Hits & Misses - page 35

Tom Wolfe –
Author, journalist, wardrobe bigot.
March 2, 1930 – May 14, 2018.
Aged 88 years.

Most recognized for: From the lysergic fog of the 60’s, a new style of journalism emerged… which Tom dubbed [brace yourself] “New Journalism.”  The implied formula was simple: go to where the drugs are, take some, and write about it.  So Tom went to Ken Kesey’s ranch, hooked up with the The Merry Pranksters, and gave us “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” He also penned “The Right Stuff” and “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” both of which [sadly] contained fewer drug stories.

Margot Kidder –
Actress, activist, Amityville whorer.
October 17, 1948 – May 13, 2018.
Aged 69 years.

Most recognized for: 40 years ago, she played the OJ-guzzling smoker that Clark Kent spanked his supermeat to. Although she appeared in plenty of other films that didn’t star Christopher Reeve, the Lois Lane identity was hard to shake. So Margot wrote a book to tell the world who she really was… and when she lost her unpublished draft of it in 1996, lost her goddamned mind as well. Although Ms. Kidder recovered from her shining moment of toothless delirium, her career never really did.

Chuck Knox –
NFL Head Coach, philanthropist, Pennsyltuckian.
April 27, 1932 – May 12, 2018.
Aged 86 years.

Most recognized for: Chuck was awarded the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year title 3 times for his work with 3 different teams. Nicknamed for his fondness of the rush attack, “Ground Chuck” also custom built the O-line that would protect Joe Namath in Super Bowl III. Unfortunately, he’d left to coach the Lions just before Joe finally put it to good use.

Baroness Tessa Jowell –
Politician, OBE’er, Dame.
September 17, 1947 – May 12, 2018.
Aged 70 years.

Most recognized for: Ms. Jowell was a member of British Parliament for over 20 years. Throughout her political career, she held multiple “Secretary” or “Minister of” titles within the confusing circus that is the United Kingdom. She was also responsible for bringing the 2012 Olympics to her hometown of London, where she later ran for Mayor in 2016.   But just as she was narrowly defeated in the mayoral election, so too ended her race against brain cancer.

Selected By: MDN1977

Scott Hutchison –
Singer/songwriter, artist, drunk vegan.
April 1, 1982 – May 9, 2018.
Aged 36 years.

Most recognized for: Scott formed and fronted Scottish indie folk-rockers Frightened Rabbit in 2003.  They released 5 albums and 2 EPs, eventually getting signed to Atlantic records and reaching the top 10 in the UK’s charts.  Then one night, Mr. Rabbit got a little squirrelly, started drunk tweeting, and went missing… only to turn up dead as panbread.  The lesson here:  don’t drink and tweet.

Big Bully Busick –
Wrestler, cop, facial hair enthusiast.
June 1, 1954 – May 8, 2018.
Aged 63 years.

Most recognized for: Complete with turtleneck sweater, bowler hat, and a fat stogey, this WWF villain seemed to step right out of the pages of some 1920s comic book. Along with his weaselly manager Harvey Wippelman, they antagonized ringside fans as well as fellow wrestlers… most notably The Brooklyn Brawler over who was “the real bully of the WWF.” His short-lived persona would later make fan lists as one of the most ridiculous characters in WWF/WWE history.

Pamela Gidley –
Actress, model, fire walker.
June 11, 1965 – April 16, 2018.
Aged 52 years.

Most recognized for: She played recurring characters on TV’s “The Pretender,” “Strange Luck,” and “CSI.” On the big screen, however, Pam had a couple of shining moments. She played the dead girl around which the plot of “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” was based. In a more lively role, she starred as the titular sex-bot in the curiously cult-followed “Cherry 2000.”

Tim Calvert –
Guitarist, pilot, metal head.
November 7, 1965 – April 30, 2018.
Aged 52 years.

Most recognized for: A neoclassical shredder, Tim brought new darkness to Bay Area thrashers Forbidden on their sophomore release “Twisted Into Form” in 1990.  He stuck around for a few more records before becoming co-axeman for Seattle metal outfit Nevermore.  Then, after touring the world a few times in a heavy metal band, Tim stepped away to settle down & take a regular job… as a commercial airline captain… until that damned Lou Gherig’s grounded him.

Michael Anderson –
Director, actor, British Canuck.
January 3-, 1920 – April 25, 2018.
Aged 98 years.

Most recognized for: Mr. Anderson directed “Around the World in 80 Days,” a big-budget cameo fest that took home 5 Oscars, including Best Picture in 1956. He also directed the sci-fi cult classic “Logan’s Run” in 1976. And for all you Star Wars nerds out there, the climax of his 1955 war film “The Dam Busters” was blatantly (and admittedly) ripped off by George Lucas.

Charles Neville –
Musician, junkie, saxaholic.
December 28, 1938 – April 25, 2018.
Aged 79 years.

Most recognized for: Chuck was the 2nd oldest of 4 siblings that became grammy winners The Neville Brothers.  A New Orleans native and jazz festival staple, he overcame a 20 year struggle with heroin with a trip to rehab & a turn to Eastern spiritual philosophy.  But just as the Buddah couldn’t save Swayze, Chuck too succumbed to that pesky pancreatic cancer.

Verne Troyer –
Actor, dwarf, drunk.
January 1, 1969 – April 21, 2018.
Aged 49 years.

Most recognized for: When Mike Meyers finally put his tired British spy act to bed, Mini-Me’s schedule opened up to pursue other endeavors. Among them: reality show appearances, banging models, sex tape law suits (yes, Mini-me has a sex tape,) and full-blown alcoholism. The latter surely played no small part in cutting his short life even shorter.

Selected by: Hog 2

Avicii –
DJ, producer, saucy Swede.
September 8, 1989 – April 20, 2018.
Aged 28 years.

Most recognized for: Born Tim Bergling, he rose to international fame with his hit “Levels” in 2011. What followed was a series of collaborations with EDM hitmakers like David Guetta and aging hags desperately trying to stay relevant like Madonna. Health issues related to excessive alcohol intake forced him to retire from touring… and later, from breathing.