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Any Major Christmas Rock

November 25th, 2025 4 comments

 

Christmas is coming, so here’s the first of two festive mixes this year. This is, surprisingly, the first Xmas rock mix. Of course, all sorts of rock songs have featured on other mixes, especially the Any Major Christmas Pop (Vol. 1 | Vol. 2 | Vol. 3), on the Not For Mother mix, and on Any Nasty Christmas.

Perhaps one year I’ll collate the best of them in one mix.

This collection spans six decades, from Bob Seger’s 1966 garage funk-rock romp Sock It to Me Santa to Foo Fighters’ 2020 take on Chuck Berry’s Run Rudolph Run, and goes from the humourless to the camp,  when the very earnest song by The Who is followed by Stryper playing the fools in the studio to surprisingly good effect. Plus, Silvio Dante channelling the Ramones with a cover of their Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight) .

But most importantly: some power chords under the Christmas tree. Rock on, Santa!

As always, this mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes home-kerranged covers. PW in comments, where you are invited to leave a nice message. All previous Christmas mixes should still be available.

1. Cheap Trick – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (2017)
2. Foo Fighters – Run Rudolph Run (2020)
3. Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want…) (2018)
4. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (2000)
5. AC/DC – Mistress For Christmas (1990)
6. Canned Heat – Christmas Blues (1994)
7. Bob Seger & The Last Heard – Sock It To Me Santa (1966)
8. The Who – Christmas (1969)
9. Stryper – Winter Wonderland (1984)
10. Anti-Nowhere League – Let It Snow (2015)
11. The Smithereens – Santa, Bring My Baby Back To Me (2007)
12. Julian Casablancas – I Wish It Was Christmas Today (2009)
13. Green Day – Xmas Time Of The Year (2015)
14. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Christmas All Over Again (1992)
15. Fall Out Boy – Yule Shoot Your Eye Out (2003)
16. Collective Soul – Blue Christmas (1994)
17. Snow Patrol – When I Get Home For Christmas (2000)
18. Bon Jovi – I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas (1992)
19. Elvin Bishop – The Little Drummer Boy (1992)
20. Chicago with Dolly Parton – Wonderful Christmas Time (2011)
21. Crash Test Dummies – White Christmas (2002)
22. Weezer – We Wish You A Merry Christmas (2008)

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More Christmas Mixes
Any Major Christmas Favourites
Any Major Christmas Pop Vol. 1
Any Major Christmas Pop Vol. 2

Any Major Christmas Pop Vol. 3
Any Major 1980s Christmas
Any Major 1970s Christmas
Any Major 1960s Christmas Vol. 1
Any Major 1960s Christmas Vol. 2
Any Major 1950s Christmas
Any Major 1940s Christmas
Any Nasty Christmas
Christmas Mix, Not For Mother
Any Major Santa Claus Vol. 1
The Originals: Christmas Edition
Any Major Christmas Carols (in pop) Vol. 1
Any Major Christmas Carols (in pop) Vol. 2
Any Major Christmas Bells
Any Major Smooth Christmas Vol. 1
Any Major Smooth Christmas Vol. 2
Any Major Smooth Christmas Vol. 3
Any Major Christmas Soul Vol. 1
Any Major Christmas Soul Vol. 2
Any Major Christmas Soul Vol. 3
Any Major Doo Wop Christmas
Any Major Rhythm & Blues Christmas
Any Major X-Mas Blues
Any Major Country Christmas Vol. 1
Any Major Country Christmas Vol. 2
Any Major Acoustic Christmas
Christmas In Black & White Vol. 1
Christmas In Black & White Vol. 2
Christmas In Black & White Vol. 3
Any Major Christmas ABC
Any Major Gals’ Christmas
Any Major Polygot Christmas
Any Major New Year’s
Song Swarm: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Or all in one place

Categories: X-Mas Tags:

Any Major Neil Young Songbook Vol. 1

November 11th, 2025 4 comments

As Neil Young turns 80 on November 12, here’s the first of two volumes of a Songbook of covers.

Young’s songwriting is pretty distinctive, in sound and vision. Even as he traverses folk, rock, country and even experimental terrain, he is always unmistakably Neil Young — his unique vocal delivery that mixes vulnerability and grit, the evocative and sometimes combative lyrics, and the guitar work that can be brittle acoustic strumming or explosive electric solos.

To cover a Young song well requires of the artist to leave the behind idiosyncrasies of Young’s delivery and find their own way with the tune and lyrics.

Marsha Hunt does this well on Southern Man. Young’s original, from 1970s After The Gold Rush, confronts racism with fierce anger. Hunt’s version softens some of Young’s edge but retains, perhaps even intensifies, the moral weight.

On their 1983 live version of Like A Hurricane, Roxy Music retain the fury of the original, but add their arty gloss to it, plus a touch of soul with the remarkable backing vocals by Fonzi Thornton, Michelle Cobbs and Tawatha Agee. It’s even more epic than Young’s great version.

You’d expect Duran Duran to do something similar on their 1995 cover of The Needle And The Damage Done. Instead of trying to give Young’s delicate song more verve, they strip back the sound even more, to good effect.

One of Young’s lesser-known songs, the gorgeous Till The Morning Comes, is given beautiful treatment by Françoise Hardy in 1972. Here is a good case to be made that Young songs, at least the slow ones, are conducive to covers by women. The covers here by acts like Rita Coolidge, Elkie Brooks, Norah Jones, Everything But The Girl, Rumer, or kd lang bear this out.

As does the version of After The Gold Rush by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris on their 1999 Trio II album. Harris and Ronstadt had covered several Neil Young songs before that.

As ever, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R, includes home-whined covers, and the above text in PDF format. PW in comments.

1. Tedeschi Trucks Band – Alabama (live) (2017)
2. Marsha Hunt – Southern Man (1973)
3. Bettye LaVette – Heart Of Gold (1972)
4. Dan McCafferty – Cinammon Girl (1975)
5. Southern Comfort – Harvest (1972)
6. Elkie Brooks – Only Love Can Break Your Heart (1978)
7. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris – After The Gold Rush (1999)
8. Roxy Music – Like A Hurricane (live) (1983)
9. Duran Duran – The Needle And The Damage Done (1995)
10. Del Amitri – Don’t Cry No Tears (1992)
11. kd lang – Helpless (2004)
12. Cowboy Junkies – Love In Mind (2022)
13. Johnny Cash – Pocahontas (rel. 2003)
14. Natalie Cole – Old Man (2006)
15. Norah Jones – Don’t Be Denied (2016)
16. Rumer – A Man Needs A Maid (2012)
17. Everything But The Girl – Birds (1993)
18. Françoise Hardy – Till The Morning Comes (1971)
19. Rita Coolidge – I Believe In You (1971)
20. The Byrds – Cowgirl In The Sand (1973)
21. Cassandra Wilson – Harvest Moon (1996)

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Previous Songbooks:
ABBA
Ashford & Simpson
Barry Gibb Vol. 1
Barry Gibb Vol. 2
Bill Withers
Billy Joel
Bob Dylan Volumes 1-5
Brian Wilson
Bruce Springsteen
Burt Bacharach & Hal David Vol. 1
Burt Bacharach & Hal David Vol. 2
Burt Bacharach’s Lesser-Known Songbook
Carole Bayer Sager
Carole King Vol. 1
Carole King Vol. 2
Chuck Berry
Cole Porter Vol. 1
Cole Porter Vol. 2
Elton John & Bernie Taupin
George Harrison
Gordon Lightfoot
Hank Williams
Holland-Dozier-Holland
John Prine
Jimmy Webb Vol. 1
Jimmy Webb Vol. 2
Jimmy Webb Vol. 3
Kris Kristofferson
Lamont Dozier
Laura Nyro
Leonard Cohen
Neil Diamond
Paul McCartney Vol. 1
Paul McCartney Vol. 2
Pete Townshend
Prince
Rod Temperton
Rolling Stones Vol. 1
Rolling Stones Vol. 2
Sly Stone
Steely Dan
Stevie Wonder Vol. 1
Tom Waits
Van Morrison

More Songbooks
More Cover Mixes

Categories: Covers Mixes, Mix CD-Rs, Songbooks Tags:

In Memoriam – October 2025

November 4th, 2025 2 comments

The Reaper worked overtime this month. All my ideas of cutting back on write-ups went out of the window: this month, there are 14!

