A Fort Lauderdale Southern Rocker Is Shot And Killed

Richard Pierce Jr., 57, a guitarist for the Southern rock band, Rambler, was shot several times in the 400 block of North Andrews Avenue early last Thursday morning. Pierce was approached by Stevens Jean, 29, who shot him several times and then fled before being charged with first-degree murder. Rambler opened for established Southern rock bands like BlackFoot and Molly Hatchet. Their albums have sold approximately 60,000 copies.

Three Other Musicians Who Died In 2017

Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band died in May of this year at the age of 69. Gregg’s brother, Duane, preceded him in death back in 1971, but the band lived on. In 1975, they finally broke up and Gregg began his solo career, only to get back with the band later on. Gregg struggled with alcohol addiction, drug abuse, and health problems throughout the years before dying of complications from liver cancer.

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell, the front man for Soundgarden and Audioslave, also died in May died after a concert in Detroit. He was 52. Chris formed Soundgarden in 1984, which became huge in the Seattle grunge alternative rock scene with hits like “Spoonman” and “Black Hole Sun.” The band broke up in 1997, but got back together for a reunion tour in 2010. Chris committed suicide by hanging.

Sib Hashian

Boston drummer, Sib Hashian, died this year while performing on a rock and roll cruise ship that was sailing to the Bahamas. He was 67. Sib replaced Jim Masdea as Boston’s drummer back in 1975, but was then replaced by Masdea after several years. Sib later sued the band. He died this past March after collapsing in the middle of a set from a heart attack aboard the cruise ship.

If you’d like to read a story about another Palm Beach murder, check out author, Denise Wallace, and her true crime book, Daddy’s Little Secret.