Archive - Sep 3, 2010

Robert George Schimmel (January 16, 1950 – September 3, 2010) was an American stand-up comedian whose material was often X-rated and controversial. He was perhaps best known for his comedy albums and his appearances on HBO and The Howard Stern Show. Schimmel is number 76 on the 2004 program Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups Of All Time.

Health
Schimmel battled lymphoma into remission and the disease did not return. He also survived a heart attack

Car accident and death
On August 26, 2010, while travelling on Arizona State Route 101 in Scottsdale, Arizona, Schimmel was involved in a major car accident that left him in a very serious condition. Schimmel's 19 year old daughter Aliyah was driving with her father and brother. Police reported that she was run off the road by an out-of-control SUV and lost control of the vehicle which rolled over a concrete embankment. It came to a stop on its side on the shoulder of the freeway. Aliyah Schimmel was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Schimmel's son was not injured.

On September 3, 2010, Schimmel died of his injuries. He was survived by five children.

*Thank you Darrah & Russ for contacting me.

Mike Edwards (May, 31 1948 – September, 3 2010), known as Swami Deva Pramada or simply Pramada, was an English cellist and music teacher. His wide-ranging career was most widely notable for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra.

He played as a member of the Electric Light Orchestra  from their first live gig in 1972 until he departed in January 1975, of his own choosing. Previously he had had little interest in non-classical music, though he had played on recording sessions for Barclay James Harvest.

His eccentric cello playing (fingering the cello strings with an orange or grapefruit) and bizarre costumes were a major ingredient of the early ELO touring band. Edwards' live "party piece" was The Dying Swan, where he would perform a cello solo and ultimately his cello would explode through the use of pyrotechnics. His cello playing contributed to the albums ELO II, On the Third Day, The Night The Light Went On (In Long Beach) and Eldorado. He was later replaced as cellist by Melvyn Gale.

Death of Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards was killed in Devon, England, between Harbertonford and Halwell.  A 1300 lbs hay bale (roll of hay) rolled down a hillside and collided with the van he was driving.  Mike Edwards was sixty two years old at the time of his death.

Related Story
ELO Bass Player Kelly Groucutt dies 63 (February 20, 2009) 

 Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado Overture/Can't Get It Out of My Head
Mike Edwards & Hugh McDowell on Cello, Mik Kaminski on Violin