December 24
We remember rock and roll's loudest outlaw Lemmy Kilmister on his birthday today in 1945, the Motörhead founder whose thunderous bass, gravelly voice, and lifestyle of whiskey, cigarettes, and amphetamines made him heavy metal's most beloved and uncompromising figure until his death in 2015… Progressive rock's most virtuosic guitarist Jan Akkerman was born on this day in 1946, the Dutch musician whose work with Focus on instrumentals like "Hocus Pocus" showcased technical brilliance that rivaled any British prog guitarist while maintaining a distinctly European sensibility… Frank Zappa's original Mothers of Invention lost their founding vocalist today in 2012 when Ray Collins died at 76, ending the life of the doo-wop-influenced singer whose theatrical performances helped establish the band's satirical edge before personality conflicts with Zappa led to his departure… New Orleans R&B found one of its most joyful voices when Lee Do...
