[SA Chris]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jul/19/johnny-clegg-obituary

A legacy that goes so far beyond his music. Hamba Kahle.

[andy popp]

Toni Morrison, who, to my shame, I've never read.

[JamieG]

David Berman has passed away. Very sad. His new Purple Mountains album is excellent. This news gives his already bleak (but often funny) lyrics an extra meaning.

https://pitchfork.com/news/david-berman-silver-jews-purple-mountains-dead-at-52/

[Oldmanmatt]

I just hope there is someone to take up the gauntlet.
She left a pretty big pair of shoes to fill.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jessi-combs-dead-car-crash-oregon-overhaulin-age-land-speed-record-a9082821.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1567014666

[Nibile]

Franco Columbu...
 
 

[lagerstarfish]

Franco Columbu...
 
 

4xBW deadlift 

[Nibile]

Total beast, probably the strongest bodybuilder ever, pound for pound. And with an upper chest like a fireplace mantel shelf.

[andy popp]

Robert Mugabe (maybe not RIP as such). Excellent obituary: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/06/robert-mugabe-obituary

[SA Chris]

Hope peace is the last thing that evil bastard gets.

[Oldmanmatt]

Robert Mugabe (maybe not RIP as such). Excellent obituary: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/06/robert-mugabe-obituary

Yes.
Good.

Usually, I would be less generous about him.
Denying his achievements is pointless, as is denying his intellect.
My one criticism, is that the obituary understates his oppression of the M’atabele.

Nuff said.
Won’t miss him.

[andy popp]

My one criticism, is that the obituary understates his oppression of the M’atabele.

Undoubtedly. However, I do think that when the author says late on that "Had Mugabe retired in 1995, he would have been hailed internationally as a great leader. The slaughters in the Matabelelands would have been considered an unfortunate aberration" he is not offering his own judgement of those terrible events but rather a characterisation of what the likely reaction of the international community would have been.

[Oldmanmatt]

John Bolton.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
As long as we’re accepting people who are dead inside and RIP can also stand for Reside In Purgatory.

[kac]

Sad to hear that he now is the late great Daniel Johnston. A true one off and genius

[jwi]

An extraordinary lyricist and great at crafting melodies

[andy popp]

Al Alvarez; author, critic, and climber - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/23/al-alvarez-obituary?fbclid=IwAR0Gxcn1lwLo260eO_ABgPzLFm-rgIZlgn7XeLiA1chkXZdLg53YT2Yru14

[mrjonathanr]

Beat me to it. Alumnus of my alma mater. What’s that quote...?

All I ever wanted to be was a short Jewish psychopath.

Thought he was fairly badass back in the day.

[andy popp]

I'm feeling a little guilty for never having read him.

[mrjonathanr]

Me too! Feeding the Rat will have to be on the list again. Dennis Gray told me a tale about him scandalising a Kent publican and after climbing on the sandstone, bit too rude to quote! Think he had a sense of mischief though.

[Falling Down]

I'm feeling a little guilty for never having read him.

Same here!

[SA Chris]

A sad loss. I highly recommend reading Offshore, an insight into the early days of North Sea Exploration, especially if you have been to Aberdeen as it describes the early days of the sleepy little pre-oil town that is very (OK, a bit) different to now. 

[mrjonathanr]

Robert Hunter, lyricist with the Grateful Dead. I feel like an era is drawing to a close.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/24/robert-hunter-grateful-dead-lyricist-dies-78



Hunter wrote the lyrics for bassist Phil Lesh while his father was in a hospice dying of cancer. Seems fitting somehow. Although Ripple, with its references to the 23rd psalm, might be quite appropriate too.

[jwi]

Jacques Chirac


For all his shortcomings, he was a well-liked man of great personal warmth. He recognised the role played by the Vichy government under Nazi occupation, and immediately after taking office he apologised for the round-up of Jews and the “mistakes of the French state”. He also led Europe's resistance to the Iraq invasion and gave a shockingly prescient warning to US and its allies.

[SA Chris]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/16/ric-ocasek-obituary

Interesting guy.

[Falling Down]

Sad about Robert Hunter. I could never get my around the Dead as a teenager and into my twenties.  I expected them to be some kind of heavy acid rock band. It was only much later in life and appreciating country blues, bluegrass and old-timey Americana that I fell in love with them.  He was a great lyricist and added complexity and subtlety to what could have been straight-up country rock.

[mrjonathanr]

Spot on FD, didn't get them at all at first either.