July 17

 Geezer Butler

July 17, 1949

In 1968, Terence Michael Joseph Butler co-founded the heavy metal outfit Black Sabbath. His heavy bass guitar lines and dark lyric themes became a foundational element of the heavy rock movement. He provided a massive sonic anchor for iconic, riff-heavy albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality. His innovative use of audio effects pedals helped define the gloomy, powerful landscape of the genre.

He powered the rhythm section of the group through multiple line-up changes until 1984. He subsequently returned for several high-profile recording and touring stints from 1990 through 2017. Beyond his mainstay group, his deep grooves guided recording projects for the Ozzy Osbourne band during the late eighties and nineties.

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Mick Tucker

July 17, 1947 – February 14, 2002

Mick Tucker powered the driving rhythm of Sweet as a founding member from 1968 to 1991. His complex drum solos and precise timing became a definitive feature of the glam rock movement. He provided the explosive energy behind massive chart-topping anthems like Ballroom Blitz and Fox on the Run.

His fast-paced style helped the core lineup transition from bubblegum pop into a much heavier rock sound. He anchored the band through their peak touring years and numerous studio albums, remaining a constant force behind the kit until the group finally dissolved.

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Spencer Davis

July 17, 1939 – October 19, 2020

Spencer David Nelson Davies changed his name before guiding his namesake outfit through the changing tides of the late sixties. He handled rhythm guitar and lead vocals on the psychedelic sounds of the 1968 album With Their New Face On after high-profile lineup departures shifted the direction of the band. He steered the unit through experimental recordings and additional lineup adjustments before the core group fractured at the end of the decade.

He crossed the Atlantic to find fresh inspiration, launching a solo career path with two independent albums in 1971 and 1972. He revived the Spencer Davis Group name alongside original drummer Pete York for heavy touring circuits and two new studio collections. Beyond his own performing units, his sharp ear for talent guided the industry from behind a desk, shaping the rosters of major record labels as an executive through the late seventies. He remained tied to his catalog by staging selective touring revivals that kept his classic tracks alive on international stages from 1985 until 2018.

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Ron Asheton

July 17, 1948 – January 6, 2009

The blistering guitar riffs of Ron Asheton helped create the sonic blueprint for the punk movement. As a founding member of the Stooges, he laid down highly influential walls of distortion on their landmark 1969 self titled debut and the fierce follow up Fun House. His raw chord progressions and chaotic wah wah solos provided a menacing backdrop for the band.

When the group rearranged their lineup for the 1973 album Raw Power, he seamlessly switched to bass guitar to keep their heavy rhythm section locked into place. Following the initial collapse of the band, he channeled his aggressive playing style into alternative outfits like the New Order and Destroy All Monsters. He eventually stepped back into his signature role on the guitar when the original proto punk legends staged a massive global reunion starting in 2003, remaining a fixture on stage until 2009.

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