Guitarists that died in 2014.
New Year is for celebrating but we should also remember the guitarists and musicians that passed away this Year. Although 2014 brought us some great guitar music, great albums and great songs, it was also a year in which some of the ultimate musical greats left us.
Phil Everly
Passed away on January 3, 2014
Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers died on January 3 due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 74.
Pete Seeger
Passed away on January 27, 2014
Folk icon Pete Seeger, known for such classic tunes as “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song),” left us in January at the age of 94.
Bob Casale (Devo)
Passed away on February 14, 2014
Devo guitarist and keyboardist Bob Casale passed away in Los Angeles on February 14 due to a heart failure. He was 61.
Paco De Lucia
Passed away on February 25, 2014
Guitar legend Paco De Lucia, the man who singlehandedly took the flamenco style to new heights, left us on February 25 after suffering a sudden heart attack during a family holiday while playing with his children on the beach. He was 66.
Scott Asheton (The Stooges)
Passed away on March 15, 2014
The Stooges drummer Scott Asheton died of a heart attack on March 15 at the age of 64.
Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Urungus)
Passed away on March 23, 2014
GWAR frontman Dave Brockie, also known as Oderus Urungus, left us in March due to a heroin overdose. He was found dead in his home, with his body sitting upright in a chair. He was 50.
Arthur Smith
Passed away on April 3, 2014
Mr. Guitar Boogie left us on April 3, mere two days after his 93rd birthday. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy Byars Smith, as well as three children, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Shane Gibson (Korn)
Passed away on April 14, 2014
Korn’s touring guitarist Shane Gibson died of complications from a blood clotting disorder on April 14. He was only 35.
Ernie Chataway (Judas Priest)
Passed away on May 13, 2014
Early Judas Priest guitarist Ernie Chataway passed away in May after reportedly battling lung cancer for several years.
Victor Agnello (Lääz Rockit)
Passed away on June 1, 2014
Lääz Rockit co-founder Victor Agnello passed away on June 1 after battling leukemia for over a year.
Jimmy C. Newman
Passed away on June 21, 2014
Country musician Jimmy C. Newman died of cancer on June 21. He was 86.
Doc Neeson (The Angels)
Passed away on June 4, 2014
The Angels frontman left us on June 4 due to a tumor. He was 67.
Tommy Ramone
Passed away on July 11, 2014
Founding Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone, the last of the original lineup, left us on July 11 after losing the battle with bile duct cancer. He was 65.
Charlie Haden
Passed away on July 11, 2014
Double bass jazz legend Charlie Haden passed away in Los Angeles on July 11, at the age of 76. He had been suffering from effects of post-polio syndrome for a few years prior to his death.
Johnny Winter
Passed away on July 16, 2014
Blues champion Johnny Winter left us on July 16 at the age of 70. Remaining professionally active until his final hour, Mr. Winter was found dead in his hotel room near Zurich, two days after his last performance, at the Cahors Blues Festival in France.
Dick Wagner
Passed away on July 30, 2014
Best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and KISS, Dick Wagner left us on July 30 at the age of 71.
Tim Williams (Suicidal Tendencies)
Passed away on August 27, 2014
Suicidal Tendencies bassist Tim “Rawbiz” Williams passed away on August 27 after performing with the band for four years.
Johnny Rebel
Passed away on August 28, 2014
Country singer Clifford Joseph Trahan known under pseudonyms Johnny Rebel and Pee Wee Trahan left us in August due to a failed heart stent put in from a previous surgery. He was 76.
Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull)
Passed away on August 29, 2014
Original Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick, known for performing on the band’s first three albums, “This Was,” “Stand Up,” and “Benefit,” left us on August 29 due to a congestive heart failure. He was 67.
Jimi Jamison (Survivor)
Passed away on August 31, 2014
Jimi Jamison was a Survivor vocalist in three separate stints – from 1984 until 1989, from 2000 to 2006, and from 2011 until his death on August 31, 2014. He’s also known as the composer and performer of the “Baywatch” theme. Jimi died from a hemorrhagic stroke at his home in Memphis at the age of 63.
Gustavo Cerati
Passed away on September 4, 2014
One of the most influential rock figures in Latin America, Gustavo Cerati left us on September 4 at the age of 55. He had suffered a stroke four years earlier, resulting in a coma.
Robert “Throb” Young (Primal Scream)
Passed away on September 9, 2014
Former Primal Scream guitarist Robert “Throb” Young was found dead in his apartment on September 9 at the age of 49. He was a member of the band from 1984 to 2006.
Ikey Owens
Passed away on October 14, 2014
Jack White’s keyboardist Ikey Owens, also known for his work with The Mars Volta, left us on October 14 after suffering a heart attack in his hotel room in Puebla, Mexico. He was 39.
Raphael Ravenscroft
Passed away on October 19, 2014
Raphael Ravenscroft was the saxophone player who delivered the iconic sax bit in Gerry Rafferty’s 1978 worldwide hit “Baker Street.”
Jack Bruce
Passed away on October 25, 2014
Cream legend and a massive influence to bassist around the world, Jack Bruce, left us on October 25 due to a liver disease. He was 71.
Wayne Static
Passed away on November 1, 2014
Leaving us way ahead of time, Static-X frontman Wayne Static passed away in his sleep on November 1, three days before his 49th birthday.
Manitas de Plata
Passed away on November 5, 2014
Another flamenco guitar titan, Manitas de Plata (born Ricardo Baliardo), left us this year. He passed away on November 5 at the age of 93.
Jonathan Athon (Black Tusk)
Died on November 7, 2014
Black Tusk bassist/singer Jonathan Athon died in a motorcycle accident on November 7. He was only 32.
Luc De Vos (Gorki)
Passed away on November 29, 2014
The frontman of Dutch alternative rockers Gorki, Luc De Vos, left us in November due to acute organ failure.
Bobby Keys (The Rolling Stones)
Passed away on December 2, 2014
Legendary saxophonist who performed with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Harry Nilsson, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Joe Cocker, left us on December 2 due to a cirrhosis.
Ian McLagan (The Faces)
Passed away on December 3, 2014
Rock keyboardist Ian McLagan, known as the member of Small Faces and The Faces, passed away on December 3 after suffering a stroke. He was 69.
Brian Roy Goble
Passed away on December 7, 2014
Canadian punk rocker Brian “Wimpy Roy” Goble left us this December due to a heart attack. He was 57.
Dawn Sears
Passed away on December 11, 2014
Country singer/songwriter Dawn Sears passed away on December 11 after years of battling lung cancer. She was 53.
Joe Carr
Passed away on December 14, 2014
Country musician and professor Joe Carr left us on December 14 after suffering a stroke. He was 63.
Joe Cocker
British Singer – Lung Cancer on December 22nd. He was 70