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I Want My Dead Friends Back

I want my dead friends back.

 

2016 seemed almost relentless as we lost one great artist after another. Join us as we look back at the work of some of the bright lights we lost this year as Rob Timm hosts “I Want My Dead Friends Back”, a two hour retrospective Sunday morning at 10:00AM and Monday morning at 7:00 on WRNR.

 

Check out some of the artists we lost in 2016:

 
David Bowie  – One of the most notable artists lost in 2016 was also one of the first artists we lost - Bowie lost his battle with cancer in January (did you know his ashes were later scattered in Bali?) Bowie’s career spanned 5 decades with over 140 million records sold.  We were lucky enough to get one final record from the Starman, Blackstar – which was released just 2 days before his death - January 8, 2016 –, which was also his 69th birthday. 
 

 
Prince – When reports surfaced that the Purple One had passed away – the rumor mill went into overdrive over what the cause of death.  It was eventually confirmed that Prince died of an opioid overdose at Paisley Park – his Minnesota home/recording studio.  Coincidently - Vanity – the lead singer of the Prince assembled trio Vanity 6, also passed away in 2016.  One of Prince’s last concerts was in Baltimore – a Rally for Peace in 2015 - at the Royal Farms Arena
 

 
Leonard Cohen – Known for his catalog of music that explored religion, politics, isolation, and sexuality – Cohen is a member of both the US and Canadian Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.  Cohen passed just one day before the US presidential election and Saturday Night Live took a moment to break away from the humor and pay tribute to him with a beautiful rendition of his song Hallelujah performed by Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton
 

 
Sharon Jones – Jones was a late comer to the music scene – forming her funk and soul group – Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – at the age of 40.  Jones passed away after suffering a stroke while watching the presidential election results (coincidence?) and later passed away as a result of the stroke.  We were lucky enough to see Sharon doin’ the camel walk, the twine, the monkey, the jerk, the twist, the freeze and more just 2 years ago at ArtScape in Baltimore!
 

 
Glenn Frey – Although he later shared the duties with Don Henley – Frey was the original lead singer/guitar player for the Eagles.  Between the Eagles and his solo career – Frey had over 24 top 40 Billboard hits including Hotel California that has over 4 million YouTube views and even more unfortunate karaoke attempts
 

 
Paul Katner – a co-founder of the band Jefferson Airplane – Katner was one of the pioneers of the psychedelic rock and counterculture eras that exploded in San Francisco during the 1960’s.  Jefferson Airplane’s had its biggest hits with “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” – both of which are on Rolling Stone’s top 500 songs of all time
 

 
 
 
See more of the artists we lost this year here: