Drewsky1211

Saddam Hussein died on this day 17 years ago, aged 69. - Saddam joined the Ba'ath Party in 1957, rising through the party ranks over the next 20 years. Upon becoming the party leader in 1979, he would kill and detain several Ba'ath members to consolidate power. - Saddam's actions as dictator included declaring war on Iran in 1980, invading and annexing Kuwait in 1990 (subsequently losing it in the Gulf War), having sham elections where he won 100% of the vote in 2002 (and a smaller 99.9% in 1995), and declaring himself the son of the ancient Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. - Saddam went into hiding during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, specifically in a spider hole he made in the village where his former cook lived: (this image has since become a meme) He was found after nine months. - While awaiting trial for his crimes against humanity, Saddam was allegedly tortured by his captors by being forced to watch South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, where he was depicted as one of the film's main villains: A copy of the film reportedly signed by him was also sent to Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the creators of the show). - Saddam was found guilty of crimes against humanity and would be executed by hanging. His execution was captured on mobile phone footage (frame below): In January 2007, the guard believed to have recorded the video was arrested. - Saddam's tomb was destroyed by fighting between the Iraqi military and ISIS militants in 2015; his body was moved by supporters to an unknown location before this happened.

Jay Kay is 54.

12/29/2023 30 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 30 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 27 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 24 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? 24 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 19 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again -1 0 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You -5

Pierre Cardin died on this day 3 years ago, aged 98. - Born in Italy, Cardin's family fled to France in 1924 to escape the Mussolini regime. His father wanted him to become an architect, and while he did study architecture, he primarily worked in fashion houses. - Cardin was hired by Christian Dior in 1947, quickly designing the Bar jacket: - In 1950, Cardin launched his own fashion house, and he would become a worldwide name when the Beatles revealed they wore his suits. - Cardin would also design spacesuits for NASA in 1970: - In later years, Cardin was known for creating bizarre fashion designs- see some of them below: - Cardin made a total of six appearances on the DeathList, debuting in 2009 (and being that year's last survivor) and appearing on every list from 2017 onwards. He was the 20th death of 2020- so far the only list to reach that number of hits.

Marianne Faithfull is 77.

Final prediction on what the 2024 list might look like (should nothing happen in the next three days): 1. Jimmy Carter (100, Ex-US President, 6) 2. Glynis Johns (101, Actress, NEW) 3. Alan Greenspan (98, Economist, 4) 4. William Russell (100, Actor, NEW) 5. David Graham (99, Actor, NEW) 6. Nigel Starmer-Smith (80, Rugby Commentator, 5) 7. Mel Brooks (98, Comedian/Director, 10) 8. Joanne Woodward (94, Actress, 17) 9. Stanley Baxter (98, Comedian, 20) 10. Dick Van Dyke (99, Actor, 1) 11. Esther Rantzen (84, TV presenter, NEW) 12. Noam Chomsky (96, Intellectual, -) 13. Shannen Doherty (53, 90210 Actor, -) 14. Jean-Marie Le Pen (96, French Neo-Nazi, 22) 15. Eva Marie Saint (100, Actress, NEW) 16. Ethel Kennedy (96, Kennedy Family, 18) 17. Pete Murray (99, British radio presenter, 36) 18. James Whale (73, Broadcaster, -) 19. Sandy Gall (97, TV news reporter, 16) 20. Roberta Flack (87, Singer, NEW) 21. Yoko Ono (91, Mrs Lennon, 27) 22. Bob Newhart (95, Comedian, 37) 23. Cleo Laine (97, Jazz Singer, 24) 24. David Attenborough (98, Broadcaster and Natural Historian, -) 25. Douglas Hurd (94, Politician, -) 26. Tom Lehrer (96, Musical comedian, NEW) 27. Dennis Skinner (92, Politician, 41) 28. Desmond Morris (96, Zoologist, 19) 29. Vanessa Redgrave (87, Actress, -) 30. Patricia Routledge (95, Actress, NEW) 31. Imelda Marcos (95, Former First Lady of the Philippines, 33) 32. Norman Tebbit (93, Politician, 14) 33. Robert Wagner (94, Actor, 13) 34. Linda Nolan (65, Nolan Sister, 47) 35. Bruce Willis (69, Actor, NEW) 36. Denis Law (84, Footballer, -) 37. Prunella Scales (92, Sybil Fawlty, 26) 38. Sonny Rollins (94, Jazz Musician, 44) 39. James Earl Jones (93, Vader's Voice, NEW) 40. Dick Cheney (83, Politician, 8) 41. Brigitte Bardot (90, Sex Symbol, NEW) 42. Julie Goodyear (82, Bet Lynch, NEW) 43. Franz Beckenbauer (79, Footballer, NEW) 44. Pope Francis (88, The Pope, NEW) 45. Sophia Loren (90, Actress, NEW) 46. Hal Linden (93, Barney Miller, 46) 47. Rupert Murdoch (93, News Exec, NEW) 48. Willie Nelson (91, Country Singer, 40) 49. Tom Baker (90, Fourth Doctor, NEW) 50. Clint Eastwood (94, Dirty Harry, NEW)

