Many of you wrote in with the sad news that Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the influential Jimi Hendrix Experience, has passed away at 61 of natural causes. Mitchell, along with his bandmates and eponymous bandleader, were vastly influential through their sound which directly shaped the evolution of the electric guitar. The band's judicious use of distortion and effects was a major influence on both the rock'n'roll of the day and everything which followed from The Who through Sonic Youth.

For his part, Mitchell pioneered "fusion" drumming which was far more involved that more traditional rock drumming and influenced by jazz. These are all things taken for granted in modern music, which only speaks to the musicians vast influence.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Some sad news today as Jamie Ewing of Bent Outta Shape passed away last week at his apartment in Brooklyn. He was 25. We contacted Stevo from 1-2-3-4 Go! who released one of the group's seven-inches who sent us hi thoughts:

Although Jamie and I only had a few opportunities to hang out in person over the years he always lit up whatever situation we were in together and situations where he should have been always seemed a little dimmer for his absence. I guess we're all going to have to get used to the lights being a little lower from here on out.

He was one of the most talented, hilarious screw ups I've ever known and I still can't get my head around the fact that he's gone. I feel a little weird eulogizing him in a public space knowing that there are so many other people who knew him so much better. I was talking to one of them on Wednesday and we both marveled at how many people flat out loved Jamie.

He wasn't just well liked. He wasn't just a cool guy you saw around sometimes. He was flat out loved. Even by those like me who didn't get a chance to see him on a daily basis. If you met him...even if he pissed you off...you had to love him. He had that power. I don't feel like it's my place to say how he died or that it's really that important. All that matters is that he's gone and we're worse for it. If you loved him...don't go out and get fucked up tonight. Listen to his music or be with other people who knew him if you can and share stories. Take care of yourselves and each other. We're dramatically less invincible than we think we are.

Our condolences to Jamie's friends and family.

Long-running soul artist Nathaniel Mayer has died at the age of 64. He suffered from a series of strokes over the period of a few days.

Mayer had been an active member of the Detroit soul music scene of the early 1960's with the Fortune label, but returned to music after a long absence to record I Just Want to Be Held in 2002 for Epitaph imprint Fat Possum records and Why Don't You Give It To Me? in 2007 through Alive. In his last album, he collaborated with members of The Black Keys and The Dirtbombs.

His songs have been covered by The Detroit Cobras as well as many other garage rock and blues revival punk bands.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Many of you wrote in with the sad news that Frank Navetta, founding member of Descendents has passed away. Frank founded the band with Tony Lombardo and Bill Stevenson in 1979. His bandmates made the announcement:

We're very sorry to announce that founding member of The DESCENDENTS, and close friend Frank Navetta passed away on October 31, 2008 after becoming ill over the course of a few days. This is obviously a huge loss for the DESCENDENTS family. His contribution to the band, and to music in general can not be overstated. Frank will be truly missed. We will share information about memorial services when we find out.

Among other classic albums, Frank wrote and played on Milo Goes To College which was an incredibly important and influential record that meant so much to this writer. His work and influence cannot be understated and he will be missed. He left the band and moved to Oregon to become a full time fisherman in 1985.

Our deepest condolences to Frank's friends and family.

Terrin Durfey of Boilermaker, The Jade Shader and Pinback has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Touch & Go made this statement:

Sadly, Pinback member and friend to Touch and Go Terrin Durfey passed away early this morning. His recurring cancer returned just prior to the most recent Pinback tour and he was unable to perform with the band. Instead, he spent that time in and out of the hospital, trying all manner of treatments, remaining unfathomably positive, and being with his amazing family.

A foundation was set up in his name to help support his wife and child. You can find more information about that here.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

English artist, illustrator, and satirist Ray Lowry has died at the age of 64.

In 1979 Ray was invited to accompany the Clash on their debut US tour, illustrating the band's progress along the way and sending reports and artwork back to NME in the UK. At the end of the trip he was responsible for the design of the band's iconic Elvis-spoofing London Calling album cover. Joe Strummer dubbed him the "War Artist" on the tour.

Lowry worked as a cartoonist and illustrator since the late 60s, contributing to such publications as The Guardian, Private Eye, Punch, NME, Melody Maker, The Observer and Mojo among many others. An exhibition of his work is currently running at the See Gallery in Rawenstall, Lancashire until November 7th. Our deepest condolences go out to Ray's family and friends.

Frank Kerr, better known to fans as Frankie Venom, the lead singer of veteran Hamilton, Ontario punk band Teenage Head, has passed away. Kerr died of cancer on October 15th, he was 51. Guitarist Gord Lewis made the announcement earlier today through the band's label Sonic Unyon. Kerr helped form the band in 1975 when its members were still in high school, making them one of the earliest punk bands in Canada and winning them the title of "Canada's Ramones." The group released their self-titled debut in 1979, breaking through with the album Frantic City in 1980.

Teenage Head most recently teamed up with Ramones drummer Marky Ramone to record an album of the band's classics. It was released this past April. Earlier today it was announced that the band would be the recipients of a lifetime achievement award at next month's Hamilton Music Awards.

Our deepest condolences go out to Frankie's family, friends and fans.

This past Friday rocksteady pioneer Alton Ellis died of cancer in a London hospital. He was 70.

