All articles tagged with #musicians
Raja Azreen Raja Talib, a 56-year-old drummer for the Malaysian rock band Meditasi, collapsed on stage at the Teruntum Rock Festival and died shortly after, with heart complications cited as the cause; his family noted recent diabetes and prior heart issues, and he had been hospitalized earlier in the year before the festival.
Lou Koller, longtime frontman and co-founder of New York hardcore band Sick of It All, died at 59 after a battle with esophageal cancer. The Queens-born singer, whose band formed in 1986 and released 12 studio albums, had battled cancer since 2024, cancelled a European tour during treatment, and was declared cancer-free in May 2025 before the cancer returned. Tributes from CM Punk, Dropkick Murphys and Lars Frederiksen highlighted his influence on NYHC and his ability to lift fans’ spirits at shows.
A Flamingo Air Cessna 402 crashed after departing Nassau for San Andros on Independence Day, killing 10 people including Bahamian musicians, with one initial survivor who later died; the AAIA is investigating. A separate Flamingo Air flight had a post-landing fire with no injuries, and the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas suspended Flamingo Air’s Air Operator Certificate as a precaution.
A sweeping obituary roundup listing the deaths of dozens of notable musicians and music-industry figures from across rock, jazz, reggae, funk, and pop, with brief notes on their careers and enduring legacies.
Geoff Edgers argues that Paul McCartney’s SNL encore, performed near age 84, silenced online trolls who urged retirement by showing a sharp, vital performance. The piece uses McCartney’s example to celebrate aging with authenticity and staying power, suggesting that age doesn’t have to mean fading away from the stage or style.
Sonny Rollins, the tenor saxophonist hailed as America’s greatest living jazz musician and a guiding force across six decades of jazz, died May 25 at his Woodstock, N.Y., home at age 95 after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis; he had stopped performing more than a decade ago, and his death was announced by his publicist Terri Hinte.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians publicly oppose the board’s decision to end Music Director Andris Nelsons’s appointment, expressing support for his vision and warning that the move could cause upheaval for the ensemble.
Fellow musicians including Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby, Nancy Wilson, and Billy Corgan pay heartfelt tributes to Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, celebrating his life, generosity, and enduring influence on rock and improvisational music.
The article commemorates numerous influential musicians who passed away in 2025, including Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack, Marianne Faithfull, and others, highlighting their contributions to music across various genres and eras.
A potential Broadway strike involving musicians has been averted after AFM Local 802 reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League on a new three-year contract, which will now be ratified by union members. The deal includes wage increases, healthcare benefits, and job security, preventing a shutdown of Broadway shows.
Broadway's musicians' union reached a tentative labor deal with producers, avoiding a strike that could have shut down nearly two dozen shows, including hits like 'Hamilton' and 'The Lion King.' The agreement includes wage and health benefit increases, and the deal now awaits ratification by union members. This comes amid a strong box office recovery, with the 2024-2025 season earning a record $1.9 billion, highlighting Broadway's economic importance and the unions' leverage in negotiations.
Broadway musicians' union reached a tentative three-year labor agreement with producers, including wage and health benefit increases, preventing a strike that could have shut down 23 shows, amid Broadway's strong financial recovery post-pandemic.
U.S. Senators, including Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, and Andy Kim, are urging the Broadway League and Local 802 to negotiate in good faith to prevent a potential Broadway musicians' strike, which could significantly impact the theatre industry and local economy. The union's contract expired in August, and negotiations are ongoing, with a strike possible if an agreement isn't reached by October 23. The situation has garnered political and public attention, emphasizing the importance of a fair resolution to avoid widespread disruptions.
Broadway musicians union Local 802 AFM has threatened to strike on October 23 if they do not reach a new contract with the Broadway League, citing issues like wages, healthcare, and job security, which could lead to many shows going dark. The union has authorized a strike with 98% approval, and negotiations are scheduled to continue with potential for broader impact if actors' union also strikes in solidarity.
Broadway musicians and actors are considering strikes due to unresolved contract negotiations, which could disrupt NYC's theater scene despite a record-breaking season, as they seek better wages, healthcare, and job protections amid rising costs and stalled talks.