Tod Dockstader an important pioneer in the field of electronic music and tape manipulation, but he was also a neighbor and friend, living his last years in the Brainwashed hometown of Arlington, Massachusetts. Dockstader is arguably most famous for his 1960 composition Eight Electronic Pieces, used in the 1969 film Satyricon by Fellini, and most unknowingly famous for the sound effects he created for cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Mr. Magoo. Other notable compositions included Quatermass from 1964 and Drone from 1962. Dockstader was productive through the early part of this century with the Aerial trilogy surfacing on Sub Rosa between 2004 and 2006.

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John Everall

The staff at Brainwashed are saddened by the passing of John Everall. Everall passed away quietly at his home on Friday, September 26th, in the company of his wife, Kelly, and friends by his side. He was a long-time music supporter, operating the Sentrax record label since 1992 (featuring releases by Lull, Final, God, and others), a contributing writer to The Wire (see Obscure Mechanics interview with Coil), and has been recording music mainly as Tactile. John was a friend to many and will be missed.

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Akifumi Nakajima (Aube), 1959-2013

As Aube, Akifumi Nakajima was a prolific conceptual artist whose work crossed the barriers between harsh noise and academic sound art, with works utilizing singular sources, such as heart beats, the hum of fluorescent lights, or recordings of water.  Unlike many of his noise contemporaries, Nakajima heavily focused on structure and composition, building from the most subtlest of sounds into demolishing sheets of distortion and noise.  As the head of the G.R.O.S.S. label, his intricate packaging and presentation was amongst the most impressive and beautiful of the art form.  His influence on recent noise acts and sound artists is immeasurable, and both genres will not be the same with his absence. Akifumi died in late September, but information regarding his passing did not become public until December 9, 2013.

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Zbigniew Karkowski, 1958-2013

Brainwashed is saddened to learn of the loss of composer and sound artist Zbigiew Karkowski. Karkowski was infamous for his intense live experiences and amassed an extensive amount of solo recordings and collaborations, including Hafler Trio and Cosmic Trigger (with Andrew Mckenzie),  MAZK (with Masami Akita of Merzbow), Le Dépeupleur (with Kasper Toeplitz), Pop (with Peter Rehberg, and Senssurround Orchestra (along with Akifumi Nakajima of Aube, who also passed earlier this year). Karkowski died on December 12th after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

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John Deek

His name was not unfamiliar around these parts. He was a vocal fan, supporter, donor, and owner of the label Divine Frequency. The Denton Record reports that he died of natural causes on April 4, and "gifts in his name may be made to the Denton Animal Shelter Foundation (P.O. Box 486, Denton, Texas 76202) or to the charity of one's choice." John will be missed.

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Jason Molina, 1974-2013

http://brainwashed.com/eye/images/magnolia_electric_co-eye_040215.jpgWe are saddened to learn of the passing of Jason Molina, as reported in Chunklet, today. Jason was best known as the singer/songwriter of Magnolia Electric Co. and Songs:Ohia and also released and toured under his own name. Jason was a friend of Brainwashed, allowing us a rare video interview for The Eye back in 2003. Jason was clearly one of the hardest working musicians in the business and for years had a touring schedule so rigorous that very few band members lasted long. In all his incarnations he has amassed an astounding 18 full-length albums between 1996 and 2009. Jason will be sorely missed.

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Jason Noble

We are sad to learn of the passing of Jason Noble on Saturday, August 4th, after a three year battle with cancer. Noble was a full time member of Rachel's, Shipping News, Young Scamels, and had his own project, Per Mission. Jason is noted for being part of Rodan, whose only album, Rusty, has been incredibly influential to the Louisville, KY and mid-western independent scene of and beyond. I can't say I was friends with Jason Noble but every time I met him, he was a very kind, and gentle man. He will be missed.

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Donna Summer, 1948-2012

It's somewhat unusual that Brainwashed would mention the passing of a figure that people don't come to brainwashed.com to read about, but I wanted to share my thoughts and condolences. Not just about the singer whose music influenced a whole host of electronic related genres who have been featured here on this site, but as the person I met and had as a client once.

