Phil Kennemore, Y&T Bassist, Dies at 57. Mick Karn, Bassist in the Group Japan, Dies at 52.
(PHOTO: Billboard Magazine)
A statement from Dave Meniketti-
It is with profound sadness and disbelief that I tell you that my best buddy for 37 years passed away this morning, January 7, 2011 at 1am at Stanford Hospital. Bravely and steadfastly battling the horrible spectacle of lung cancer, at the end he was surrounded by his family members, and the Y&T family up until his final breath.
All the beautiful things that I could say about my buddy Phil could never be summed up in a short sentence or two, and I promise that I will be back to say so much more about how I feel about him and his talents in due time. But for now, at 3am, after just having returned home from his passing, let me at least put this out there.
Phil Kennemore was not only a sweet and passionate man with his life, friends and family, but as an artist, he also had that rare ability to say what was on his mind with the most eloquent, clever, and to-the-point lyrics, yet could turn it on it's head in a second with some other viewpoint on reality and nail the point dead center. He was able to do what very few can - say the things that others have been thinking, but could never quite seem to put into words. He has always had a keen knack for doing that.
As a musician, with those huge fingers, his bass playing was always loud, strong, and deep, filling the largest or smallest of stages equally.
He had an amazingly strong life force that has influenced everyone who ever had the opportunity to be called a friend of his. I am forever grateful for our lifelong friendship, that was always in place throughout the worst and best of times. I will miss his sense of humor, his amazing wit, but most of all I will always miss not seeing him to my left on the stages I will play from this moment forward.
Yes, he was one of the class guys on this planet, and in this business, and I will always do what I can to spread the legacy of Phil Kennemore across the globe on every stage that I land on.
You know how much I love you Phil, and you knew how much your fans and fellow musicians loved and respected you. There was nothing left unsaid. You had a rich and wonderful life and I can only tell you that I was happy to have been alongside you every step of the glorious way.
Cheers to you, Phil.
Your friend forever,
-Dave
Our hearts go out to your family and fans. We were a lucky generation to roller skate to your music back in the day, when we were discovering french kissing. Hair Metal was a girls game, for me back then, being an inspiring young punk. Who would have thought in 1986, that some years later, with some influence, would one day become a fan of such metal.
(Self portrait 2011)
If anything, I was drawn closer to new wave music because it related more to robots and Blade Runner. Hair metal can take it there too, but the choice for me was obvious.
(Jon Nicholson - Fall 1986 PHOTO: Brad Czernik)
Even though Japan broke up in 1982, Mick made his particular low end waves in music through his life.
This is the future music I am talking about...
Canton. A Marvelous instrumental. He went on to play with Peter Murphy from Bauhaus in Dali's Car, among other projects and a successful solo career that teeter tottered the line between, the Avant Garde and something unclassifiable and other worldly. My personal favorites are the collaborations that he took part of with Ryuichi Sakamoto, of Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Self taught, he had a unique style, driving the bass with a delicate beauty and tonal harmony, often mimicking the vibrato of the Violin. Check out his biography, it's pretty remarkable. And so, the torch is passed on to the next generation. You will both be missed by your families, friends and fans. The gifts you left behind, will outlive even us, for music will survive.
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