Posted on 01/18/2023 1:15:13 PM PST by nickcarraway
Van Conner, co-founding bassist of alternative rock band Screaming Trees, has died at 55.
Conner’s brother and bandmate, Gary Lee Conner, shared the news in a social media statement. “Van Conner, bassist and songwriter of Screaming Trees, died last night of an extended illness at 55,” he wrote. “It was pneumonia that got him in the end. He was one of the closest friends I ever had, and I loved him immensely. I will miss him forever and ever and ever.”
Born in 1967 in Apple Valley, Calif., and raised in Ellensburg, Wash., Conner formed the band Explosive Generation in high school with his brother, who played guitar, and drummer Mark Pickerel. The trio soon recruited singer Mark Lanegan and renamed itself Screaming Trees. The quartet released several albums on independent labels throughout the late ‘80s, blending hard rock and neo-psychedelia to become progenitors of the Seattle sound along with bands like Melvins, Mudhoney and Green River.
Screaming Trees signed with Epic Records in 1990, and their major-label debut, Uncle Anesthesia, arrived the following year, spawning the Top 40 alternative radio hit “Bed of Roses.” Its follow-up, 1992’s Sweet Oblivion, became the band’s first Billboard 200 entry, peaking at No. 141 and yielding the No. 5 alt-radio hit “Nearly Lost You” and the Top 40 “Dollar Bill.” After a four-year gap, the band issued Dust in 1996, going on an extended hiatus after its supporting tour and officially disbanding in 2000. A shelved follow-up to Dust arrived in 2011 under the name Last Words: The Final Recordings.
Conner also toured briefly with Dinosaur Jr. in the ‘90s, and following the dissolution of Screaming Trees, he formed several other alt-rock bands, including Gardener and Musk Ox. The bassist’s death comes less than a year after Lanegan died at age 57.
Academy Award-winning director Peter Bogdanovich died in early January at age 82. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, the filmmaker helmed such classic movies as The Last Picture Show, What's Up, Doc? and Mask. Bogdanovich also appeared in front of the camera, acting in The Sopranos, as well as Orson Welles' final film, The Other Side of the Wind. In 2009, Bogdanovich added a Grammy to his list of accolades, winning Best Music Film for his Tom Petty documentary Runnin' Down a Dream.
Singer Calvin Simon, best known for singing with George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic, died in early January at age 79. Simon first connected with Clinton in the early years of the Parliaments. Together they found initial success with tracks like “I Can Feel the Ice Melting,” “Heart Trouble" and "I Wanna Testify." After a stint serving in Vietnam, Simon rejoined the group, staying with what later became the Parliament and Funkadelic groups through 1977, when he departed due to disputes with Clinton. Simon reunited with P-Funk over the years, while also releasing his own gospel music. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic.
Woodstock festival promoter Michael Lang died on Jan. 8 at age 77 following a battle with a rare form of lymphoma. Lang was one of four businessmen behind the original Woodstock festival in 1969, which became a watershed event in the history of music and culture. Lang also organized Woodstock ‘94 and ‘99 and was behind the failed efforts for a 50th-anniversary edition of the festival. His other work included managing recording artists (Joe Cocker), creating original sculptures, film production and writing.
Yeah right. In 2023 55 year olds have no chance against pneumonia. The chicken broth and bed rest just didn’t work.
I was just listening to a Screaming Trees cd yesterday.
How strange. I suddenly noticed the trees are awfully silent today. No screaming at all.
Now I know why.
“I was just listening to a Screaming Trees cd yesterday.”
Looks like that was your lastchance to hear him screech.
Pneumonia at 55?
The "27 Club" was an idea that started with the deaths of Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, and Janis Joplin who all died at age 27 between 1969 and 1971. Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, among others, were later added.
With the number of recent deaths during COVID-1984 it may be time to start another list.
Pneumonia at 55?
.................
HIV was my thought.
“Academy Award-winning director Peter Bogdanovich died in early January at age 82.” Sorry to hear this news. He was a gentleman when I met Mr. Bogdanovich, his wife and daughter at a restaurant in Los Angeles. Very polite and courteous.
We take our moments as they come.
My first wife died of pneumonia at 37.
L
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