Kempner’s death in a Connecticut nursing home was the result of complications from developing dementia. The statement was issued by Rich Nesin, who manages the musician’s career. The death itself was announced a little earlier by friends from The Dictators. You will find more interesting texts on the home page.
Scott “Top Ten” Kempner was born on February 6, 1954 in the Bronx, New York. During their studies, together with Andy Shernoff and Ross “Boss” Friedman, they founded the band The Dictators in 1973, considered one of the progenitors of punk rock. Two years later, they released their debut album “The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!”, with which they presented the world with new, a sound unknown to the general public at that time. A year later, the album “Ramones” was released by the band of the same name, which is today included in the canon of this rock subgenre.
Forerunners of punk rock. Inspiration for the Ramones
The Dictators managed to record three more albums, after which the group broke up for the first time. However, this did not mean the end of Kempner’s career, and he decided to form the band Del Lords with Erik Ambel and Manny Caiati. They created rock’n’roll, drawing inspiration from the British music scene of the 1960s, including: works of The Beatles and The Animals. They were also inspired by blues, country and Americana. Kempner was also responsible for vocals and lyrics.
“Heart of the team, team player.” Friends say goodbye to the musician
“In The Dictators, he was a team player, the heart of the band,” said Eric Ambel, a member of Del Lords. “Scott Kempner was the quintessential rockman, a free, abandoned guitarist, a great arranger, a prolific songwriter, with a great sense of rhythm,” said Dion DiMucci, a doo-wop legend with whom Kempner played in the band Little Kings. “But most of all, he is a dear friend and brother whom I love and will truly miss. Eternal rest, my friend.”
His parent group The Dictators was reactivated in 2019 with Kempner on board until the musician left it in 2021 due to health problems. During this time they actively gave concerts. The artist himself announced last year that he suffers from dementia. Unfortunately, the terrible disease quickly took its toll.
Source: Gazeta
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