RIP – Rock In Perpetuity

Mourning the loss of classic rock stars, other musical greats and related figures

Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Grateful Dead Singer During the 1970s, Dies

The only female member of the storied San Francisco band, Godchaux-MacKay, who was 78, died in Nashville, Tenn., following a long battle with cancer.

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Dave Ball, of UK Synth-Pop Duo Soft Cell (‘Tainted Love’), Dies at 66

Along with singer Marc Almond, the pair achieved worldwide fame in 1981 with the smash single.

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Rockers Offer Tributes to Ace Frehley, Guitarist Who Co-Founded Kiss, Dead at 74

Gene Simmons wrote, “No one can touch his legacy.” Peter Criss added, “Ace influenced and touched the hearts of millions [in] the Kiss Army.”

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John Lodge of the Moody Blues Has Died

The legendary band’s bassist, singer and songwriter, 82, wrote “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).”

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Chris Dreja, ‘Other’ Guitarist in the Yardbirds, Dies

The British band featured an evolving lineup that included three of classic rock’s most acclaimed guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

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Sonny Curtis, Member of Buddy Holly’s Crickets & ‘I Fought the Law’ Writer, Dies

He also wrote ‘Love Is All Around,’ the theme from ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show.’

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Bobby Hart, Co-Writer of Monkees Hits, Dies at 86

Among his songs with Tommy Boyce were “Last Train to Clarksville” and “(Theme From) The Monkees.”

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Supertramp Founding Member Rick Davies Dies

The keyboardist and one of the group’s primary vocalists wrote such songs as “Bloody Well Right” and “Goodbye Stranger,” while singing lead on both.

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Mark Volman, Singer with the Turtles, Zappa and Flo & Eddie, Dies

After earning their first hit with 1965’s Bob Dylan cover “It Ain’t Me Babe,” he and the Turtles’ Howard Kaylan went on to achieve enormous pop success with “She’d Rather Be With Me,” “Elenore,” “You Showed Me,” and the #1 hit, “Happy Together.”

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Tom Shipley of Folk-Rock Duo Brewer & Shipley (‘One Toke Over the Line’) Dies

The pair were friends for 65 years and musical partners for over 60. Brewer died in 2024.

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