Seeds Frontman Sky Saxon Dies in Austin
Influenced heavily by the Rolling Stones, Saxon -- born Richard Marsh -- founded the Seeds in 1965 in California. The next year, the psychedelic rockers released two albums, 'The Seeds' and 'A Web of Sound,' and had hits with 'Can't Seem to Make You Mine' and 'Pushin' Too Hard,' their most successful song. In 1967, the band released two more albums: 'Future,' a psychedelic rock album, and 'A Full Spoon of Seedy Blues,' which was credited to the Sky Saxon Blues Band and featured liner notes by the legendary Muddy Waters.
After some lineup changes and a few more commercially unsuccessful albums, Saxon dissolved the band in the early '70s. He joined a California commune, the Source Family, adopted the name Sunlight and occasionally performed with their trippy house band, the Ya Ho Wa 13. In 1989, Saxon reformed the Seeds to tour with other '60s acts like Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Arthur Lee and Love. They toured again in 2003, and Saxon kept busy musically, releasing an album last year, and recording with the Smashing Pumpkins. Though he fell ill last Thursday, Saxon still managed to play a short gig on Saturday night at Austin rock club Antone's.
Earlier today, Sabrina Sherry Smith Saxon wrote on her Facebook page, "Sky has passed over and YaHoWha is waiting for him at the gate. He will soon be home with his Father. I'm so sorry I couldn't keep him here with us. More later. I'm sorry." No other announcements have been made.
Dearly Departed Musicians
Bob Bogle, June 2009: The lead guitarist and co-founder of instrumental rock band the Ventures, died at age 75 in June 2009. Bogle suffered from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma but survived long enough to see the group get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.
Ebet Roberts, Getty Images
Barry Beckett, June 10, 2009: Producer and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section keyboardist Barry Beckett died at his home in Hendersonville, Tenn. after a series of illnesses. He was 66.
Matt McKean, Times Daily
Hugh Hopper, June 7, 2009: The bassist for prog-rock pioneers Soft Machine passed away in Kent, England after a battle with leukemia. He was 64.
Keystone / Getty Images
Kenny Rankin, June 7, 2009: Singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin passed away at Los Angeles, Calif.'s Cedars Sinai hospital from complications of lung cancer. He was 69.
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Jeff Hanson, June 5, 2009: Singer-songwriter and Kill Rock Stars recording artist Jeff Hanson, 31, was found dead in his apartment.
Jim Newberry
Koko Taylor, June 3, 2009: National treasure and blues legend Koko Taylor passed away of complications due to recent surgery. She was 80 years old.
Rafa Rivas, AFP / Getty Images
Jay Bennett, May 24, 2009: The multi-instrumentalist and former member of Wilco passed away in his sleep of unknown causes. He was 45 years old.
Patrick Ford, Redferns / Getty Images
Dolla, May 21, 2009: The Atlanta-based rapper, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II, was gunned down outside a Los Angeles, Calif. mall. Burton's publicist told reporters he was waiting at a valet stand after a shopping trip when a gunman shot him. The The 'Make a Toast' star was 21.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Stephen Bruton, May 9, 2009: The guitarist and songwriter, who worked with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson, died from complications of throat cancer. He was 60.
Ebet Roberts/Redferns , Getty Images
Ean Evans, May 6, 2009: The Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist died in May 2009 after what the band called "a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer."
Rusty Russell , Getty Images
Posted by Dan Reilly on Jun 25th 2009 1:05PM
Filed under: News, R.I.P.
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
tpgbartat 6-25-2009
Pushin Too Hard Sky you deserved so much more credit than you ever got RIP brother...my bands will always keep your songs out there
Chaya Lipschutzat 6-25-2009
So sad! So important to have a yearly check-up with a doctor and also to go to a doctor when we see any possible signs of an infection - how imporant to take care of this right away.
May his family know of no other sorrow.
Chaya Lipschutz
www.SaveALife-DonateAKidney.com
gcrant4at 6-25-2009
The Seeds were a great and underappreciated band, and Sky Saxon never got much recognition like the rest of the band did. I have been a fan since 1966 when I first heard the classic "Pushin' Too Hard," and "Can't Seem To Make You Mine." R.I.P. Richard Marsh, bettter known as SKY SAXON.
musikfanatat 6-25-2009
Can't Seem to Make You Mine is an all time classic-it's on my mp3 player. The Seeds, Arthur Lee and Love, 13th Floor Elevators, MC5 and those type bands were the best of the 60s proto-punk, psychedelic, hard rock bands!
I'm listening to Sky right now...
hypnozingat 6-25-2009
Pushin' Too Hard. My favorite song ever. A friend of mine ran into Sky a few months ago. Wish I'd been there. Will miss you, Sky!
Smutat 6-25-2009
Great band!Who can forget "Mr. Farmer"?R.I.P.,Sky!
amx723000at 6-25-2009
YaHoWha...who is this...never heard anything about YaHowha
nancyinjpat 6-25-2009
That's exactly what I was thinking. Who is this YoWaha and what gate is he meeting him in? Making up their own little religion in their own world doesn't make it true....
smokinjoat 6-25-2009
how is it thus we are here and so soon we are gone
RIP SKY
blitzmcdat 6-25-2009
We had the considerable pleasure of runinng a rather lengthy interview with Sky Saxon in 1986, at which time he remarked, "I'm giving the people melodic songs to get the whole world singing again". He did just that in abundace, both with the Seeds and throughout his long and fruitful solo career. God bless him! Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his family.
Michael McDowell, Blitz Magazine
pfam4lifeat 6-25-2009
WARNING: A not completely related, FYI Post - Amy, YaHoWha is probably another non-American English spelling of Yahweh, which in American English is Jehovah. (kinda like in older Italian, Christus was Christ.) If you are Christian, you no doubt believe in Jesus Christ. But, for sure, when he walked the earth, his name was not written or pronounced the way we do today in American English, as Jesus Christ. But, for some reason, most Americans do use the American translation of Jesus Christ but don't accept the American English translation of Yahweh which is Jehovah. Check an older King James Version Bible at Psalms 83:18.