Today in rock history: On this date in 1987, one of the greatest and most gifted bass players of all time, Jaco Pastorius, passed away at the age of 35. As a major and commanding force on recordings by jazz fusion band Weather Report, Jaco also lent his talents to albums by Joni Mitchell and guitarist Pat Metheny apart from releasing a strong collection of solo albums. No stranger to barroom fights, Pastorius was denied admission to a nightclub in Wilton Manors, Florida and got into a physical altercation with a bouncer from the club. The innovative bassist suffered several major injuries as a result of the brawl and slipped into a coma after being hospitalized. Although things were looking up for Pastorius as he recovered, his condition took a turn for the worse and he suffered a brain hemorrhage that led to him being deemed brain dead. Jaco is often regarded as one of the very best and most distinctive bassists of all time, and is often cited as a major influence on players of all genres.

TODAY IN ROCK HISTORY
Today in rock history: Joni and Jaco go Mingus

Today in rock history: On this date in 2011, influential Athens, Georgia rock band, R.E.M. made its breakup official. To the dismay of many longtime fans and followers, the band announced on its website that, after 31 years together, it felt that it was time to dissolve. After releasing 15 albums together — including the college rock staples Murmur and Reckoning plus million sellers Out of Time and Monster — the band made the uneasy decision to call it quits. “We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished”, the band wrote in its farewell message on its site, which thanked fans for their support. For many, the breakup marked the end of an era and the conclusion of one of the most important bands to emerge in the 1980s and achieve worldwide success.

Today in rock history: On this date in 1999, American electronic rock outfit Nine Inch Nails scored the first No. 1 album of its long history. Fronted by songwriter and singer Trent Reznor, the band’s third album The Fragile debuted at the top spot on Billboard’s pop albums chart a week after its release and eventually went on to sell over 2 million copies in America alone. The album featured the singles “Into the Void,” “We’re In This Together” and “The Day the World Went Away.” Reznor played a great majority of the instruments featured on the songs that made up the double-disc set but the album also featured guest appearances by guitarist Adrian Belew and assistance from hip-hop giant Dr. Dre, who helped mix the album.

A RESPECTFUL REMEMBRANCE
Leonard Cohen brings his massive tower of songs to the Straz Center, Tampa

Today in rock history: On this date in 1934, singer, songwriter, novelist and poet Leonard Cohen was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. After moving to the United States in the late 1960s in search of a musical career, Cohen made a large impression while living in New York City and received rave reviews for his 1967 debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen. Regularly regarded as one of the most creative and talented songwriters of the era, Cohen’s compositions were soon being covered by more established artists like Judy Collins and James Taylor. As the writer of “Hallelujah,” a poignant ballad that’s been covered by artists like John Cale, Jeff Buckley and k.d. lang, Cohen’s many unforgettable, haunting songs earned him a loyal and dedicated following throughout his long career. Working sporadically throughout the 1980s, Cohen enjoyed a resurgence in the 2000s leading right up to his death in 2016. Putting out several critically acclaimed albums and embarking on successful concert tours while in his 70s, Cohen passed away at the age of 82 in 2016. An inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Leonard Cohen was without a doubt one of the most spectacular and impactful artists of his time.