The innovative singer-songwriter was born in Kingston, Jamacia in 1938, launching a singing career in 1959 as part of a duo with Eddy Perkins and recording at Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One. By the mid 60s he was instrumental in the launch of rocksteady, a successor to the earlier ska music and a precursor to reggae. His song "Get Ready - Rock Steady" helped name the fledgling genre. Ellis moved to London, England in the 70s where he became known as the "Godfather of Rocksteady" with a sting of hits.

Alton Ellis lived his final years in Northolt, Middlesex and is survived by more than 20 children. Our deepest condolences go out to his friends, family and fans.

Aaron Fuller, lead singer of the Misfits-inspired punk band Plan 9, died late on Monday night in San Francisco from a motorcycle accident. While traveling home, Fuller went off the side of an overpass then died on impact. The accident is still under investigation by police who are unsure of the exact cause.

The band made a statement today:

I keep calling people to make sure it's for real and I'm not making some fucked-up mistake. If only... I know he was real happy with the new CD and was looking forward to doing gigs with us. Who knows what he would've done if he'd had the time. He was the type of person who could do whatever he set his mind to. Plan 9 was proof of that. He'd never been in a band before, or wanted to, for that matter. But he came in from day one and kicked it's ass.

. Will we carry on ..? I think so. Aaron would have wanted it that way. It was a true honor to play with him and to know and ride with him.

Our deepest condolences to Aaron's friends and family.

Willy Graves, formerly of The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, has passed away. His former bandmates made the announcement via their myspace page:

As I'm sure many of you have already heard, our dear friend Willy Graves passed away Sunday, September 14th. During our years together, we felt more like a family or a gang than we did a band. Every high and every low we experienced together. Willy brought so much to our band artistically, aesthetically, and in terms of general morale.

When the going got tough (and believe me, things would get fucking rough), we could always count on Willy to be the eternal optimist. Whether we were getting beat up in Salt Lake City, having our tires slashed in Baltimore, or getting pint glasses heaved at us in Wellington, NZ, we could always count on Willy to crack a joke or act silly to distract us from the lows. Same goes for all the highs we experienced together. All the amazing shows we got to play, amazing places we got to see, and amazing friends we got to meet; Willy lived all these things 100%. I've never seen him happier than when we raising hell in some foreign country.

We discovered so many things together, went through so many things together - it's unbelievable that he is gone so young. He had a lot more love, humor and art to give the world. This is everybody's loss. Please keep him in your hearts and remember him for the son, brother, musician and friend that he was.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Steve Foley, who played drums for The Replacements late in their career, died this past weekend in Minneapolis. He was 49. Reports are citing an accidental overdose of prescription medication as the cause.

In 1990 Foley, who had played in Minneapolis bands such as Curtiss A, Wheelo and Snaps, was brought in to replace original Mats drummer Chris Mars. He toured with the band until their final show on July 4, 1991 in Chicago's Grant Park. He and his brother later joined Tommy Stinson's band Bash & Pop. In recent years Steve worked as a car salesman in Minneapolis.

Our deepest condolences go out to Steve's family and friends.

According to Billboard eleven days after being taken off of life support due to a massive brain hemorrhage he suffered last month, producer Jerry Finn died Thursday, August 21st.

The famed producer worked on notable albums from Blink-182, Morrissey, Green Day, Rancid, Bad Religion, AFI and Alkaline Trio. For a list of his production credits, see Wikipedia. Plans for a donation or scholarship fund are in the works, as is a memorial for friends and family.

Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Legendary Irish folk musician Ronnie Drew has passed away. The 73-year-old founder of The Dubliners had been battling ill health for some time. His family confirmed he passed away at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Dublin at 2pm on Saturday.

In 1962, he founded the Ronnie Drew Group with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna and Ciaran Bourke. This group was later to be known as The Dubliners, and would become one of the best known Irish folk groups. After the end of the band in 1995, he pursued a solo career and also became a frequent collaborator. Among the artists he recorded with, were Christy Moore, The Pogues, Antonio Breschi, Dropkick Murphys, Eleanor Shanley and others.

His collaboration with the Dropkick Murphys and Spider Stacy can be seen here.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Trumpet player 'Dizzy' Johnny Moore, a founding member of pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae act The Skatalites, has passed away. Moore died at his home in Kingston on Saturday after being released from a hospital where he was being treated for colon cancer.

Moore helped form the band in 1964 with saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso and trombonist Don Drummond. The band helped establish the ska sound over 14 months in the 60s before they split up, only to regroup in New York City twenty years later. Moore was one of the most recorded soloists of the early reggae era, appearing on records such as Something Special, Ringo, Man in the Street, Schooling the Duke, the Wailers' Love and Affection, Lonesome Feeling, and Nice Time. Further details can be found at the Jamaica Observer.

Johnny is survived by his mother, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family.

Now defunct San Francisco punk rock band The Lucky Stiffs recently announced the death of their former guitarist Shin "Shinister" Kodachi. The band announced:

It sadden us to write this, but our former guitarist and family member Shin took his own life on the night of the 23rd in Japan. He was a great human being, loved music and friends. We are honored to have shared a stage, home and laughs with him. This is a rough time for us all, and we thank you all for the support. Please keep his family in mind as well, this is such a hard thing to go through.You will be missed Shin, hope the pain is gone now.

The band last released Gold in Peace, Iron in War in 2007 and broke up later that year. Our deepest condolences go out to Shin's family and friends.