Wow, Just Wow....
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62118)
United States
October 24, 2016 8:19pm CST
Today I learned of two deaths from about as opposite ends of the music spectrum as you can get.
Pete Burns, the lead singer of the 80s band Dead or Alive, died yesterday of cardiac arrest at the age of 57. That was announced today. Also today they announced that late 50s/early 60s singer Bobby Vee died from Alzheimer's disease.
Dead or Alive was a popular band in the 80s, thanks to their new wave/techno sound and creative videos shown on MTV. In the US their most popular song was "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)." Pete Burns was a character, to say the least: androgynous in appearance (he once accused Culture Club's front man Boy George of "stealing his look") and flamboyant in actions, he had a distinctive voice that set Dead or Alive apart.
He also admitted he was "addicted" to plastic surgery. He sued the plastic surgeon over a botched lip job (and, if you've seen pictures of him after that happened, you'd know he had a legitimate argument! 
). You can't help but wonder if all that surgery had something to do with his heart failing at such a relatively early age.
@JohnRoberts posted a discussion about one of Dead or Alive's other well-known songs, "Brand New Lover," not too long ago. Please look it up.
Bobby Vee was about as far removed from Pete Burns, musically and physically. Described in some of the obits as "clean-cut" (well, consider when he was a star! 
), Bobby Vee (ne Velline) was one of the major "teen idols" during the Elvis Army years. Sadly, he came to prominence thanks to a tragedy: he was put on the bill of the "Winter Dance Party" in Minnesota following the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens the night before. Vee was only 15 when that happened.
From there, he went on to superstardom with the #1 hit "Take Good Care of My Baby" and other gold records such as "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" and "Devil or Angel." His popularity waned with the rise of Beatlemania and a harder edge to rock and roll in the mid-60s, but he remained popular on the "oldies" circuit and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2011.
That same year he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Like another singer suffering with the illness (Glen Campbell), Vee retired from music and lived out his final years surrounded by family. Vee was 73.
At this point you have to wonder if we're going to have any singers left by the end of the year.
Farewell to both very diverse singers.
Here's one of my favorite Bobby Vee songs:
). You can't help but wonder if all that surgery had something to do with his heart failing at such a relatively early age.
@JohnRoberts posted a discussion about one of Dead or Alive's other well-known songs, "Brand New Lover," not too long ago. Please look it up.
Bobby Vee was about as far removed from Pete Burns, musically and physically. Described in some of the obits as "clean-cut" (well, consider when he was a star! ), Bobby Vee (ne Velline) was one of the major "teen idols" during the Elvis Army years. Sadly, he came to prominence thanks to a tragedy: he was put on the bill of the "Winter Dance Party" in Minnesota following the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens the night before. Vee was only 15 when that happened.
From there, he went on to superstardom with the #1 hit "Take Good Care of My Baby" and other gold records such as "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" and "Devil or Angel." His popularity waned with the rise of Beatlemania and a harder edge to rock and roll in the mid-60s, but he remained popular on the "oldies" circuit and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2011.
That same year he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Like another singer suffering with the illness (Glen Campbell), Vee retired from music and lived out his final years surrounded by family. Vee was 73.
At this point you have to wonder if we're going to have any singers left by the end of the year.
Farewell to both very diverse singers.
Here's one of my favorite Bobby Vee songs:
For the KARAOKE version, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef4edY1jAlM - and for MORE, hit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPL95K1kWaw
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1 response
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Oct 16
Sad day for music. Burns did look awful from the plastic surgery. Only 57 from cardiac arrest. Scary. At least Vee lived a longer life. Don't forget his other big hit Rubber Ball.
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