Well, now that 2025 is coming to a close, we would like to recap on some of those the industry lost, both as individuals and also act/bands themselves that called it a day. In this article, we’ll concentrate on those the music industry physically left the mortal realm.
January
Some of the older generation of musicians we lost included Wayne Osmond of The Osmonds and Linda Nolan of The Nolan Sisters. Now, if you think the Osmonds were uncool, check out the Crazy Horses album. As for Linda, she and her sisters sang with The Young & Moody band on “Don’t Do That,” which featured none other than Lemmy himself, the bassist and singer from Motörhead!
Also to fall was Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame, whose song Soul Man was covered in the amazing movie The Blues Brothers, (which sadly isn’t the only time that movie will be mentioned in this list). Legend Marianne Faithfull added to the list along with Edweena Banger of Manchester punk outfit Ed Banger And The Nosebleeds and if you aren’t aware of them, then I suggest you look them up, their history is littered with many well-known Manchurian and further afar names.
February
Barely into the month and next up was founding member of Mungo Jerry, Colin Earl whose song In The Summertime is rumoured to have sold as many as 16 million singles across the globe. Audio Engineer Dave Jerden who worked with some of the biggest names in alt-rock and heavy metal, wasn’t far behind and then there was the shock announcement that Rick Butler of The Jam had passed away, (sadly not the only amazing drummer I personally grew up watching we were to lose this year).
R&B legend Roberta Flack was short to follow, and just a few days later David Joahanson of Glam Punk band New York Dolls brought the month to a close
March
No let up was forthcoming as no sooner were we into the month then we lost Joey Molland, now that’s probably not a name that trips off most people’s lips, but he appeared on 2 of George Harrison’s albums along with another ex-Beatle, John Lennon’s Imagine.
Brian James of The Damned was the next Punk to hang up his leather pants, shortly followed by Beau Dozier, another name that might not be familiar but he’d worked with some of the biggest names in American rap and boy bands, including the likes of 2pac and Boys II Men.
As this list is compiled close to Christmas, it would be wrong of me not to mention Bob Rivers, his Twisted Christmas tracks I’ve been sneaking into family playlists for as long as downloading and streaming have been a thing, Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire, anyone?
The next dummer of my childhood to leave his stool would be Judas Priest’s Les Binks, who played on their earliest albums, Local Manchester radio DY turned National Andy Peebles, who was famously the last person in the UK to interview John Lennon before he was murdered just 2 days later then it was one that came from the blue shocker as it was announced Paul “Wags Wagstaff of Black Grape and the later reformed Happy Mondays.
April
The Grim Reaper gave us a few days of at the beginning of April before he continued his grizzly quest when it was call of time for another former Punk, Gang Of Four’s David Allen and he wasn’t the only punk the Reaper was gunning for as the announcement I really wasn’t expecting as I’d seen him play recently several times in his various projects, Blondie’s (and short lived, Ramones drummer) Clem Burke! Indeed.
I’d only recently reviewed him for RGM as part of the band Lust For Life that included himself as well as Pistols member Glen Matlock among their roster.
Unfortunately, after claiming that scalp, the Reaper managed to mostly keep away from old punks that were popular in the UK until he finally got the scalp of one he’d been chasing for several years, The Alarm’s Mike Peters – a man many had started to believe could possibly be immortal, he’d fought back from death’s door that many times.
May
It would appear that the ole Reaper took a holiday from upsetting UK music fans in May, concentrating in other areas before coming back with vengeance…
June
Sly Stone, followed just a few days later with another legend of the music industry Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys were the notable starters followed by a member of several of the staff at RGM fave bands, Deacon Blue, whose keyboard player, James Prime, sadly passed. Patrick Walden of Babyshambles fame was up next followed by a founding member of both Bad Company and Mott The Hoople, guitarist Mick Ralphs
July
This month saw some big American names from the past as Connie Francis and songwriter Alan Bergman (who amongst many wrote the lyrics for The Girl Who Used To Be in Shirley Valentine whos star Pauline Collins also passed away this year)
But it was the world of rock that suffered the biggest blows as Goldern Earring’s lead singer George Kooymans past which was completely overshadowed with the death of none other than the man who helped make metal what it became, Ozzy Osbourne! Sadly, they weren’t the only rockstars to fall in July as an early vocalist from Iron Maiden joined them, Paul Mario Day.
