"Shirley" you will be missed (Leslie Nielsen R.I.P.)

It makes you feel good to know that there's other people afflicted like you (Harvey Pekar R.I.P)

Harvey Pekar, alternative comics' beloved every man, died today after bouts with prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. Pekar is best known for his journal style comic, "American Splendor", which took the writings of his everyday, mundane life and combined them with art by various comic book artists such as Robert Crumb, David Collier, Jim Woodring, Chester Brown, and Joe Sacco. He also appeared as a reoccurring guest on the David Letterman show. Pekar did not gain world wide attention until Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's film adaptation of "American Splendor" was released in 2003 capturing first honors at the Sundance Film Festival.

Don't toast to my health, toast to my fuck! (Dennis Hopper R.I.P.)

LIVE EVIL (Ronnie James Dio R.I.P.)

Ronnie James Dio, front man of metal band DIO, died today of stomach cancer. During his time in Black Sabbath, replacing original singer Ozzy Osbourne, Dio popularized the "devil's horns" hand gesture which has since become the universal symbol of rock.

I'm in love with that song (Alex Chilton R.I.P.)

Sadly, Alex Chilton passed away this Wednesday evening due to an apparent heart attack at the age of 59. The front man for the 60's band, the Box Tops, Chilton wasn't even old enough to obtain a driver's license when he recorded the vocals for their first hit single "the Letter". After the Box Tops, Chilton moved on to Big Star, which, although not commercially successful, gained a huge cult following in the 80's. His withdrawal from the limelight only added to the mythos of Big Star as Chilton exiled himself to New Orleans, hung up his guitar, and washed dishes for a living. Alex Chilton has earned his place as one of the greatest guitar-pop artists of the 20th century, influencing bands such as Teenage Fanclub and the Replacements.