Paul Kantner, guitarist and founding member of Jefferson Airplane. SFGate. NYT. A/V Club.
Perhaps someone more familiar with Hugo history can answer this: was Kantner the only guitarist ever nominated for a Hugo (either individually or as part of a group)?
This was by way of Lawrence, who asks, “Has there been a huge number of important deaths this month, or is my view just distorted?” If his view is distorted, mine is, too.
I think there have been studies that show a peak in deaths in January: people who are on the edge try to hold out through Christmas and the new year, but after January 1st there’s nothing to hold out for and they’ve used up a lot of their strength. Even taking that into account, this January has been one of the worst months I can remember.
At some point, I may run a comparison of how many obit watches I’ve posted in January since I began this effort. If I do, I’ll post it here. (And I know that will be kind of skewed, too, but it is at least a start.)
NYT obit for Buddy Cianci. That’s something else I’ll try to get posted today.
The same year Blows Against the Empire was nominated, Firesign Theater was nominated for Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand me the Pliers, which includes guitar played by member Phil Austin.
Eric Idle also plays guitar, and got a Hugo nomination for Monty Python and the Holy Grail.