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Tag: 80s music

  • Denise Matthews A.K.A ‘Vanity’ Dies Of Kidney Failure, Singer Had Prior Addiction To Crack Cocaine

    Singer and actress Denise Matthews, who was known by the stage name “Vanity,” has died of kidney failure at the age of 57.

    According to her GoFundMe page, Matthews had been diagnosed with sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis or SEP, an inflammation of the small intestines, and died at a hospital in Fremont, California. The singer also underwent dialysis in 1994, when her addiction to crack cocaine led to renal failure.

    “So pray for me now for I am believing in complete healing of this body longing to be healed made whole my heart,” Denise Matthews wrote on GoFundMe four months before her passing. “I have my vision, i keep it close. I repent daily my sins, my faults and my shortcomings. He has brought me out of so many fires, oh so many, 23 years alive after the doctors pronounced i would be dead way back then 1992…”

    Denise Matthews began her career in the entertainment industry as a model when she was 17 years old. She met Prince at the American Music Awards in 1980 and soon after became his protégé. Matthews became the lead singer of the girl group Vanity 6, and popularized the dance floor hit “Nasty Girl.”

    Denise “Vanity” Matthews And Vanity 6 Sang This Hit in 1982

    When the group disbanded in 1983, Vanity tried to launch a solo career and appeared in several films. During those years, she developed an addiction to crack cocaine, which led to a drug overdose. She almost died of renal failure in 1994 but was able to recover, and later on claimed that Jesus Christ appeared to her and offered her a second chance at life. Matthews then renounced her sexy Vanity persona and became a born again Christian. She spent the last decades of her life as a Christian evangelist.

    Denise Matthews Shares her Journey to Christianity

    Friends from the entertainment industry paid tribute to Denise Matthews on social media.

  • Bob Casale: ‘Devo’ Guitarist Dies Of Heart Failure

    Bob Casale, guitarist and one of the original members of the new wave band Devo, died on Monday of complications leading to heart failure. Casale was 61 years old.

    Devo was formed in 1972. They are famous for their hit song, “Whip It”, which has formed a cult following over the years. Casale was one of the original members of the band alongside his brother Gerald Casale, Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, and Alan Myers. Fans of the band called Casale by the nickname “Bob 2”, as he played beside the other Bob, Bob Mothersbaugh, during their performances.

    His brother has issued a statement through a Facebook post saying that his brother was a very talented audio engineer and performer, willing to give more than he could at all times, and always stayed level-headed.

    Image of Bob Casale

    (image)

    Devo has been actively touring the past few years and have performed at the Winter Olympics held in Canada in 2010. They also performed at the Coachella Music Festival in California the same year.

    The band released their ninth studio album in 2010 entitled “Something for Everybody”. This was the band’s first album in 20 years, the last being “Smooth Noodle Maps”, which was released in 1990.

    Mark Mothersbaugh, Devo’s co-founder and vocalist, said that they are saddened by Bob Casale’s sudden death. He also said that Casale was an integral part of Devo and has collaborated with him for about 70 shows and films. Mothersbaugh also said that Casale worked on diverse projects, such as sound for Wes Anderson films and the animated show for kids, Rugrats.

    Gerald Casale said that his brother was excited about the prospect of playing with Devo again. His sudden death was a shock to everyone.

    Alan Myers, an original member of the band who played the drums for 10 years for Devo, also died last year.

    Devo: “Whip It”

    http://youtu.be/IIEVqFB4WUo

    Main image via CNN, Twitter, image of Casale via Facebook

  • Eurythmics To Perform At Beatles Tribute Jan. 27

    On Monday it was announced that Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics will be reunited on Jan. 27 when they perform as a duo for “The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles”. The event, which will be taped at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will come a day after the Grammy Awards.

    “When it came around to booking this show, what I felt was important was to try and find those artists who not only would be able to interpret Beatles songs, but would also have an … understanding of what they meant,” said the show’s producer Ken Ehrlich in an interview.

    Eurhythmics is a hugely successful pop/rock band that has sold millions of albums worldwide. One of the top hits of the group was “Sweet Dreams,” which was released in 1981. Ehrlich said that the two performers were thrilled to perform at the occasion. However, Ehrlich wouldn’t say which of the Beatles tunes the two musicians would perform. However, it’s already known that John Legend and Alicia Keys will perform “Let it Be” together while Keith Urban and John Mayer will pair up to perform “Don’t Let Me Down”

    The taped event will air February 9th on CBS, 50 years after the Beatles made their U.S. debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. The Beatles’ appearance on the show marked a major moment in Western pop culture.

    Ehrlich did not confirm whether Beatles surviving members Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr will be at the event but said more performers will be announced later.

    Beatles U.S. Debut On Ed Sullivan

    http://youtu.be/OMNPPwq8I2Y

    Image via YouTube