Woke up. Went to make of what’s left of the Christmas flavored coffee. Go over to the desk to check the email, then hit Facebook to check any additional messages. Found out about this:
It’s one thing to hear about Michael Jackson, but its another to hear about a musician that you’ve actually liked. Rowland recently passed away from cancer at the age of 50.
During my mid-late teen years I was heavy into the whole Goth/Death Rock subculture. Back in the days of vinyl, I had records from Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Lydia Lunch. These folks that I’ve just mentioned had a connection to guitarist Rowland S. Howard.
Roland is more well known for his time with The Birthday Party. That was Nick Cave’s band before he formed more popular Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Later he did a series of collaborations with various acts, such as Lydia Lunch, Fad Gadget, Nikki Sudden, Henry Rollins, Einstürzende Neubauten, the list goes on.
Here’s a Wikipedia entry about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowland_S._Howard
I could post a video of him performing with Lydia Lunch, but I thought this was more suitable:
WitchesBrewPress's Blog 
RIP – Rowland Howard, 50, the guitarist for the punk band, the Birthday party, won’t be having any more birthday parties himself. While we waited 10 yrs for his comeback CD, Pop Crimes, to be released, he was waiting for a new liver. http://urdead2me.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/rip-roland-howard/