h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Peter Schickele, musical parodist behind �P.D.Q. Bach,� dies at 88

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/peter-schickele-musical-parodist-behind-pdq-bach-dies-at-88/ar-AA1n9g0J

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/peter-schickele-musical-parodist-behind-pdq-bach-dies-at-88/ar-AA1n9g0J

Gary Graham (Trek fans know the face)

http://nerdbot.com/2024/01/22/gary-graham-star-of-alien-nation-enterprise-has-passed-away/

I've just seen that Frank Farian, German record producer, big in the 80s, has died. Not found anything on English language sites yet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68065904
Hugley influential - Boney M had some of the best-selling songs ever released in the UK.

<BB<

David Mills, the internet's Father Time, dies at 85.

Creator of the Network Time Protocol that holds the internet together.


http://www.theregister.com/2024/01/23/david_mills_obit/

Melanie
Melanie Safka was a popular folk singer, but not very well known in the UK. Her most famous song, 'Brand New Key', had its tune stolen and the lyrics parodied by The Wurzels in 1976 to become 'Combine Harvester'5 became a number one hit and was far more successful than Melanie's song which inspired it. Consequently, when Melanie sang 'Brand New Key' at the Isle of Wight Festival, she introduced it with the words, 'For a long time I didn't like this song' and the audience (at least in the area where I was) naturally sang along to the Wurzels' lyrics and not her own. Melanie seemed to take this good heartedly, singing 'Combine Harvester' briefly for a bit.
Her other song she's known for is 'Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma'.

Doesn't appear on the BBC or UK newspapers I trust yet:
http://nypost.com/2024/01/24/entertainment/melanie-safka-woodstock-performer-and-brand-new-key-singer-dead-at-76/

<BB<

The Beeb hasn't caught up yet but here is the Guardian Version.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/jan/25/melanie-singer-songwriter-who-topped-charts-with-brand-new-key-dies-aged-76

Norman Jewison, film director d. 20-Jan

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/23/norman-jewison-obituary

Picked by The Groob in 2020.

I'm a keen rugby fan, now a season ticket holder for Ealing Trailfinders Women's Rugby Team. I started when at senior school, with a lad called Thomas (a Welsh lad) who liked saying how rubbish England were, and how Wales were fantastic (which they were in the '70s) and it has stuck with me.

Why thee preamble? Because two Welsh greats who really caused a lot of grief back then have died.

The great J.P.R. He was so great his surname didn't even need to be added. He was an orthopaedic surgeon, but will always be remembered as possibly Wales' best ever Full Back.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67912287

However he has been closely followed by possibly the greatest Fly Half ever, certainly for Wales. He and Gareth Edwards are reckoned to be the greatest half back pairings in history. It was on the 1971 British Lions tour of New Zealand, 'The great Tour', he earned the sobriquet 'The King' from the New Zealand media. a true great, which is difficult to say as an England supporter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68170605

But honour where it is due, as a rugby fan, they are both a great loss, and my commiserations not just to their families but to all the Welsh Rugby Union fans, wherever they may be.



MMF

Barry John died today, too:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/04/barry-john-welsh-rugby-legend-and-british-and-irish-lions-great-dies-at-79

I realised I hadn’t posted the name but did post the preamble and the link. I’ll see if I can rectify it now.

MMF

Ian Lavender, best known as Private Pike in 'Dad's Army' though he was also in a couple of later 'Carry On's and other stuff:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68204488

<BB<

Don't tell us that awful news BB

Ian Lavender was picked once in the past - by The Jon-m in 2017.

Guardian obit:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/05/ian-lavender-obituary


Most of the Dad's Army cast had died before the first Deathlist game in 2006. For those that were still alive:

2009: we lost Wendy Richard (Pte Walker's girlfriend Shirley) - nine players correctly picked her.

2009: Colin Bean (Pte Sponge) died - picked by The Groob.

2012: Clive Dunn (Pte Jones) died - missed, but had been picked 8 times previously.

2013: Bill Pertwee (Hodges) died - picked by Mol.

2022: Frank Williams (the vicar) died - missed, but had been picked twice in the past.

...and also:

2015 Pamela Cundell (Mrs Fox) died - picked by The Groob.

The writers David Croft (d 2011) and Jimmy Perry (d. 2016) were also both picked in the past but missed.

Henry Fambrough, last original member of R&B group the Spinners, dies aged 85

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/08/henry-fambrough-dead-spinners

Steve Wright: Radio 2 presenter dies aged 69

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68287707

Angela Peberdy, British Rail recorded voice announcer

http://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/br-announcer-angela-peberdy-has-died.262735/

There's a nice obituary in The Times, but it's behind a paywall.

One for the geeks among us.
(I can't find a website of reference but...)

From PJ Evans on Mastodon

For those of a Certain Age who were around during the UK tech boom era of the 90s, you may like to know that Dr Alan Solomon has died at the age of 75. Dr Solomon's Software produced amazing anti-virus software and was a brilliant place to work. I learnt so much. #DrSolomons

http://mas.to/deck/@[email protected]/111930917659131544

Ian Amey, "Tich" of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
http://www.beat-magazine.co.uk/2024/tich-of-dave-dee-dozy-beaky-mick-and-tich-has-died/