Hey Joe

If you don't look dead, we don't look dead. But we are, so, yeah.

Vidal Sassoon

1928 - 2012

 

At the risk of being pigeon-holed as The Grim Reaper, Vidal "Ooo La La" Sassoon died today after a lenghty battle with leukemia. Leukemia won. Sassoon was 84.

Sassoon rose to prominence in the hair styling industry back in 1963 when he put his own personal twist on the old "bob" haircut. According to sources, Sassoon's "geometric haircuts seemed to be severely cut, but were entirely lacquer-free, relying on the natural shine of the hair for effect." I won't pretend to know what that means.

Thank you and good night.

R.I.P. Goober

George Lindsey

1928 - 2012

 

George "Goober" Lindsey has gone to that big, greasy auto garage in the sky.

Lindsey was best known (probably only known) for his role as Goober Pyle, cousin to Mayberrry's first mechanic, Gomer Pyle. Lindsey originally auditioned for the role of Mayberry's mechanic, but lost the part to Jim Nabors. When Nabors left the show to star in Gomer Pyle USMC, Lindsey took over at the service station, spending the next seven years on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D..

As a boy, Lindsey liked to hang around his Aunt Ethel's gas station, where the mechanics wore felt caps to keep the grease and oil from dripping into their hair. Those caps were the inspiration for Goober's  trademark "beanie," however it sparked a huge copyright infringement lawsuit by one Jughead Jones. In the end, Jones relented and allowed Goober to wear the cap, but only if Goober agreed to marry Big Ethel. 

R.I.Beastie

Adam "MCA" Yauch

1964 - 2012

 

Adam Yauch, a founding member of the hip hop trio known as the Beastie Boys, died today after a three-year battle with cancer of the parotid salivary gland. Yauch was 47.

That sucks. I've never even heard of someone getting cancer of the salivary gland.

I have to admit that I was not much of a Beasties fan when they first came along. Being a rock/new wave guy in my 80's heyday I rejected their white boy rap, much to the dismay of my younger Skipolini's co-workers who loved to play Licenced to Ill while we slung pie on those hot summer nights.

But nowadays when I hear You Gotta Fight or Girls come on the radio, I'll turn it up and appreciate the goofy genius that was the Beasties.

God speed, MCA.

What do you people want, blood?

Yeah, I've got nothing.

I've received a lot of mail lately asking when I'm going to get back to blogging on a more regular basis. To this I shrug and say, "Ehh." And then I say, "Get a life, losers."

Seriously though (but not really) I appreciate each and every inquirey. That so many of you miss my words touches me deeply.

So anyway, Greg Ham and Levon Helm both died yesterday. Doesn't that sound like some sort of joke?

"So did you hear about the impious Jew who went to the deli and ordered Ham on Levoned bread?"

*crickets*

Piss off. Let's see you come up with a better joke.

OK, is that enough of a blog post? Can I GO now??

R.I.P.

Once upon a time I used to do these Celebrity Death blog posts; however with the advent of Facebook they hardly seem necessary anymore. The celebrity in question is still clutching his chest when the Facebook posts begin popping up; "RIP Random Celebrity." "I'll forever miss and never forget Somebody Famous." 

As such, it seems somewhat pointless to continue writing these posts on a blog which no one reads anymore.

Well fuck off, I'm writing it anyway.

 

Age Storhaug

1938 - 2012

Norwegian gymnast, Age Storhaug, "for years having fought against the cancer," is dead at the age of 74.

Espen Jansen, some other Norwegian gymnast, was quoted as saying "He has always had a twinkle in his eye and found pleasure in holding on. Virtually all his life he has been every day of the gymnastics hall."

What the hell does "fond pleasure in holding on" mean? Found pleasure in holding on to gymnastics apparatus? Found pleasure in not dying? Stupid Norwegians.

Anyway, Storhaug competed in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympic games in Rome, Italy and Tokyo, Japan respectively. And now he's dead.

Speaking of dead, Dick Clark bit the big one.

R.I.P. Mr. Harter

Dick Harter

1930 - 2012

 

Former NBA coach, Dick Harter, died on March 12 at the age of 81.

Harter began his career as the head coach at the University of Oregon. He went on to coach at Penn State before beginning his career in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. His first NBA head coaching position was with the Charlotte Hornets.

I really couldn't care less about all the basketball stuff, and in fact have never heard of Harter. I wrote all this just to say that, Like Dick Hoover, with a name like that he should have gone into porn.

Thank you! Good-night!

Belated Theme Song Thursday

Yeah, I know. I'm falling down on the job. Thanks for the reminder, Cuz.

I should have posted this last week, or has it been two weeks already since we lost Davy? Sad to say, but life truly does just keep rollin' on. Still loved me some Monkee though.

 

 

 

R.I.P. Ronnie Montrose

Ronnie Montrose

1947 - 2012

Rock guitarist, Ronnie Montrose, died yesterday due to complications from prostate cancer. The complication? It killed him. Montrose was but 64.

Montrose got his start as a sideman for Van Morrison's 1971 album, "Tupelo Honey." He continued working as a sideman with Boz Scaggs, and the Edgar Winter Group. Montrose also had the honor of playing Edgar Winter's hits "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride."

Of course, Montrose is probably best known for his 1973 band (Montrose. Duh) featuring a skinny, young Sammy Hagar on lead vocals.

Godspeed, Ronnie. Ride that bad motor scooter right through those pearly gates.

 

R.I.P., fair Monkee

Davy Jones

1945 - 2012

Crap!Icons from my youth are dropping like flies.

Monkees singer, Davy Jones, died today in Florida, the victim of a heart attack. Jones was 66.

Jones appeared on The Monkees with fellow mandrills, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz. Many of us also remember Jones' appearance on The Brady Bunch when Marsha had promised that he'd appear at the school prom. "Girl, look what you've done to me. Me, and my whole world."

Godspeed, Daydream Believer.

Showing the love

It's been quite some time since anyone has shown Joe the love. Fortunately, I was able to bribe the Scotts with the promise of martinis.