Dan Peek, Founding Member of Band America, Dead at 60

ST. LOUIS — Dan Peek, a founding member of the popular 1970s band America and singer of high harmonies on hits that included "A Horse With No Name" and "Ventura Highway," has died, his father said Tuesday. He was 60.

The rock group "America" is shown in this photo dated 1976.

Members of the group, shown from left are: Dewey Bunnel,

Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley. Peek, a founding member of the

popular 1970s band America and singer of high harmonies on

hits that included "A Horse With No Name" and "Ventura

Highway," died Sunday in bed in his home in Farmington,

Mo., his father said Tuesday, July 26, 2011. (AP)

Peek's wife, Catherine, found him dead Sunday in bed in his home in Farmington, Mo., about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis, Milton Peek said. The cause of death was not known, and an autopsy was planned. Dan Peek suffered from arthritis, but it wasn't known if that was a contributing factor.

Peek, whose father was in the U.S. Air Force, had met the two other members of America – Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley – while attending high school in London. After signing a record contract, America was an almost instant sensation with songs featuring tight harmonies over catchy tunes. All told, America had three platinum and three gold albums, along with eight Top 40 hits, from 1971 through 1975.

"It was a joyous time for the three of us, full of excitement and laughter," Bunnell wrote on the band's website after learning of Peek's death. "We created lasting music together and experienced a life that we could never have imagined."

The group's first album in 1971 included the No. 1 hit "Horse With No Name." Other hits followed: "Tin Man," "Sister Golden Hair," and "Daisy Jane," among them. Peek played lead guitar on many of the songs, and wrote some of them, including the 1974 hit "Lonely People."

"Dan & his music will live on in the great songs he shared with us all," Beckley wrote on the group's website.
Peek had lived in Farmington since 1978, soon after he left the band. He also had a home in the Cayman Islands.

Peek was born Nov. 1, 1950, in Panama City, Fla. His father was in the Air Force and the family frequently moved. He met Bunnell and Beckley in the late 1960s.

"The three of them were Air Force brats," Milton Peek said.

Queensryche brings progressive metal to Crocodile Rock in Allentown



Geoff Tate, known for his four-octave voice range,

performs Aug. 2 in Allentown as the frontman for

Queensryche.



Classic progressive metal rock band Queensryche released their 12th studio album entitled "Dedicated to Chaos" on June 28.

They'll make a stop Aug. 2 at Crocodile Rock, 812 Hamilton St. in Allentown as part of their 30th Anniversary Tour.  Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door.

Formed in 1981, the band is made up of original members guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield, lead singer Geoff Tate and bassist Eddie Jackson. Guitarist Parker Lundgren joined the band in 2009 to replace Mike Stone.

The foundation for Queensryche was first laid when Wilton and Rockenfield performed as Cross+Fire and covered songs by Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. When Tate joined, they changed their name to The Mob and later to Queensryche at their record label's suggestion.

The band has gone through lineup tweaks and has experimented with more stripped-down sounds over the last 30 years, but is best known for their hits "Silent Lucidity" and "Jet City Woman" off their 1990 album "Empire."

Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant Monmouth local hall concert



Robert Plant performing at the fundraising gig in Monmouth which was a tribute to his old friend
and former co-producer, Pat Moran

He may be used to selling out huge arenas, but Robert Plant thought nothing of performing in front of 200 at a surprise gig in a community hall.

The former Led Zeppelin frontman joined two bands at a charity show in Monmouth to a crowd of invited guests.

The event was a tribute to his friend, Pat Moran, a former Plant co-producer, who died of a rare dementia in January.

Lifelong fan Darren Martin, 45, said: "It was amazing - he's a rock god and he was playing in a village hall."

“It was a real honour to be there and he chatted with the audience afterwards”

Plant, 63, delighted the small crowd at the Bridges Community Centre in the Monmouthshire town with songs from his Led Zeppelin days as well as tunes from his solo career, including the hit Big Log.