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James Izzo, 1977 - 2011

Words can not describe how heartbroken and devastated we are by the sudden and unexpected loss of our friend James Izzo. James recorded primarily as Thread, with remixes of Coil gracing the first Brainwashed Recordings release. Additionally, Izzo recorded, performed, and remixed under his own name and as The Boy Without Hands, and collaborated with Jarboe and Neotropic.

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Conrad Schnitzler, 1937-2011

Conrad SchnitzlerIt is with great sadness that Brainwashed recognizes the passing of Conrad Schnitzler, 74, on August 4th of complications from stomach cancer.  Schnitzler was an early member of Tangerine Dream and Kluster, as well as a pioneer in the realm of electronic composition.

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Gil Scott-Heron, 1949-2011

cover imageIt is with incredible sadness that Brainwashed acknowledges the passing of Gil Scott-Heron, aged 62; poet, author, activist and musician; one of the most original, enduring voices in soul, blues, jazz and spoken-word music I have been blessed to hear.

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Trish Keenan, 1968-2011

http://brainwashed.com/eye/images/broadcast-eye_030831.jpgThe entire staff of Brainwashed want to extend our hearts to the close friends and family of Trish Keenan of Broadcast. Brainwashed met Broadcast first in 2003 to do an Eye feature and had the pleasure of saying hi whenever they were back in town. She was always very funny and sincerely sweet.

I wish I'd thanked her then for the influence of Broadcast's music on my life.  Her soft, haunting voice coupled so perfectly with the smoky drums and the hypnotic synths as the band evolved and changed throughout the band's 15-year history.  I'd thank her for the introduction to the film Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, for her good humor and charm onstage, and for the memory of having bought The Noise Made By People the day I met my husband, as well as so many other imprints on my mind.

Thank you, Trish.  You'll never be forgotten.

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Peter Christopherson: 1955 - 2010

http://brainwashed.com/common/images/people/christophersonp.gif It is with great sadness that Brainwashed has learned of Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson's passing.

Christopherson passed away quietly in his sleep at his home in Bangkok on November 25th, 2010. A book of condolences has been set up at unklesleazy.tv.

Peter Christopherson wrote, on July 31, 2010, in response to his interview in The Quietus:

"we are all only temporary curators of our present bodies, which will all decay, sooner or later. In a hundred years or so ALL the humans currently alive will have died. I take great comfort in knowing, with certainty, that thing that makes us special, able to enrich our own lives and those of others, will not cease when our bodies do, but will be just starting and new (and hopefully even better) adventure...

If we don't get to meet in this Life, maybe in the next you can buy me a beer! ,-)"

 

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David Wilson, 1960-2010

David WilsonDavid Wilson, curator of the New England Synthesizer Museum, passed away on Friday, August 27th in Nashua, NH, according to the Nashua Telegraph. He was known in the community for his incredible collection of vintage synths as well as his extensive knowledge and skills at repairing the most obscure ones for various owners and dealers. A video excursion was made back in October 2007 by Brainwashed for The Eye. Dave was 49.

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TONY DALE – 1958-2010

It’s with the greatest of sadness that Brainwashed.com notes the passing of Tony Dale, founder of Camera Obscura Records, journalist for Ptolemaic Terrascope and all around enthusiast of life and culture.

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Dannie Flesher 1951-2010

We are sad to learn of the news of the passing of the remaining WaxTrax! co-founder Dannie Flesher. Were it not for Dannie Flesher and partner Jim Nash, Brainwashed probably wouldn't exist. WaxTrax! were responsible for the widest scale introduction in North America of bands Meat Beat Manifesto, Greater Than One, Legendary Pink Dots, and Coil in the late 1980s, all of which were the foundation for Brainwashed.com. For an excellent article on Dannie and Jim see what the Chicago Tribune had to say in their Turn It Up article. Thanks Dannie & Jim.
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Roland S. Howard 1959-2009

Roland S. Howard the guitarist for the legendary Birthday Party died December 30 of liver cancer in Melbourne Australia at the age of 50. Howard had also been a member of the bands Boys Next Door (who went on to become The Birthday Party), Crime & The City Solution, and These Immortal Souls. He had planned to perform in Australia the night before his death opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs but had to pull out due to his illness.
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