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Descendents Co-Founder Frank Navetta Dies

Frank Navetta, co-founder and original guitarist with the influential punk-pop group the Descendents, died Friday. Navetta played guitar with the band during its first six years, writing and performing on the band's 1979 debut single 'Ride the Wild/It's A Hectic World,' the 1981 EP 'Fat,' 1982's classic 'Milo Goes to College' and parts of 1985's 'I Don't Want to Grow Up.'

"We're very sorry to announce that founding member of the Descendents, and close friend Frank Navetta passed away on October 31, 2008 after becoming ill over the course of a few days," reads an announcement on the band's official website. "This is obviously a huge loss for the Descendents family. His contribution to the band, and to music in general can not be overstated. Frank will be truly missed. We will share information about memorial services when we find out."

Navetta, drummer Bill Stevenson and bassist Tony Lombardo formed the band, with vocalist Milo Aukerman joining on in 1981. Before exiting the band in 1985 and moving to Oregon to become a fisherman, Navetta penned such early Descendents favorites as 'My Dad Sucks,' 'Parents,' 'Statue of Liberty' and 'Marriage.'

Dearly Departed Musicians

    Island Def Jam executive Shakir Stewart, who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z's departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. Police say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 34 years old.

    Rock and jazz keyboardist Merl Saunders, who recorded albums with music titans like The Grateful Dead and Miles Davis, died at the age of 74 on Oct. 24 after complications from a stroke.

    Christopher Felver, Corbis

    Soul songstress Dee Dee Warwick died on Oct. 18 after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

    Getty Images

    Levi Stubbs, Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving" died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

    AP

    Nick Reynolds, Oct. 1: The Kingston Trio led the folk music uprising in the late 1950s, paving the way for the Dylans and the Baezs of the world. Reynolds, right with Dave Guard and Bob Shane, had been in the hospital with acute respiratory disease before his family took him off life support. He was 75.

    AP

    Norman Whitfield, Sept. 16: The Motown tunesmith responsible for anthems like 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' 'Car Wash' and 'War' died shortly after awakening from a diabetes-related coma. He was 67.

    Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

    Richard Wright, Sept. 15: With Pink Floyd, he unleashed new sounds from his collection of synths and organs that gave the band its signature psychedelic sheen. Wright, who also wrote mammoth cuts like "Us and Them" for the band, died following a battle with cancer. He was 65.

    AP

    Jerry Reed, Sept. 2: He started off as a guitarist, eventually had a string of country hits and also made the jump to the big screen with successful turns in Burt Reynolds films like 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Gator.' Reed lost a battle to emphysema at 71.

    Doug McKenzie, Getty Images

    Steve Foley, Aug. 23: The bespeckled drummer from Minneapolis will always be known as the replacement Replacement for his brief tenure after Chris Mars left the beloved band in 1990. His death at 49 is being attributed to an accidental prescription drug overdose. He appeared in one video for the band, the visually quirky 'When It Began,' pictured.

    YouTube / Rhino Records

    LeRoi Moore, Aug. 19: As a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, Moore's saxaphone playing helped propel the band's sound to major success. He was 46.

    AP

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34 Comments

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heather

hahahaha im headaboo

November 04 2008 at 10:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
doctor_olson

Pretty good people jammed with them at 1st Avenue back in the day good band.

November 04 2008 at 7:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lam12sacred

dying is a part of living...

sincere condolences @ this time

November 04 2008 at 5:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
quantumdriven

GC vs GQ for the WHITEHOUSE !!!

Dear Editor,

> Senator John McCain very likely can't bounce his grandchildren upon
his knee. He would like to, but the aftereffects of his Vietnam crash/ejection
from his jet fighter, and the pursuant torture he endured by his captors has left him a stiff and
racked with pain man.
> But he is still a warrior of a man, and one that wont suffer fools, as well as one
that demands respect and makes others wilt at his wrath. And if elected, Mr McCain
will make surgical strikes upon the sinister fabric of what America has became. And
if he be not successful in turning this great Nation around, then it will only be because his Vetoes and Programs have been victim of Overrides.
>Senator McCain's opponent is an impressive, fine and intelligent man, and he represents quite the by-the-bootstraps story, having achieved success in a Nation that was
bitterly racially divided during his youth, with he himself being not exactly the scion of a stereotypical,
stable nuclear family.
>McCain's opponent walks, talks, and presents himself in a confident manner.
Yes, the Senator from Illinois has been crowned by the touchy-feely bleeding
Right Wing Liberal crowd as the second coming of JFK, and the torchbearer
of the New Camelot. He will end the war before we've won it; he will spend and
bankrupt America into the feared "New World Order"-- putting this great Nation
at the alter of the Israel/Switzerland/Japan/Euro Bank alliance that damn nears owns us already! And did I mention that women swoon at his strong and studly
good looks as he saunters elegantly among the "In Crowd."
>But folks, we're not electing a fashion plate or triathlon athlete for the Whitehouse; no, we're
electing the next leader of the Free World. We're electing a man that will inherit
a horrific legacy of the biggest frenzied spending and asleep at the wheel President of all time. And the Gentleman Quarterlyesque aura of the inexperienced Illinois Senator isn't going to get the job done in fixing this mess.
>Indeed, we need
a harsh and cursing Drill Sergeant at the helm this time; an ole Grumpy and Crotchety warhorse that'll
step on toes as he red-in-the-face pokes his pencil in the ribs of those that dare to
sell our Nation down the tubes. We need the GC guy and not the GQ one.
> On election night the winner will be unable to raise either hand high in a "V" sign; a sign that would mean the beginning of a hard but peaceful healing as much as his victory. And when that election night is over that
man's name shall henceforth be President John McCain.

November 03 2008 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to quantumdriven's comment
rose

You poor idiot. I'm curious about why you put this moronic political crap as a comment about a talented, influential musician who just passed away and will be greatly missed? Are you that thick or just nucking-futz????

It reads like one of those "fwds" I get from a friend (sometimes 10-12 a DAY!); political, religious, etc. :-/ ) - mostly chain-emails that threaten "send to *X* number of people within a week or you'll die horribly in 10 days!" Gimme a break!

Considering your inappropriate, disrespectful rant, you'll undoubtably exercise your privilege to vote....*shiver*....people like you make me tremble with fear for the human race.....

November 04 2008 at 12:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
reba qiuck

Mettalica

November 03 2008 at 9:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laurel Bay-Tree

R.I.P Frank you rock ^_^

November 03 2008 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jared

How can so many people not know the Descendents? Did I grow up on an island. No- I grew up with the two most kick ass radio stations on the planet 106.3 Modern Rock at the Jersey shore and 89.5 WSOU Rutgers radio. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Who are the Descendents? Find other forms other than the mainstream bullshit you are force fed! Now Damnit!

I'll give you a primer:

Angry Samoans
SOD
The Cure
The Butthole Surfers
Old- Janes Addiction
Circle Jerks
Pixies
Pogues
Frank Black
Talking Heads
the Jam
Bob Mould

If it is played on mainstream radio it probably sucks!

November 03 2008 at 9:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
imani

it suxx dat u died frank. ur da best. n u will be treasured n remember

November 03 2008 at 8:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sunny1

Nver heard of this perosn or his band.

November 03 2008 at 8:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Clay

Frank who?

November 03 2008 at 8:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply