Rockers We Lost in 2015

Sadly, each year we have to say goodbye to some truly talented people in the rock and metal world. As 2015 closes, we offer this salute to some of the rock and metal musicians we’ve lost over the last few months. Here we take a look at some of those who have passed away, along with their contributions to the music world.

Lemmy Kilmister

The Motorhead bass and vocal icon Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister died Dec. 28, four days after his 70th birthday. The rocker endured a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

Scott Weiland

Former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver vocalist Scott Weiland died Dec. 3 aboard his tour bus in Minnesota before a show with his solo band The Wildabouts. It was later determined that Weiland died of an overdose of cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol.

David VanLanding

Former Michael Schenker Group vocalist David VanLanding perished in a car crash on Nov. 17. VanLanding was set to rejoin Schenker on the 2016 Axes and Anchors cruise.

Phil Philthy Animal Taylor

Onetime Motorhead drummer Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor passed away Nov. 11 at the age of 61. He played on every Motorhead album through 1992 when he exited the band.

Goodbye to Gravity Members

Goodbye to Gravity’s guitarists, Vlad Telea and Mihai Alexandru, along with drummer Bogdan Enache and bassist Alex Pascu perished as a result of Romanian nightclub fire that killed 51 people in late October.

Brandon Carlisle

Teenage Bottlerocket drummer Brandon Carlisle was taken off life support after being found unresponsive in his apartment. He passed on Nov. 7.

Frank Watkins

Frank Watkins, former bassist for Obituary (seen at far left) and recent Gorgoroth bassist, died Oct. 18 at the age of 44 after a battle with cancer.

Steve Mackay

The Stooges saxophonist Steve Mackay died in early October at the age of 66 shortly after being hospitalized for sepsis, a complication from an infection.

Martin Kearns

Longtime Bolt Thrower drummer Martin ‘Kiddie’ Kearns passed away on Sept. 14 in his sleep after the band’s rehearsal for their tour. He was 38.

Bryn Merrick

The former bassist for The Damned passed away Saturday, Sept. 12 at the age of 56 after battling cancer

Justin Lowe

After the Burial guitarist Justin Lowe announced his exit from the band in a conspiracy-filled rant in June. Soon after, it was revealed he was briefly missing and suffering from mental health issues. On July 18, he went missing again and the 32-year-old guitarist’s body was found beneath a Wisconsin bridge on July 21. Police believe Lowe died of injuries consistent with a fall.

Chris Squire

Legendary Yes bass legend and co-founder Chris Squire passed away June 27 at the age of 67. He had been diagnosed with acute erythroid leukemia and had taken a hiatus from the band in May.

Sir Christopher Lee

Actor-turned-rocker Christopher Lee died June 7 from respiratory issues and heart failure at the age of 93. Lee was knighted in England, having appeared in such film franchises as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, in the James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun. Late in life, he explored his passion as a metal vocalist, releasing four albums and three EPs

Allan Fryer

In early June, it was revealed that Heaven vocalist Allan Fryer (pictured center in photo) had died following a lengthy battle with cancer. The Aussie rocker reportedly auditioned for AC/DC in 1980 after Bon Scott’s death, and eventually formed Heaven not long after that opportunity passed. The group released three albums in the ’80s and have reunited a few times in the years since.

Ryan Shutler

Ryan Shutler, drummer for the thrash metal outfit Lazarus A.D., passed away on May 17. Though an official cause of death was not revealed, it was suspected that the 29-year-old musician may have had a heart attack.

B.B. King

Blues legend B.B. King passed away the night of May 14 in Las Vegas at the age of 89. Frequently rocking his trusted guitar Lucille, King inspired rockers from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan. He recorded more than 50 albums, toured relentlessly, won 15 Grammy Awards and was an early inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Craig Gruber

On May 5, bassist Craig Gruber who played with Ronnie James Dio in Elf and Rainbow, died at the age of 63 after battling prostate cancer. Gruber’s credits also include time with Gary Moore, Bible Black, Raven Lord and Zvekan.

Shawn Tyler Chavez

On April 30, former Havok lead guitarist Shawn Tyler Chavez passed away at the age of 30. A cause of death was not revealed. Havok vocalist David Sanchez penned a moving tribute, crediting Chavez for his work during the first six years of the band’s existence.

