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FEATURE
A Look Back on Those We Lost in 2011
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Such was the case when just a couple of days ago (at this writing) we learned of the tragic car accident that claimed David Gold of Woods of Ypres three days before Christmas. Everyone here at Psalter felt this loss, even if his band wasn’t on your particular list. He was by all accounts a friendly, dedicated guy who just happened to have another plan set for him by the grand Mother. As I sit here with “Allure of the Earth” playing in the background it brings a lump to my throat and dampness to my weary eyes that one of our own was called on at the peak of his career and his life. He was one of the guys that would banter back and forth on Facebook with members of our staff and forum and was not at all a ‘star’ in any given context. At 31, David was far too young to be taken from us, but, clichés be damned, his music will be played and coveted even more this holiday and beyond. He successfully ran two record
It does pain me to write these obits for our faithful readers. Even if you’re not a fan of some of the music styles represented on this list, celebrating one’s life and achievements can always be a bright spot in an otherwise darkened list. I found myself particularly drawn to Jani Lane’s final interview on that silly metal show on VH-1 Classic. He seemed a genuine person who had demons to excise and dreams left unfulfilled. He also seemed humble and easy-going. It goes to prove that some opinions can be augmented, even those we carry for many years out of sadistic intent or blatant ignorance.

Whatever the case, I hope the old age that eluded these men so callously has found them in a better place somewhere else. As an agnostic I’d love to believe something else awaits us and who knows? It just might.

Rest in peace, gentlemen! Thank you for your collective contributions to our movement.
Phil Kennemore, Y&T bassist, sadly
succumbed to his intense battle
with lung cancer at 57 years of age.
Jonas Bergqvist, also known as
“B”, was the guitarist and vocalist
of the Swedish black metal outfit Lifelover. He died in his sleep on September 9 from unknown
causes at an undetermined age.
Motorhead’s extended family
suffered a loss on July 9 when guitarist Michael “Wurzel” Burston passed away at the age of 61 from
a cardiomyopathy episode.
Former Threshold vocalist Andrew McDermott died on August 3 after languishing in a coma for four days and eventually succumbing to
kidney failure. He was 45.
David Gold
Scott Columbus
Jonas Bergqvist
Seth Putnam
Andrew McDermott
Michael “Wurzel” Burston
As each year passes we seem to get a stronger outpouring of metal from every sub-genre of the movement; 2011 was absolutely no exception with some of the best music popping up from literally every corner of the planet and force-feeding the hungry minions healthy doses of brutality and charismatic essence, dependant on your particular fancy of course. While we celebrate the end of a damn fine year for music, we also take sullen note of the losses in our movement during ‘11.
CHRIS
Another shock to the system was the death of guitarist Gary Moore on February 6. While on vacation in Spain Mr. Moore suffered a heart attack and died peacefully at the age of 58. While his ‘rap sheet’ reads like a who’s who in rock music, his tenure in Thin Lizzy, Skid Row, Phil Lynott’s solo band and Colosseum II were only a small, but important part of his career. He shared stages and studio time with such names as George Harrison, The Beach Boys, Ozzy Osbourne, Jim Capaldi, Albert King, and that’s a sparse few. His solo work ranged from AOR-friendly tunes, old-school blues, straight-ahead rock, jazz and country; he was a man with no holds, no barriers and no hang-ups about his variance in musical tastes. He influenced some of music’s biggest names with his wickedly attentive and bluesy tones, successfully transcending all movements and genres. His loss is felt by literally any fan from any musical style and from any generation; he was an artist in every sense of the word and legend can certainly find a safe attachment to his name from now forward.
Gary Moore
Gwar’s Cory Smoot, also known as Flattus Maximus, passed away on November 2 from coronary artery disease after being discovered on the band’s tour bus. His character was retired by the remain-ing members as a fitting tribute to him.
Cory Smoot
Mike Starr
Phil Vane
Extreme Noise Terror vocalist Phil Vane, a main player in the crust/grind movement, passed away at the age of 43 (not 46 as most media outlets erroneously stated). Considered by many a legend in the underground, it was reported that he passed away in his sleep from a stroke.
Mike Starr, former Alice in Chains bassist, died of a prescription drug overdose after being found unresponsive in his home in Salt Lake City on March 8.  He was 44-years old.
Warrant vocalist Jani Lane was found dead in a hotel room on August 11 after drinking to excess and dying from acute alcohol poisoning at 47. His tenure in the glam rock medium was one of particular note considering the band’s enormous following back in the day.
Jani Lane
Phil Kennemore
TO THE TOP
Seth Putnam, outrageous vocalist
for grindcore fixtures Anal Cunt,
succumbed to a heart attack on
June 11. He was 43-years-old.  
Frankie Sparcello was the bassist
of thrash metal bangers Exhorder.
He died of undetermined causes
on March 22. His age is not known
at this writing.
Frankie Sparcello
April 4 saw the passing of former
Manowar drummer Scott Columbus
at the age of 54. The cause of death
is not immediately known.
January 8, 2012
It’s always heartbreak when we fans lose a person that we hold dear. In this day and age the loses are often more difficult to swallow where social networks not only keep us up to date with our favorite bands but often forge ‘relationships’ with the members. If you’d have told me 26-years ago as I stood outside the Aragon Ballroom freezing with the four skinny lads from Metallica that years later some of these bands would become peers and friends via the ‘net and computer screens I’d have hit you with my signed Ride the Lightning LP and branded you a loon. Try as we might, escaping that wicked black entity is something we all have to accept and come to terms with on the grand journey of our lives. Sometimes, though, it seems as if a severe sense of black humor and ridiculousness is attached to some deaths. While death may be the logical ending to pretty much anything and everything, its timing often leaves much to be desired.
labels during his Woods of Ypres time, releasing all of his band’s music there and taking the hands-on approach to its logical apex.  For his legions of fans and admirers David Gold’s passing is one of the ones we will recall vividly for a long time to come because of its horrible timing for the holidays (if ever there truly is a good time to move on) and because his music was so moving and potent in many ways. If the good always die young, then the older bad folk are raining too often on these parades and the system of checks and balances needs a severe overhaul.    
Other losses we suffered this year are as follows:
Dirk "Strahli" Strahlmeier
Dirk Strahlmeier, a.k.a. Strahli, died suddenly in January of this year in Dusseldorf, Germany. His guitar work in metal was best known for his time with German thrash legends Sodom on their Masquerade in Blood record. His age is not accurately known.
John Oliva’s Pain guitarist Matthew “Matt” Laporte passed away at the age of 43 on April 20, 2011. Though authorities have not pinpointed a cause of death, his family suspects sleep apnea. Mr. LaPorte was nearly finished writing and recording music for his own version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Matthew “Matt” Laporte
Brook Porter, a.k.a. Chumly and the bassist for punk crossover legends D.R.I., died on June 5, 2011 at the age of 41.
Brook "Chumly" Porter