It seems the Reaper had a particular jones for bass players — I count six of them leaving us in October, including the great Anthony Jackson. It also wasn’t a good month for rock musicians named Ace, nor for producers of schlager music.

Outside music, I was saddened by the passing at 98 (or delighted at his longevity) of Ed Williams, who played scientist Ted Olsen in Police Squad! and the Naked Gun series. “So Billy, when the moisture in the air comes in contact with the cold pitcher, it forms water droplets. What we call condensation. Just like your mother when she gets out of the shower, glistening with tiny little beads of… Oh, hi Frank.”

Also leaving us in October, at the age of 78, was Drew Struzan, who designed the posters for films such as Star Wars (the three prequels), Cannonball Run, Blade Runner, E.T., The Goonies, Back To The Future (all three), Coming To America, An American Tail, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, The Shawshank Redemption, various Muppet movies, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone, How To Train Your Dragon, and more.

He also designed many album covers for acts like Alice Cooper, Poco, Carole King, The Beach Boys, Earth, Wind & Fire, Black Oak Arkansas, The Brothers Johnson, Roy Orbison, Liberace, Black Sabbath, Iron Butterfly, and others.

The Soul Master
One of the greatest soul albums of the new century came out right at its beginning: Voodoo by D’Angelo, who has died of cancer at only 51.

Born Michael Eugene Archer in 1974, D’Angelo emerged in the mid-1990s as a defining voice of neo-soul — a movement that fused classic soul with hip-hop, funk, and gospel influences. In 1994 he wrote and co-produced the single U Will Know by the soul supergroup Black Men United.

His 1995 debut album Brown Sugar, with its smoky, groove-driven sound and overt sensuality, earned comparisons to Marvin Gaye. He also collaborated with acts such as his partner Angie Stone (the muse for his Brown Sugar album), Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill, with whom he duetted on Nothing Even Matters on her album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.

It took five years to release the follow-up to Brown Sugar. Voodoo was a dense, rhythmically complex exercise recorded with the Soulquarians collective. Songs like the Grammy-winning Untitled (How Does It Feel) and Devil’s Pie were sensual, improvisational masterpieces on par with his idol Prince. The album was a huge success, topping the US charts, but D’Angelo withdrew again, this time for more than a decade, as he battled personal and creative struggles.

His re-emergence in 2014 with Black Messiah was remarkable. It was political, innovative, and faithful to the black musical tradition — soul, jazz, gospel — even as it borrowed from psychedelic rock. It won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, while Really Love won Best R&B Song and was nominated for Record of the Year.

D’Angelo was working on his fourth album when pancreatic cancer claimed him. Three albums, all universally acclaimed stone-cold classics — what a legacy!

Spare a thought for his son with Angie Stone, Michael, who has lost both parents within just over half a year. Angie died in a car crash in March.

The Moody Blue
As a young musician in Birmingham, England, in the 1960s, John Lodge met acts like The Beatles. In 1966, he joined The Moody Blues as bassist and co-lead vocalist, alongside Justin Hayward. The pair soon became the band’s principal songwriters as it evolved from 1960s blues-pop to symphonic prog-rock.

His melodic bass lines and baritone were integral to the Moody Blues’ sound, balancing the band’s more ethereal tendencies, while his songwriting produced several classics, including Ride My See-Saw, Isn’t Life Strange, and I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band).

Lodge also recorded five solo studio albums, from 1977’s Natural Avenue to Days Of Future Passed – My Sojourn in 2023.

A long-time collaborator with Hayward, he took part in the Moody Blues’ orchestral tours and later performed with his own ensemble, The 10,000 Light Years Band, revisiting the group’s catalogue.

Lodge leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Kirsten. A practising Christian, he credited his faith for helping him avoid “the excesses” of the rock scene. Of all Moody Blues members before 1978, only Justin Hayward is now still alive.

