Obituaries

[Music] The Last Sabri Silenced

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

What angering news. I thank Praveer Cheeku of Yatra Arts for posting this earlier in the week, but thanks to tending to my ailing father and a fighting with a computer in dire need of service, I’ve had to wait to post this news until today.

Amjad Sabri, scion of the legendary Sabri Family who have produced some of the finest Qawwali singers ever, was murdered by the Taliban last Wednesday. He was 39 years old, and had continued a wonderful tradition of singing his father, Ghulam Farid and his uncle, Maqbool Ahmed.

May the Taliban be brutally crushed for the evil and misery they have caused to the nations of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many Sufis grieve for good Amjad this weekend.

[Music] RIP Dieter Moebius

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

Extremely sad news today. The Quietus reports that Dieter Moebius, one-half of the legendary Cluster, along with Hans-Joachim Roedelius, a collaborator with Michael Rother in their Harmonia project, as well as Brian Eno, and a source of influence for so many musicians who delved into making electronic music, passed away today at the age of 71.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dieter and Achim a few times as they would pass through my home on tour. I wish his wife, Irene, Achim and his family, and all those who worked with him, much comfort in the days ahead.

A Truly Bad Day For The Arts

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

My friend Gummi from Iceland had posted that the legendary James Last, King of Easy Listening, had passed away. Of course many mourn his loss, but things got progressively worse of the past 24 hours.

Next was the loss of Christopher Lee, the best Dracula to ever appear on celluloid, and a man not to be trifled with in real life. Stage actor Ron Moody also died.

And it got worse. Ornette Coleman, who introduced the world to the concept of free jazz, died this morning. His albums, Foxhole and The Shape of Jazz To Come were formative listening for me.

The truly sad one doesn’t have a normal place here, as he was more of a TV performer. Dusty Rhodes, the professional wrestler who ‘won’ world titles during his stint in the National Wrestling Alliance, and who was known as an affable clown to WWE fans, also left this mortal coil. I grew up watching a lot of professional wrestling, as Saturday mornings were free before I played ball, cut the grass or read.

All will be missed.