the axe man and the teen idol

Over the past two weeks, death by dementia claimed two rockers from my youth.
At least, that's how the reports of their deaths read.
Both were only in their sixties...

David Cassidy died last Wednesday, at 67, of liver failure.
This photo is of him as he was
in the early 1970's,
at the height of his time
as a teen idol of mine.
As the actual lead singer
of "The Partridge Family",
his melodious voice -
and his good looks -
fueled many a dream
during my middle school years.
The sweet, poppy rock songs
were just perfect for me
as a young teen.
Then, in high school,
I got my GE Wildcat turntable...

...and discovered the world
of garage rock and roll -
and the music of AC/DC,
with all its rhythm-driven songs
written by Malcolm Young,
a guitar man from down under
with muscled arms.
Malcolm has now died at age 64,
just a few days before David.
He had stopped touring with the band a few years ago,
no longer trusting his songs,
or his finger strokes,
to his memory.
The guitar he long ago modified
for his songs lives on.
So do the many, many songs he
and his brother gave to the world.
You
Shook Me
All Night Long.