The Spaceman
When I grew up, some of my best friends were great fans of Kiss, which meant that I had to listen to the four simultaneously released solo albums by the band’s members. It was as unappealing to me as a lot of Kiss’s music, but Ace Frehley’s effort was the best of the lot — and, as I’ve since learnt, the most successful. It included a hit with New York Groove, a cover of the 1975 UK hit by Hello.

Known as “The Spaceman”, Frehley’s flashy solos were a key part of Kiss’s identity. He wrote and sang on a few songs, including Cold Gin, Shock Me (inspired by an onstage electrocution), and Rocket Ride.

After leaving Kiss in 1982, he formed Frehley’s Comet, later rejoining his old pals for their 1996 reunion tour and contributing to the Psycho Circus album.

The Synthpopper
Last month we lost Steven Luscombe of new wave duo Blancmange; now Dave Ball of Soft Cell has left us, at the age of 66. The members of Tears For Fears, Eurythmics, OMD and Yazoo must be updating their wills now…

Ball created one of the most instantly recognisable riffs of the 1980s, with just two synth notes — the doop-doops on the mega-hit TAINTED LOVE, a cover of an obscure soul track by Gloria Jones.

He formed Soft Cell with singer Marc Almond in 1979 while studying at Leeds Polytechnic. The duo’s mix of synth-pop and theatrical flair — best captured perhaps in the gorgeous Say Hello Wave Goodbye — was heightened by the contrast between the large, reserved Ball and the flamboyant, slight Almond.

After four albums (and Ball’s 1983 solo LP In Strict Tempo), Soft Cell split in 1984. They reunited periodically from 2001, releasing new albums and performing live.

After the split, Ball formed the electronica act The Grid with Richard Norris in 1988, achieving UK chart success with hits like Swamp Thing in 1994. He also formed a short-lived hi-NRG band, English Boy, releasing two singles. Ball also produced and/or remixed for artists including Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, Erasure, and David Bowie.

The Bassman
The bassline that opens The O’Jays’ For The Love Of Money must be one of the most recognisable in soul music. Those deep, metallic notes came from the hands of Anthony Jackson, one of the most innovative bassists in modern music.

Born in New York City in 1952, Jackson was a classically trained musician whose first love was jazz — a genre in which he backed acts such as Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Sadao Watanabe, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Eric Gale, Grover Washington Jr, Lalo Schifrin, Al Di Meola (on 11 albums), Earl Klugh, David Sanborn, Dave Grusin, and Steve Khan (on nine albums). He also released several collaborative jazz albums and, for many years, recorded and toured with Japanese pianist and composer Hiromi Uehara.

But his best-known contributions were in soul music. A consummate session man, Jackson recorded more than 3,000 sessions on over 500 albums, starting in the early 1970s.

He knew what he wanted. Dissatisfied with the limitations of the standard four-string bass, the then 22-year-old collaborated with luthier Carl Thompson to create the six-string contrabass guitar, which extended the instrument’s range and expressive potential.

He played bass for the likes of Billy Paul (including Me And Mrs Jones), The O’Jays, Paul Simon (including Slip Slidin’ Away), Chaka Khan (including What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me), Roberta Flack (including The Closer I Get To You), The Three Degrees, Ashford & Simpson, Randy Crawford (including Almaz), Sérgio Mendes, Bette Midler, Phyllis Hyman, Garland Jeffreys, Patti Austin, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross (including The Boss), Steely Dan, Carly Simon, Lou Rawls, Luther Vandross (including A House Is Not A Home), Donald Fagen (including I.G.Y.), Simon & Garfunkel (on The Concert In Central Park), George Benson, Madonna (on Borderline), Tania Maria, Peabo Bryson, Four Tops, Joe Jackson, Al Jarreau, Freddie Jackson, Will Downing, Dionne Warwick, Neneh Cherry, Anita Baker, and many others.

The Doo Wop Master
When doo wop band The Flamingos were assigned to record the standard I Only Have Eyes For You, high tenor Terry “Buzzy” Johnson was charged with coming up with an arrangement. It came to him in his sleep, and he quickly called the band together at 4am to rehearse it. In the studio on 31 October 1958, Johnson directed the session musicians to create a floating counter-melody to the vocal harmonies — and thus a classic was born.