August
August was thankfully a quieter month for deaths from bands who are reasonably popular in the UK with only the passing of former member of Mastodon, Bret Hinds although if your of a certain age you may remember a band for the early 80’s born from ther fall of Generation X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, drummer Ray Mayhew (if you haven’t heard of them then I strongly recommend Love Missile F1- 11, its “80’s”ness is off the scale)…
September
Another relatively quieter month on the UK front, some big hitters of the 60’s and 70’s in Vocalists Mark Volman of The Turtles and Rick Davis of Supertramp, along with Sonny Curtis of The Crickets but we lost local boy Stephen Luscombe of Blancmange along with Viv Prince who might not mean much to most people.
I’ll guarantee you’ll have heard of Keith Moon, well it was Viv “who” inspired Keith Moon to pick up the sticks due to being fascinated by Prince’s on stage antics. Chris Dreja was another to depart, once the guitarist for The Yardbirds he famously declined Jimmy Page’s offer of joining his band that would become Led Zeppelin to pursue a photography career, in which role he shot the band instead for their debut album.
October
Deaths this month were a strange bunch kicking it all off with Patricia Routledge, yes, Mrs Bucket as long before she played Hyacinth, she started her career singing in The West End and even on Broadway. John Lodge, co-singer and guitarist of The Moody Blues, sadly followed as well as Thommy Price, who worked with many rock acts including Billy Idol, Rodger Daltrey, Debbie Harry and Joan Jet.
Next was one that no one will miss and many celebrated, the murder of The Lostprophets monstrous lead singer, Ian Watkins, the least said about him the better, though I bet H from Steps was probably the most relieved from the news… Sam Rivers, the driving bass engine of Limp Bizkit, sadly passed away from a heart attack along with fellow driving force behind Soft Cell and The Grid, David Ball just a few days later.
November
November proved to be an absolute stinker of a month, kicking off with the death of Glison Lavis, drummer with Squeeze and later Jools Holland, 5 days later it was followed by original vocalist of 80’s band Living In A Box, Richard Darbyshire. 5 days after that it was the turn of Hilly Michaels, early drummer with Sparks but it was the following death when guess, yup 5 days after that, the real kicker for the city of Manchester and Glasgow hit the news.
Manchester’s own Gary “Mani” Mounfield was found dead at his home. There’s not a great deal to add that hasn’t already been said about the man, the outpouring of love for him, not only from fans and fellow musicians but people who just knew him in general, a down-to-earth guy blessed with an unbelievable talent whose passing has left a massive void in the heart of Manchester.
REST IN PEACE MANi X
— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) November 20, 2025
Unfortunately, Death wasn’t done with November, American Drummer Jellybean Johnson who worked with some of the biggest names in the 80’s inc Alexander O’Neal, Cherrelle and Janet Jackson as well as with none other than Prince with the band, The Time called, well I guess Time on this earth. Just a few days later it was Jimmy Cliff to take the headlines, where it was announced he’d passed away from Pneumonia. Judy Cheeks, a gay icon during the disco era was to follow along with another member from the same disco era, Chubby Tavares of the group that shared the family name, wrapped up the month.
December
It didn’t take long for the Reaper to get started into December as the 2nd connection to The Blues Brothers movie was an early target, Steve Cropper of both the said movies band but also Booker T & The MG,s and without wasing a breath the following day he gunned for Faces member Tetsu Yamaunchi before deciding to take a couple of weeks off before Xmas to sadly stop Chris Rea from Driving Home For Christmas and then to give the world a christmas present nobody wanted, he snatched away The Cures Perry Bamonte who passed away after a short illness.
Bit of a stinker of a year eh? So tonight as we say farewell to 2025, join us here at RGM to raise a toast to those who gave us so much joy and memories and celebrate their lives and hopefully 2026 won’t be as cruel.