Nicholas Chrisostomo

On April 6, the bands Khaotika and Wormreich were en route to a show when their van veered off the road and struck a tree in northeast Georgia. The crash killed three, including two members of Wormreich. Khaotika tragically lost their drummer, Nicholas Chrisostomo, in the incident

Ian McKinney and Paul Truesdale

One of the more tragic events of the year occurred on April 6 when a van carrying members of the bands Wormreich and Khaotika crashed in Northeast Georgia, killing three and injuring several others. Among the deceased were Wormreich’s guitarists — Ian McKinney and Paul Truesdale. Khaotika also lost their drummer, Nicholas Chrisostomo in the incident. The bands were en route to a show when their vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.

Bob Burns

Founding Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Bob Burns died April 3 at the age of 64. He was involved in a single-vehicle car crash and was not wearing a seat belt when he collided with a mailbox and a tree. Burns played on such classics as “Free Bird,” “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Sweet Home Alabama” during his time with the band

Jeremy Brown

On the eve (March 30) of the new Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts album release for ‘Blaster,’ guitarist Jeremy Brown passed away. Brown had been part of Weiland’s band for the past seven years and also appeared on the singer’s ‘Happy in Galoshes’ solo set. “He is one of my best friends, a truest friend, and one of the most gifted guitar players that I’ve ever known. A true genius,” stated a devastated Weiland.

Scott Clendenin

Former Death bassist Scott Clendenin died in March at the age of 47. The band’s former manager Eric Greif posted the news on March 24. While an official cause of death was not given, Greif stated that the guitarist “had some health challenges” in the last few years. Clendenin was part of the lineup that took part in the “Death to All” Chuck Schuldiner tributes in 2012 and 2013.

A.J. Pero

Twisted Sister and Adrenaline Mob drummer A.J. Pero died in his sleep aboard the Adrenaline Mob tour bus on March 20. It was later revealed by Dee Snider that Pero had a massive heart attack brought on by advanced heart disease. Adrenaline Mob issued a statement saying, “It has been nothing short of an honor to have shared the stage with such a beautiful soul and legend!”

Bruce Crump

Original Molly Hatchet drummer Bruce Crump died March 16 at the age of 57. The band issued a statement on Crump’s passing, calling him “a great friend and talented musician,” adding “This is a great loss to the Molly Hatchet family.” Crump played with the band between 1976 and 1983, appearing on their most successful album ‘Flirtin’ With Disaster.’ At the time of his death, he was playing with the groups White Rhino and China Sky.

Thom Wilson

Music producer Thom Wilson, a key player in the ’80s and ’90s punk scene, passed away on Feb. 8. Wilson, seen at the right in the photo, He produced The Offspring’s ‘Smash,’ ‘Ignition’ and self-titled albums, and also worked with The Adolescents, TSOL, Stiv Bators, the Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Iggy Pop and more. Epitaph Records CEO Brett Gurewitz called him “the pro in our midst who loved punk and was willing to take kids under his wing to help them sound great.”

Ryan Stanek

Former Broken Hope drummer Ryan Stanek died suddenly on March 1 at the age of 42. The musician founded the band in 1988 and remained with the band through 1997. He appeared on their first four albums, but was not part of their 2012 reunion. Stanek’s bandmate Jeremy Wagner called Stanek “an extremely talented man” and “the best metal drummer in 100-mile radius” when they first met.

Mats Olausson

Rock vet Mats Olausson was found dead in his Thailand hotel room on Feb. 19. The Swedish keyboardist is best known for his time playing with guitar great Yngwie Malmsteen, but also played with such acts as Kamelot, Talisman and Ark. Singer Jeff Scott Soto called Olausson “an amazing soul and good friend,” while Kamelot’s Thomas Youngblood remembered him as “a phenomenal talent.”

Bruce Sinofsky

Noted filmmaker Bruce Sinofsky passed away in his sleep on Feb. 21 from complications brought about by diabetes. Sinofsky is best known in the rock world for his work that he and Berlinger did on the Metallica documentary ‘Some Kind of Monster.’ Sinofsky was also a director on the ‘Paradise Lost’ trilogy about the West Memphis Three that many a rocker championed as well. He was 58

Eddie Rendini

In early February, it was reported that onetime Darwin’s Waiting Room and Cold guitarist Eddie Rendini (pictured at far right) had passed away. Rendini actually began his career with a band called Collapsing Lungs and was later known as L.U.N.G.S. before making the jump to Darwin’s Waiting Room. In 2004, he joined Cold as their touring guitarist, but did not appear on their next album. No additional details were given about the cause of death.

Kim Fowley

Kim Fowley was a man of many talents, serving as a producer, band manager and songwriter over the years. He’s best known for managing ’70s rock group The Runaways and worked with KISS, Alice Cooper and Blue Cheer among others. Fowley died in January after a long battle with bladder cancer. He was 75.

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