Johnson, who has died at 86, had enjoyed success with The Whispers, a Baltimore vocal group (distinct from the soul legends of the same name), before joining The Flamingos in the mid-1950s. His vocals and arranging skills helped shape their sound, fusing lush harmonies with intricate phrasing and jazz-influenced chord structures.

After The Flamingos split (he retained the rights to the name), Johnson worked as a songwriter and producer for Motown Records during its golden era, co-writing with Smokey Robinson & The Miracles on Going To A Go Go, Here I Go Again, and Baby Baby Don’t Cry. Johnson also released a couple of solo singles on Motown subsidiary Gordy, but to no great attention.

In 1996, Johnson and The Flamingos were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Pioneer
Born Susan Lucas in London in 1954, Soo Catwoman became one of the defining visual icons of British punk — even without ever fronting a band.

Emerging in the mid-1970s amid the first wave of punk in West London, she was part of the early Sex Pistols scene around Malcolm McLaren’s SEX boutique and the 100 Club. Her striking hairstyle — a sculpted black bob with shaved sides and two points dyed blonde to resemble cat ears — soon became widely imitated. It influenced fashion photography, album art, and the aesthetics of punk’s social rebellion.

Although Soo was not a conventional musician, she briefly fronted a group called The Sic F*cks (sometimes referred to as The Sic Furs). They performed sporadically in London clubs, but no surviving recordings are known. Later, she sang backing vocals for the punk band Invaders, taking lead just once on their rather good second single Backstreet Romeo. In 1998 she released a cover of The O’Jays’ Backstabbers.

Disillusioned by the scene’s increasing violence and media distortion, she stepped away from punk by the late 1970s. In later years, she lived a quieter life, occasionally granting interviews or appearing in documentaries such as The Filth and the Fury and Punk: Attitude, where she reflected on the authenticity and brief brilliance of the original movement.

The Jazz Drummer
One of the most versatile and inventive drummers in modern jazz, Jack DeJohnette first came to international prominence through his work with Miles Davis at the turn of the 1970s.

Born in Chicago in 1942, DeJohnette had already built a reputation in the city’s vibrant avant-garde scene before moving to New York, where he played with acts like Jackie McLean, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, and Bill Evans. His fluid, propulsive style caught Miles Davis’s ear.

Joining Davis’s band in 1969, DeJohnette contributed to the revolutionary sessions that shaped Bitches Brew and Live-Evil — groundbreaking records that fused jazz, rock, funk, and the avant-garde. DeJohnette was the primary drummer and was considered the leader of the rhythm section. During his three years with Davis, he also played on 1971’s Jack Johnson and On The Corner (1972), and collaborated with Davis alumni such as John McLaughlin and Chick Corea.

After leaving Davis’s group, DeJohnette became a bandleader in his own right, forming Directions and Special Edition, and recording prolifically. He also collaborated extensively with Keith Jarrett, and toured in a quartet with Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and Herbie Hancock.

DeJohnette won two Grammys: Best New Age Album for 2008’s Peace Time, and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for 2021’s collaboration with Ron Carter and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Skyline.

The Brother
The Addrisi Brothers, Don and Dick, are best known for their 1970s hits such as We’ve Got To Get It On Again, Slow Dancin’ Don’t Turn Me On, and Ghost Dancer, which blended the duo’s smooth harmonies with light funk and AOR. Dick Addrisi has now died at 84, some 41 years after his older brother Don succumbed to cancer.

Raised in a family vaudeville act, The Flying Addrisis, the brothers started performing professionally as teenagers in the 1950s, releasing a handful of rock ‘n’ roll singles in the vein of The Everly Brothers, but without much chart success.

Their breakthrough came as songwriters. In 1967, The Association turned their composition Never My Love into an international mega-hit. The brothers recorded it themselves in 1977.

The Jazz Scorer
Berlin-born Klaus Doldinger was one of Germany’s foremost jazz musicians and film composers, in a career that spanned more than six decades. The virtuoso saxophonist first gained attention in the 1950s with his modern jazz ensembles and recordings that helped shape post-war German jazz.

In 1971, he founded the jazz-fusion outfit Passport — something like a German Weather Report — blending jazz, rock, and electronica into an energetic, melodic sound.

Alongside his jazz work, Doldinger was a prolific composer for film and television. His theme for the popular crime series Tatort has remained largely unchanged since its first appearance 55 years ago. It is one of the world’s great TV themes. His best-known scores include those for Wolfgang Petersen’s Das Boot (1981) and The Neverending Story (1984).

The Centenarian
Having reached the age of 102, songwriter, producer, and singer Leo Leandros has taken his final bow. Born Leandros Papathanassiou in Greece, he is best known as the guiding creative force behind the success of his daughter, international singer Vicky Leandros.

Working under the pseudonym Mario Panas for songwriting credits, he co-wrote and produced Vicky’s 1972 Eurovision winner Après Toi — which as Come What May was also a big hit in the UK. He also co-wrote her 1976 schlager classic Theo wir fahr’n nach Lodz.

Leandros was also a prolific writer and producer for other international artists. His most famous collaboration outside the family was with Demis Roussos, for whom he produced and co-wrote the 1973 million-seller Goodbye My Love Goodbye.

Before becoming a sought-after composer and producer, Leandros was himself a popular singer. After fighting in the Greek Civil War in the 1940s, he began singing in Greece, but his breakthrough came in the 1950s after emigrating to Germany, where he recorded in both Greek and German. His warm baritone and foreign accent — oh, how the Germans loved a foreign accent — won him a loyal following on the schlager scene, with songs such as Kleine Melodie, Wenn die Sonne scheint in Athen, and especially Komm Mister Talliman, his cover of The Banana Boat Song.

The Schlager Producer
As Horst Nußbaum, he was a young footballer with the potential for a journeyman career as a professional. As Jack White, he became one of West Germany’s most prolific hitmakers — including the record by West Germany’s 1974 football World Cup-winning team.

He began an unsuccessful solo recording career in the 1960s before turning to writing and producing hits, some specifically for the German market and others for international release. His big breakthrough as a writer came with the rather awful polka hit Schöne Maid by Tony Marshall, and more clap-and-schunkeln fare of that ilk. Rare moments of redemption followed, notably Jürgen Marcus’s schlager classics Eine neue Liebe ist wie ein neues Leben and Ein Festival der Liebe.

In the 1980s, White produced some international hits, including Laura Branigan’s Self Control and Gloria (both covers of Italian hits), Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora’s When The Rain Begins To Fall, and David Hasselhoff’s Looking For Freedom.

Der Lyricist
The day after White’s body was found, another big name in schlager-writing died. Bernd Meinunger was the lyricist for many Ralph Siegel compositions, including Eurovision classics Ein bisschen Frieden for Nicole (winner in 1982, a UK chart-topper as A Little Peace), Dschinghis Khan’s eponymous 1979 entry, Katja Ebstein’s 1980 runner-up Theater (as co-composer), the delightfully bizarre Papa Pengouin by twins Sophie & Magaly (also 1980), and Lena Valaitis’s 1981 runner-up JOHNNY BLUE.

Other hits included Peter Maffay’s So bist Du, Hoffmann & Hoffmann’s Himbeereis zum Frühstück (a good cover of the Bellamy Brothers’ Crossfire), and a host of songs for Dschinghis Khan and Nicole.

The Murder Victim
In May, Rolling Stone described the rise of Argentine-born and Mexico-based singer Fede Dorcaz as “meteoric”, following last year’s debut album Instinto, predicting that “the rising Latin star [is] ready to redefine global Latin pop”. Among his hits was Moka, a catchy duet with girlfriend Mariana Ávila. Fede, who was also a model, was about to appear in October on Las Estrellas Bailan En Hoy, Mexico’s equivalent of Britain’s Strictly Come Dancing.

On 9 October, the 29-year-old’s life ended as he was shot in his car, apparently in an attempted robbery in Mexico City.

His murder came just weeks after that of Colombian musicians B-King and DJ Regio Clown (see In Memoriam – September 2025).
As always, this post is reproduced in illustrated PDF format in the package, which also includes my personal playlist of the featured tracks. PW in comments.

Susan ‘Soo Catwoman’ Lucas, 70, English punk icon, on Sept. 30
Invaders – Backstreet Romeo (1980, on lead vocals)

Charles ‘Slick’ Still, singer with soul trio group Sly, Slick & Wicked, on Oct. 2
Sly, Slick & Wicked – Stay My Love (1971)

Henry Martínez, 75, Venezuelan musician and songwriter, on Oct. 2

Ann Everton, 43, member of rock band Darsombra, in car crash on Oct. 3

Ace Finchum, 62, drummer of Welsh metal band Tigertailz, on Oct. 4
Tigertailz- Love Bomb Baby (1990, also as co-writer)

Paul Van Bruystegem, 66, ex-bassist of Belgian rock band Triggerfinger, announced Oct. 4

Véronique Vincent, 68, Belgian rock singer (The Honeymoon Killers), on Oct. 5
Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul – Afflux de Luxe (2015)

Ray’s Kim Edm, 36, Chadian rapper, on Oct. 6

Dave ‘Blockhead’ Wright, keyboard player of UK ska band The Beat, announced Oct. 6
The Beat – I Confess (1982)

Theo Jörgensmann, 77, German free jazz clarinettist, on Oct. 6

Miller ‘Speedy’ Sparks, 79, Tejano bassist, announced Oct. 7
Texas Tornados – (Hey Baby) Que Paso (1990, as member)

Marta Jaciubek-McKeever, 45, Polish-Canadian pop singer, on Oct. 7

Edward Reekers, 68, former lead singer of Dutch rock band Kayak, on Oct. 7
Kayak – Keep The Change (1978)

Ian Freebairn-Smith, 93, composer and arranger, on Oct. 7
Barbra Streisand – Evergreen (1977, orchestration)
Randy Crawford – Someone To Believe In (1981, as arranger)

Terry ‘Buzzy’ Johnson, 86, singer with The Flamingos, songwriter, arranger, producer, on Oct. 8
The Flamingos – Lovers Never Say Goodbye (1958, as co-lead on high tenor and co-writer)
The Miracles – Baby, Baby Don’t Cry (1968, as co-writer)
Buzzie – Stone Soul Booster (1970, solo record, also as co-writer and producer)

Pierre Moutouari, 75, Congolese soukous singer, on Oct. 8

Fede Dorcaz, 29, Argentine singer and model, murdered on Oct. 9
Mariana Ávila & Fede Dorcaz – Moka (2025)

John Lodge, 82, bassist and co-lead singer of The Moody Blues and songwriter, on Oct. 10
The Moody Blues – Ride My See-Saw (1968, also as writer)
The Moody Blues – Isn’t Life Strange (1972, also as writer and co-lead vocals)
John Lodge – Threw It All Away (1980, also as writer)

Thommy Price, 68, rock drummer, on Oct. 10
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (1983, on drums)

Ian Watkins, 48, singer of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, child sex offender, stabbed on Oct. 11

Diane Keaton, 79, actress and one-time recording artist, on Oct. 11
Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn & Diane Keaton – You Don’t Own Me (1996)

John Waterhouse, 75, guitarist of British heavy metal band Demon, on Oct. 12

Jody Henry, bassist of heavy metal band Omen, on Oct. 12

Matt Tolfrey, 44, English DJ, producer, founder of Leftroom Records, announced Oct. 13

D’Angelo, 51, R&B singer, songwriter and producer, on Oct. 14
B.M.U. (Black Men United) – U Will Know (1993, as writer and co-producer)
D’Angelo – Higher (1994)
D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel) (2000)
D’Angelo And The Vanguard – Really Love (2014)

Patrick Dimon, 79, Greek-Brazilian singer, announced Oct 14

Dick Addrisi, 84, half of duo Addrisi Brothers and songwriter, on Oct. 14
Addrisi Brothers – Saving My Kisses (1959)
Addrisi Brothers – Somebody Found Her (Before I Lost Her) (1974)
Addrisi Brothers – Never My Love (1977, also as co-writer)

DJ Chosen Few, 53, Dutch DJ and producer, on Oct. 14

Radcliffe ‘Dougie’ Bryan, 78, blues guitarist, on Oct. 16

Ace Frehley, 74, guitarist of Kiss, singer and songwriter, on Oct. 16
Kiss – Cold Gin (1974, also as writer)
Kiss – Shock Me (1977, guitar solo)
Ace Frehley – New York Groove (1978)

Bob Franke, 78, folk singer-songwriter, on Oct. 16
Bob Franke – Good Dog (2017)

Klaus Doldinger, 89, German jazz saxophonist and composer, on Oct. 16
Passport – Loco-Motive (1978, also as composer)
Klaus Doldinger – Theme of Tatort (1979, also as composer)
Klaus Doldinger’s Passport – New Moon (1982, also as writer)

Jack White, 85, German schlager composer and producer, body found Oct. 16
Jürgen Marcus – Eine neue Liebe ist wie ein neues Leben (1972, as co-writer and producer)
Laura Branigan – Self Control (1984, as producer)

Bernd Meinunger, 81, German schlager lyricist, composer and producer, on Oct. 17
Dschinghis Khan – Dschinghis Khan (1979, as lyricist)

Sam Rivers, 48, co-founder and bassist of Limp Bizkit, on Oct. 18
Limp Bizkit – Rollin’ (2000)

Mauro Farina, 68, Italian singer, songwriter and producer, on Oct. 19

Erik Rico, nu-soul singer-songwriter, producer, DJ announced Oct. 19
Erik Rico – So Divine (2013)

Anthony Jackson, 73, jazz and soul bassist, on Oct. 19
The O’Jays – For The Love Of Money (1973, on bass)
Diana Ross – The Boss (19789, on bass)
Donald Fagen – I.G.Y. (1982, on bass)
Michel Petrucciani, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson – September Second (Live) (1999, on bass)

Virginia Lillye, singer of Australian rock band Lillyé, announced Oct. 20

Dionysis Savvopoulos, 80, Greek singer-songwriter, on Oct. 21

Achille Mouebo, 54, Congolese Afro-pop singer-songwriter, on Oct. 21
Achille Mouebo – Moi (2013)

Davey Langit, 38, Filipino singer, songwriter and musician, on Oct. 21

David Ball, 66, half of UK new wave duo Soft Cell, producer, on Oct. 22
Soft Cell – Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (1981)
Soft Cell – Say Hello Wave Goodbye (1981, also as co-writer)
The Grid – Floatation (1990, as member, co-producer and co-writer)
Kylie Minogue – Breathe (1997, as producer and co-writer)

Marcie Free, 71, lead singer of rock bands King Kobra, Unruly Child, on Oct. 24
King Kobra – Iron Eagle (Never Say Die) (1986)

P.E.A.C.E., rapper, member of Freestyle Fellowship, announced Oct. 25

Gérard Badini, 94, French jazz saxophonist, pianist, bandleader, composer, on Oct. 25

Floria Márquez, 75, Venezuelan singer, on Oct. 25

Vanessa Rios, 42, Brazilian singer, on Oct. 26

Rasmus ‘Hække’ Henriksen, 47, ex-guitarist of Danish death metal band Illdisposed, on Oct. 26

Jack DeJohnette, 83, jazz drummer, pianist and composer, announced Oct. 27
Jack DeJohnette – Epilog (1974, also as co-composer)
Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland – The Good Life (1990)
Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette & Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Lagrimas Negras (2021)

Vivian Jones, 68, Jamaican-born UK reggae singer, on Oct. 27
Vivian Jones – Sugar Love (1988)

Leslie Wilson, soul singer (New Birth, L.T.D.), on Oct. 27
New Birth – Dream Merchant (1975, on co-lead vocals)

Richard Bonnot, 67, French singer, musician and actor, on Oct. 28

James Senese, 80, Italian jazz saxophonist, singer-songwriter and actor, on Oct. 29
Napoli Centrale – Ngazzate nire (1994, as member and composer)

Scott Sorry, 47, punk and rock singer, musician and songwriter, on Oct. 30

Leo Leandros, 102, Greek German-based singer, lyricist producer, on Oct. 31
Leo Leandros – Wenn die Bouzoukis singen (1965)
Vicky Leandros – Après toi (1972, as co-writer and producer)
Demis Roussos – Good Bye, My Love, Good Bye (1973, as co-writer and producer)

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