These past few months have been rough for long standing music fans due to a few iconic figures who have passed away, some due to ill health and some due to death by misadventure.  In some ways it is shocking and in other ways it’s to be expected, but having so many influential artists from my youth die in such a short period of time makes you think of your own mortality.  And as much as I hate to say it, we’re going to see even more and there may come a time where we’ll lose just as many in such a short period of time.

However, music is timeless and the lasting legacies of these artists/performers will last forever.  Some of the artists that have died over the past few months are legends or have legendary reputations but none will be forgotten due to their vast musical output.  From the all out speed metal assault led by Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, to the rock solid bass work from Rainbow\Dio bassist Jimmy Bain, to the snakelike swagger of Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland, to the smooth R&B stylings of Earth, Wind, and Fire’s Maurice White, to the classic country rock songwriting of The Eagles’ Glenn Frey, to the psychedelic cool of Jefferson Airplane/Starship’s Paul Kantner, and to supremely influential and chameleonlike David Bowie –  all leave an extremely large canon of music to be enjoyed for years to come.

Whether or not you are a fan of any of these artists is not the point-  you may not own a Bowie album or Motorhead is too heavy or maybe you’ve never even heard of some of these guys.  The point is that whoever your musical heroes are, treasure them while they are still alive.  Go see them in concert.  Pick up their CDs or download their albums.  Sing along with your favorite song by them.  Buy their merchandise.  Support them while you can.  And most importantly, ENJOY-  life is too short for all of us.

To David, Glenn, Maurice, Lemmy, Jimmy, Scott, and Paul…   a sincere THANK YOU for your works.  You will be remembered.