Farewell Rick Derringer

Guitarist Rick Derringer has died. I first saw the news from a post on Rikki Rockett's Facebook and then looked it up... there are not many official sources as of this writing, but lots of fellow musicians paying their condolences.

One of Derringer's big songs is "Hang on Sloopy" and if you live in Ohio, you know it. It's used by Ohio State University football, after all! (Rick was born in Celina, Ohio so it all makes sense).

Derringer was a beast on guitar and he had a very long and successful career. The musician died last night in a hospital. According to his official Facebook, he had an ankle bypass back in March.

Here's Rick doing the solo on "Chain Lightning" by my beloved Steely Dan:

Comments

[Metalboy!]

Absolutely heart breaking!

I was fortunate enough to see him point blank at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett in The Summer of ‘92 and he blew the roof off the place!

The iconic “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo” will be forever etched in my memories as one of my favorite songs of all time!

I just listened to it about 10 minutes ago and everything about it is perfect!

God Bless & God Speed, Rick! … May You Rock The World Forever! … If there is indeed a Rock & Roll Heaven, Rick Derringer is definitely one of the guitarists in that great band in the sky!

p.s. Check out his 1978 sleeper album, “If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You”!