Latest news with #GoneButNotForgotten
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Devil Wears Prada Ex-Drummer Daniel Williams Killed in San Diego Plane Crash
Daniel Williams, former drummer for Ohio metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died Thursday morning (May 22) in a San Diego plane crash that also killed music agent Dave Shapiro from Sound Talent Group. The two men were among six total who died after the plane clipped a power line in a San Diego suburb, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, sparking intense flames that scorched several homes, destroyed dozens of vehicles and forced the evacuation of more than 100 people. More from Billboard Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2025 Aaron Paul Opens Up About Tracking Down Tour Managers to Get Bands to Perform in His Living Room Ye Claims He's 'Done With Antisemitism': 'Forgive Me for the Pain I've Caused' While no one on the ground was killed in the crash, all six individuals aboard the flight died. Three of those dead, including Shapiro, worked for Sound Talent Group, a company official confirmed. The flight was reportedly piloted by Shapiro, a popular music agent, flight instructor and owner of the Sound Talent Group booking agency and Velocity Records label. Prior to taking off, Williams even posted several photos to Instagram of himself boarding the flight with Shapiro and sitting in the cockpit. The Devil Wears Prada confirmed Williams' death on their Instagram page, sharing several photos of Williams and Shapiro together. Shapiro's Cessna 550 jet crashed 2 miles south of San Diego's Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport at 3:45 a.m. PT, according to the FAA statement. Flight data shows that the aircraft had taken off from Teterboro Airport, near New York City, late Wednesday night and briefly stopped to refuel in Wichita, Kansas, before continuing on to San Diego. 'Shapiro was a founding member of the National Independent Talent Organization and on Thursday, NITO officials released a statement sharing its members condolences,' the statement reads. 'We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues. Dave was a visionary in the music industry and a founding partner of Sound Talent Group. His passion, dedication, and unwavering support for artists shaped the careers of countless musicians and helped elevate the live music experience for fans around the world. As a founding member of NIT0, Dave was instrumental in the initial formation and funding of the organization and assisted countless of our peers successfully navigate the pandemic shutdown of live music. Our sincerest condolences go out to Dave's family, friends, and everyone at STG. This is a monumental loss to our community.' The Devil Wears Prada charted two top 10 titles on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart during Williams' tenure with the group: 2010's Zombie EP and 2011's Dead Throne. Over on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, they have two No. 1s among 11 entries: 2009's With Roots Above and Branches Below and 2010's Zombie EP. The band formed in 2005 in Dayton, Ohio, as a Christian metal group. Williams exited the group in 2016. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Les Binks, Former Judas Priest Drummer, Dies at 73
Former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks, who held the spot in the metal band's lineup for a few crucial years in the late 1970s, had died at 73. The group members announced their bandmate's death on Tuesday morning (April 15), writing on Instagram, 'We are deeply saddened about the passing of Les and send our love to his family, friends and fans. The acclaimed drumming he provided was first class – demonstrating his unique techniques, flair, style and precision – Thank you Les – your acclaim will live on…..' More from Billboard Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2025 Katy Perry Posts Video of Her Blue Origin Flight Featuring Outer Space Reveal of Tour Setlist Lil Nas X Reveals Partial Paralysis of Right Side of His Face: 'I Can't Even Laugh Right' Born in Portadown, Northern Ireland, on Aug. 8, 1951, Binks (born James Leslie Binks), spent time drumming with Eric Burdon and the Animals and War, as well as the pop group Fancy before joining Judas Priest in 1977. The band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969 and fronted by leather-loving singer Rob Halford released its debut album, Rocka Rolla, in 1974, followed by 1996's Sad Wings of Destiny. Binks made his first appearance with group in time for 1977's Sin After Sin, the band's major label debut. The sessions saw the exit of early drummer Alan Moore, who was replaced by Simon Phillips for the recording. But, with Moore unavailable to tour, Binks was tapped to hit the road with the band after bringing his signature double-bass barrage to the bonus track cover of The Gun's 'Race With the Devil.' The drummer made his biggest mark on 1978's Stained Class, where his massive, double kick drum sound and blitzkrieg style is a standout from the very first seconds of opening track 'Exciter,' one of the songs that set the stage for the speed and thrash metal of the 1980s. The album, considered by many fans to be one of the group's finest efforts, featured a rare co-songwriting credit for Binks on the ominous prog-metal shouter 'Beyond the Realms of Death.' Binks also appeared on the follow-up, 1978's Killing Machine (which was released as Hell Bent for Leather in the U.S.), the most commercially oriented collection to date from the Priest, and the LP that would also mark his swan song with the group. Anchored by meaty rock anthems such as 'Rock Forever' and the raucous 'Hell Bent For Leather,' the album set the stage for what would become the band's commercial breakthrough on 1980s British Steel, which featured the hits 'Living After Midnight' and Beavis and Butt-Head favorite 'Breaking the Law'; Binks was replaced on that album by former Trapeze drummer Dave Holland. Binks' final record with Judas Priest would be the band's 1979 Unleashed in the East live album recorded in Tokyo earlier that year, after which he split following a reported dispute with band manager Mike Dolan over compensation for the live LP. The drummer played with a series of other bands throughout the 1980s and '90s (Lionhearted, Tytan) and formed the all-star Priest cover band Les Binks' Priesthood, in 2017. In a testament to the crucial role he played in the development of Judas Priest's sound, Binks was on stage with the rest of Priest in 2022 when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed as part of their three-song set in one of his final public appearances before his death. Check out their performance at the RRHOF ceremony below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
