Sad news just in of the passing one of Australia’s truly great rock icons, Jim Keays, of the equally great 60s and ‘70s band The Masters Apprentices.

I suppose it is inevitable that the passage of time is starting to mean that a generation of people who seem to burn brighter than our own are leaving us. It doesn’t make it less sad. And as we look back their struggles and the way they fought them seem the stuff of myth.

Did you know that Kurt Cobain died?

A true story which we are all sad about… like, forevah. We are with his Mum on this one  – “why did he have to go and join the stupid club”? But that’s drugs for you isn’t it?

This Friday we would like to devote a minutes silence to the passing of the great man, Frankie Knuckles. Frankie was one of the last DeeJays who linked the old school of US clubbing to the new school of English (Acid) house. And as such he took dance music to the world. He learned from the legendary Larry Levan (about who we should write another time) and he taught … well, everyone really.

As has been reported with appropriate thoroughness in the music media worldwide, longtime Stooges drummer Scott “Rock Action” Asheton – the handsomest man in rock’n’roll ever says this red-blooded Aussie bloke – sadly passed away on March 15.

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It’s always around this time of year that we hear from Notorious B.I.G posthumously as March 9 marks the anniversary of his death and producers and DJs pay homage to the man with remixes and tribute mixes aplenty.

This year is no exception with a couple of choice tributes doing the rounds, on this, the 17th anniversary of his passing.

We won’t need to add words to the thousands that will be spilt over the next days.

But Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to everyone who believes hope has a place in politics no matter what injustice exists.

From the Robin Island Bible an appropriate thought for the day and one we know inspired Mandela himself:
 

Cowards die many times before their deaths.

The valiant never taste of death but once.

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear,

It is nearly impossible to match the iconic image of the Sydney Opera House and it’s sails. But if any other image came close it would be the one above.

Which makes (or made rather sadly) Martin Sharp a very important Australian artist.