 |
|
GRUNTRUCK/SKIN YARD Singer BEN MCMILLAN Loses Battle With Diabetes
- Jan. 28, 2008
|
|
After a eight-year battle with diabetes, Benjamin Scott McMillan, legendary vocalist for GRUNTRUCK and SKIN YARD, died in his hometown of Seattle, Washington at age 47. Complications from a related blood-clotting disease are said to have worsened his diabetic condition, which was severe. The surviving members of GRUNTRUCK, as well as other Seattle rock luminaries, are planning an assortment of tributes and memorial projects in his name; details to follow. GRUNTRUCK Seattle 1992:
|
|
 |
|
To report any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or
threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws,
please send an e-mail to bmouth@bellatlantic.net
with pertinent details.
Anyone posting such material will be immediately and permanently banned. IP
addresses are recorded to aid us in enforcing these conditions.
|
|
 |
COMMENT |
posted by :
1/28/2008 4:07:19 PM
|
 |
|
|
That's a fucking shame. Skin Yard was a great band. 1000 Smiling Knuckles was a pretty brutal tune. Rest in peace, brother.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | I liked Gruntruck-
posted by : SchecterShredder
1/28/2008 4:10:54 PM
|
|
|
|
I still have the cd. Will give it a spin for you today Ben. R.I.P. Bro.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by :
1/28/2008 4:27:12 PM
|
|
|
|
Skin Yard was wholly underrated. Gruntruck was way better than the 2nd tier grunge band they were often dismissed as.
R.I.P. Ben.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by : rds
1/28/2008 4:44:32 PM
|
|
|
|
R.I.P. BEN
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | :-(
posted by : monstro
1/28/2008 5:02:23 PM
|
|
|
|
RIP
Gruntruck was awesome.
I like his vocals a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by :
1/28/2008 5:20:38 PM
|
|
|
|
Stay healthy metal heads. Take care of yourselves. We are losing too many too soon.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Good bye Ben
posted by :
1/28/2008 5:32:17 PM
|
|
|
|
It's been years since I last spoke to Ben or the rest of the Gruntruck crew but I'm completly shocked to hear about this.
I shot A TON of photos for them (and just about every other band in Seattle) in the early 90's. One of the photos can be seen on their album PUSH (inside group photo).
Ben was a great person and a great musician......godspeed.
John Leach
Seattle, WA U.S.A.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Wow
posted by : WRattlerX
1/28/2008 5:33:28 PM
|
|
|
|
Saw them at the Capitol Theater in Flint many years ago. RIP bud.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | At least it wasn't another heroin od
posted by :
1/28/2008 5:42:01 PM
|
|
|
|
There've been reports for years about Ben's health, but it was still shocking and sad to see the news here. All the times I saw them play, from the little stage of the OK Hotel, to opening up for Alice at the Arena, these guys were always great. If it hadn't been for the record company they wouldn't have stayed as a 2nd tier band in the Seattle scene and could have done so much more. Ben was a great musician and he will be missed.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Sad
posted by : v.o.r.
1/28/2008 6:37:01 PM
|
|
|
|
That's straight out of nowhere, then again haven't heard from these guys in about 14-15 years. Saw them about 15 years ago at a small Toronto venue opening for Circus of Power. Not many people, but Gruntruck was really good. Sorry to hear about this.
R.I.P. Ben
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | R.I.P. Ben
posted by :
1/28/2008 6:39:22 PM
|
|
|
|
Damn this sucks...saw Gruntruck open for Alice In Chains in St. Pete back in 1992, great band, cool guys...will be spinning the "Push" album tonight.
R.I.P. Ben
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by : woofman01
1/28/2008 6:56:47 PM
|
|
|
|
That's too bad. Skin Yard's "Hallowed Ground" was one of my favorite CDs of the 80's and holds up quite well even today. They were grunge way before it became trendy. I've never heard Gruntruck, will have to check them out.
R.I.P.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by : woofman01
1/28/2008 6:58:30 PM
|
|
|
|
^ WOW, Hallowed Ground is going for $49 on Amazon! Who knew!
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Very Sad
posted by :
1/28/2008 7:01:17 PM
|
|
|
|
RIP
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Sad news
posted by :
1/28/2008 7:27:54 PM
|
|
|
|
Both Skin Yard and Gruntruck were amazing and under-rated.
RIP Ben
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by :
1/28/2008 7:28:29 PM
|
|
|
|
Shame - I have the first Gruntruck CD and that rules. RIP dude
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Noone else said "POOOOSH" quite like this guy
posted by : TexasDog
1/28/2008 7:35:14 PM
|
|
|
|
That second Gruntruck album was great. Easily as good as Soundgarden, or any other angry not-quite-metal band from the late 20th century.
Shame the record label did not "PUSH" the album enough to gain lasting success. Guess you gotta POOOSH yourself.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | oh man. so sad to hear this.
posted by :
1/28/2008 8:20:56 PM
|
|
|
|
skin yard & gruntruck were killer. still listen to push quite a bit, and pulled 1000 smiling knuckles out for a spin too just the other day. saw the same tour with circus of power, and as much as i did and still love that band too gruntruck blew their doors completely off that night. such a criminally underrated band that never got a chance to be as big as they could have been because of label BS. RIP Ben....you will be missed.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Sorry to hear this
posted by : RiotAct666
1/28/2008 8:46:56 PM
|
|
|
|
R.I.P.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | RIP BRO
posted by :
1/28/2008 9:30:02 PM
|
|
|
|
will spin "Push" a bit myself been some years...
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Skin Yard
posted by :
1/28/2008 9:56:26 PM
|
|
|
|
I couldn't remember who was "the big name" in this band.
Its Matt Cameron from Soundgarden/Pearl Jam.
And Jack Endino the producer guy.
I hate to hear about this, RIP
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Sad...
posted by : cinephantasm
1/28/2008 10:42:42 PM
|
|
|
|
I will gladly pay to attend any tributes in the Seattle-area for Ben. It's a shame he had to go out that way. He will be missed.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | can't believe it
posted by : The GoatMan!!!
1/28/2008 11:09:06 PM
|
|
|
|
wow...nothin but positive comments...I can't fuckin believe it. I'm must say, I'm proud to be a part of this community. (for now)
Gruntruck rules. RIP
-The GoatMan.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Damn...
posted by :
1/28/2008 11:11:21 PM
|
|
|
|
This comes as a shock but then again I wasn't aware of his condition. I LOVED Gruntruck back in the day. I'm surprised my Push cd still plays b/c of all the wear I put on it. AMAZING album. Amazing musicians and Ben was a great talent. RIP brother.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT |
posted by : SilverMachine
1/29/2008 2:52:10 AM
|
|
|
|
Great Singer. Great Writer. Feel like I lost an old friend.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | I Love Gruntruck and dig Skin Yard aswell.
posted by :
1/29/2008 1:07:19 PM
|
|
|
|
Amazing singer, RIP
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | GRUNTRUCK!!!!!!!!
posted by :
1/29/2008 7:09:01 PM
|
|
|
|
Push was a great album. This is a real shock as I did not know Ben was ill. R.I.P.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | From Argentina
posted by :
1/31/2008 11:09:39 PM
|
|
|
|
I love Gruntruck & Skin Yard
they should have been huge!
have a good trip Ben R.I.P.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | I can't believe it!
posted by :
2/6/2008 10:35:29 PM
|
|
|
|
Ben was an inspiration to me as a singer. The tention in his voice and the passion he had for his music was incredible. one of the best days of my life as an artist was when Ben told me that I had a great band and that he thought my voice "kicked ass". I will never forget it and I wil never forget Ben. RIP my Brother, you are missed...
Stew
Sixty Second Buffer Zone
|
|
|
|
|
COMMENT | Tragic
posted by :
2/13/2008 11:44:42 AM
|
|
|
|
Ben has been in my top 3 favorite singers of all time for over a decade. Everything he was involved in was a pure shot of life. Push and 1000 Smiling Knuckles are spun in my player all the time. They are amazing albums. Thank you Ben for great guitar, great vocals, and great lyrics. You are forever loved.
|
|
|
|