His appearance on Saturday 9 July, and his decision to play Led Zeppelin tunes, was all the more special as Plant has refused to reform with his old band, despite playing a one-off show at the 02 Arena in 2007.

Mr Martin added: "It was a real honour to be there and he chatted with the audience afterwards."
Mr Moran, 63, who worked as an engineer on Plant's first solo album, and engineered and co-produced his second at the nearby Rockfield studios in Monmouthshire, died of Pick's Disease in January and the event was a fundraiser in his memory.


Scratch band

Organiser, Mr Moran's brother Brian said: "It was very kind of Mr Plant to join in - Pat would have been very proud.

"Mr Plant was even kind enough to sign a T-shirt which will be auctioned on eBay this week."
The event has so far raised £1,500 for the Pick's Disease Support Group, with more expected from the eBay sale.

Also performing were two bands - Welsh band Hobo - and a scratch band made up of musicians associated with Mr Moran and Rockfield Studios, who played under the name of the Rockfield Allstars.

They included Verden Allen, (ex-Mott the Hoople), Dave Edmunds, (Rockpile), Ray Martinez (Spring, Gypsy), Martin Chambers (The Pretenders), Neville Farmer (BBC producer), Paul Martinez (various bands), Dave Charles (producer and various bands).

Amy Winehouse tributes

Anthony Ian G. Etcobanez

Tributes to the late singer Amy Winehouse have been pouring in from her friends and family around the world.

The Back To Black star was found dead at her north London home on Saturday.

A post mortem is expected to be carried out next week, to determine the cause of death.

The Brit and Grammy award winner had struggled with drink and drug addiction in recent years and had latterly spent time in rehab.

Her family have said the singer has left a "gaping hole" in their lives.

Mark Ronson

She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life.

Russell Brand

I've known Amy Winehouse for years. When I first met her around Camden she was just some twit in a pink satin jacket shuffling round bars with mutual friends, most of whom were in cool Indie bands or peripheral Camden figures Withnail-ing their way through life on impotent charisma.
I chatted to her anyway though, she was after all, a girl, and she was sweet and peculiar but most of all vulnerable.

I was myself at that time barely out of rehab and was thirstily seeking less complicated women so I barely reflected on the now glaringly obvious fact that Winehouse and I shared an affliction, the disease of addiction.

Kelly Osbourne

I cant even breath right now I'm crying so hard. I just lost one of my best friends. I love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you.

Piers Morgan

Such desperately sad news regarding Amy Winehouse. Supreme talent, terrible self-destructive addictive personality.

Lily Allen

Its just beyond sad, there's nothing else to say. She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace.

Dita Von Teese

Devastated. I spent extraordinary times with Amy. She sang for me once for hours, it was the most beautiful and touching thing. A huge loss.

Ronnie Wood

It's a very sad loss of a very good friend I spent many great times with. We feel privileged to have known her and we will sorely miss her.

Tony Bennett

Amy Winehouse was an artist of immense proportions and I am deeply saddened to learn of her tragic passing. She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end.

She was a lovely and intelligent person and when we recorded together she gave a soulful and extraordinary performance. I was honoured to have the opportunity to sing with her.

It had been my sincere hope that she would be able to overcome the issues she was battling and I send my deepest sympathy to her father Mitchell, her entire family and all of those who loved her.

Hawley Arms pub in Camden

We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Amy's death. Apart from her extraordinary musical talent, she was a special person with a good soul and this should not have happened. We feel privileged to have known her and we will sorely miss her.

The Recording Academy

Five-time Grammy winner Amy Winehouse was a dynamic performer and musician who seamlessly blended rock, jazz, pop, and soul and created a sound all her own.

Her rich, soulful and unique voice reflected her honest songwriting and earned her a devoted fan following, critical acclaim, and the genuine respect and admiration of her musical peers.

She will forever be remembered for her immense talent, and her music will live on for generations to come. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.

US record label Universal Music

We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist, performer and friend. Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time