Fear Bassist Derf Scratch Dies
8/2/2010 By Josiah Hughes

Derf Scratch, original bassist for notoriously violent California punk band Fear, has died. While details are scarce, Scratch passed away on July 28 following a lengthy illness, according to a post on the Anti- blog. His age was unknown at this point.


 Scratch founded Fear with Lee Ving in 1977, staying with the band until 1982. Along with shaping their sound and offbeat sense of humour, he was also in the band for their notorious Saturday Night Live performance in 1981. Personally invited by John Belushi, their performance was cut short when a group of punks, bussed in to slam dance during the songs, destroyed the set. A video of the performance can be viewed here. http://virb.com/bellyache/videos/1733702


 Following his time in Fear, Scratch continued to play music up until his death. Anti- suggests that he may have had a master's degree in music. They also link to an interview with Scratch conducted in 2004, which can be read here.

16 August 2010 01:32

Musician/Actor Bruno S. Dies


German musician, artist and film actor BRUNO S. has died, aged 78.

The star, who was born Bruno Schleinstein, died in Berlin on Wednesday (11Aug10).

Schleinstein was largely a self-taught musician, and taught himself to play the piano, accordion, glockenspiel and handbells.

He grew up writing songs and singing them on the streets of the German capital.

He was discovered by director Werner Herzog in a 1970 documentary about street musicians entitled Bruno der Schwarze - Es blies ein Jäger wohl in sein Horn. Herzog went on to cast him in 1974 film The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, despite the musician having no prior acting experience.

The film was a hit, and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes International Film Festival the following year (75).

Herzog later wrote a part for Schleinstein in 1977's Stroszek, in which the musician played his own instruments.

Schleinstein's artwork has been exhibited in shows in his native Germany and in New York.

In 2002, his life was documented by German filmmaker Miron Zownir, in a film entitled Bruno S. - Estrangement Is Death.

A founding member of rock group Electric Light Orchestra was killed when a giant bale of hay tumbled down a hill and crashed onto his van.

Cellist Mike Edwards died after the 94 stone bale careered down the side of a steep Devonshire field before it smashed through a hedge and onto the road.

The 62-year-old died instantly in the accident on Friday afternoon.

Wacky way to go.