2022 is becoming another difficult lesson about the mortality rate of our musical heroes-National.

The shock of 2016, the year of the musician’s death, is still felt.

Starting with David Bowie on January 10, 2016, he lost Glenn Frey (Eagles), Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane / Starship), Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire) and George before the end of the first quarter. I did. Martin (Beatles producer), Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake, Palmer).

Prince, Merle Haggard, Scotty Moore (Elvis band), producer Sandy Pearlman, shameful boy band Svengari Lou Pearlman, Greg Lake (again ELP), Gordy Tap, George Michael. I did.

If you count all the prominent musicians who died in 2016, they are the names of about 100 people who made up the majority in the 1960s and 70s. In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, we were left with a slight increase in numbers.

So far, 2022 shows signs of just as rough or worse. Canada’s R. Dean Taylor was first on January 7th.

Since then, Ronnie Spector (cancer), Meat Loaf (heart problem that may have been exacerbated by COVID-19), foreigner Ian McDonald (cancer), Dallas Good of the Sadie’s (cancer). Heart disease), lost Gary Brooker. Procol Harm (cancer), Mark Lanegan (unknown, he was ill for many things for some time), Taylor Hawkins (looks like heart disease), Bobby Leidel (pneumonia), Naomi Judd (died of suicide), Vangelis (COVID-19), Alan White of Yes (unknown), Depeche Mode Andy Fletcher (unknown), Ronnie Hawkins (he is 87 years old) and dozens of others.

Whenever my favorite artist dies, I’m shocked. We don’t know them personally, but it’s through their art that we learn more about ourselves. When we are suffering, we often seek comfort and strength in their music. And when they die, the music itself, which once comforted us and gave us great joy, is a source of pain. It’s very difficult to take it. Their death also reminds us of our own death.

Personally, I don’t understand that Bowie, Prince, Gordo Downey and Neil Peart are no longer with us. in short, They were always there. Why are they gone?

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For the last few years, my computer has had a folder labeled “When They Die”. This is a collection of pre-made obituaries for a long list of musicians from the 60’s and 70’s, ready to be published and produced on many websites and radio stations. Newspapers and broadcasters around the world have similar folders. You can probably imagine the names contained in these files.

All of this is that many people are thinking of using Dosh and trying to meet their favorite heritage artist at least once again.

This Wednesday, I’ll be heading to Boston to meet Paul McCartney at Fenway Park. Going to an inconvenient concert scheduled for the middle of the week is expensive and a long way to go.But anyone who has ever existed when Macca leads the crowd with Coda’s Coda songs. Hey Jude I know what kind of spiritual experience it is. Leading the way are the actual living Beatles who wrote one of the best songs of the 20th century. Belay: One of the best songs in music history.

According to all reports, he is still healthy when he is about to reach his 80th birthday on June 18. His voice is weakening, but he can make up for it and has a crack band to help him. Heck, I still go to see McCartney while he is moving him towards the piano in a wheelchair. Because … well, He’s Paul McCartney, The greatest living songwriter in the universe.

You may have the chance to see The Rolling Stones celebrating its 60th anniversary in Europe this summer. Of course, Charlie isn’t there — he lost him last summer — but as long as Mick and Keef are in the front row, it’s still Stones. In many cases. close enough.

In September of this year, there is an Elton John concert that I have to watch. The first album I ever bought was a copy of his first best album collection. Can you believe that you have never seen a man alive? The excuse was always “go next time”. But at the age of 75, Elton is nearing the end of what he swear. It’s his farewell tour. He also has health problems. I can’t wait anymore.

The first concert I’ve ever attended was their KISS Love gun Gene Simmons claims to have taken place after this current road trip called The End of the RoadWorld Tour. The last day currently posted on their website is Sacramento on October 7th. I feel some obligation to be there to the end.

Finally, at least for now, we have another schedule with The Who on The Who Hits Back tour.When Keith Moon was alive, I didn’t have to see them in the most dangerous places, but it was always worth listening Never be fooled again They are alive despite being down only to Pete and Roger.

We can deny it everything we want, but we are approaching the end of a very special era of rock. My advice? Grab everything you can with both hands while it continues. And don’t forget to buy a T-shirt.

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Alan Cross is a broadcaster for Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.

Subscribe to Alan’s new music podcast continuous history now on Apple Podcasts or Google Play