12/28/2023 38 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 33 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 28 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 28 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 20 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again -2 20 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You -3 19 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? -1

Mary II of England died on this day 329 years ago, aged 32. - Mary was the oldest daughter of King James II. When she was 15, she was betrothed to William III of Orange- her paternal first cousin. - While Mary was in the Netherlands, her father would enact policies that greatly favored Catholics (over the Anglican majority), and Protestant elites convinced William to invade in 1688. James fled, and this was seen as abdication- Mary became queen not only because she was James' heir apparent, but William made her his co-ruler. - William was occasionally busy in mainland Europe, leaving Mary in charge when he left England in 1690. She preferred not to get into politics, rather having a council of nine advisors to help her with royal decisions. She would issue royal decrees, which included the arrest of her uncle Henry Hyde for plotting to restore James to the throne, and enact laws in line with the Church of England. - Mary died from smallpox in 1694, leaving William as the sole ruler until his death in 1702.

Dame Maggie Smith is 89.

"Dbaydyabya that's all folks!"- Porky Pig I'm predicting it's going to be Jimmy Carter vs. Noam Chomsky on "The 1st Death of 2024" poll, though.

1987: Ozzy Osbourne (1/31) 1989: Frank Bruno, Mike Ditka, Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, David Jenkins (5/32) 1990: Mike Ditka, Rex Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Terry Waite (4/42) 1991: Leo Beenhakker (1/40)  1992: Shaun Ryder (1/37) 1993: George Lineker (1/56) 1994: Edmund White, Holly Johnson, Peter Shilton (3/50) 1995: Holly Johnson (1/50) 1996: Mr T (1/50) 1997: (0/50) 1998: (0/50) 1999: Nick Leeson, Carly Simon (2/50) 2000: Louis Farrakhan (1/50) 2001: Liza Minnelli (1/50) 2002: (0/50)  2003: (0/50) 2004: (0/50) 2005: Hamed Karzai (1/50) 2006: (0/50)  2007: Tim Johnson, Louis Farrakhan (2/50) 2008: Russell Watson, Hamed Karzai, Charles Taylor (3/50) 2009: (0/50) 2010: (0/50) 2011: Ali Khamenei, Dick Cheney, Michael Douglas (3/50) 2012: Dick Van Dyke, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi (2/50) 2013: (0/50) 2014: Dick Van Dyke (1/50)  2015: Jake Roberts (1/50) 2016: Prunella Scales, Jimmy Carter, Tommy Chong, Sandy Gall, Paul Gascoigne (5/50) 2017: Jimmy Carter, Sandy Gall, Emperor Akihito (3/50) 2018: Linda Nolan, Prunella Scales, Jimmy Carter, Dick Van Dyke, Stanley Baxter, Mel Brooks, Louis Farrakhan, Ronnie Wood, Joni Mitchell, Paul Gascoigne (10/50) 2019: Jimmy Carter, Emperor Akihito, Alan Greenspan, Dick Van Dyke, Vanessa Redgrave, Cleo Laine, Prunella Scales (7/50)  2020: Dick Van Dyke, Emperor Akihito, Alan Greenspan, Jimmy Carter, Prunella Scales, Jacques Delors, Willie Nelson, Dick Cheney, Imelda Marcos, Joanne Woodward, Jean-Marie Le Pen, David Attenborough (11/50) 2021: Dick Van Dyke, Emperor Akihito, Alan Greenspan, Jimmy Carter, Jacques Delors, Ali Khamenei, Prunella Scales, Dick Cheney, Bob Newhart, Imelda Marcos, Yoko Ono, Linda Nolan, Joanne Woodward, Mel Brooks, Willie Nelson, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Raul Castro, Stanley Baxter, Vanessa Redgrave, Shannen Doherty (19/50) 2022: Dick Van Dyke, Alan Greenspan, Nigel Starmer-Smith, Jimmy Carter, Dick Cheney, Mel Brooks, David Attenborough, Emperor Akihito, Sandy Gall, Desmond Morris, Jean-Marie Le Pen, James Whale, Cleo Laine, Jacques Delors, Denis Law, Prunella Scales, Stanley Baxter, Noam Chomsky, Norman Tebbit, Douglas Hurd, Marianne Faithfull, Linda Ronstadt (21/50) Updated for Jacques Delors.

Tom Smothers dead at 86.

12/27/2023 41 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 38 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 29 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? 26 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You 23 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 19 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 17 Bruce Channel — Hey! Baby 14 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again 9 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan — Scarlett O'Hara -2 7 The Searchers — Sugar And Spice -2 5 Mr. Acker Bilk ft. The Leon Young String Chorale — Stranger On The Shore -2

Gustave Eiffel died on this day 100 years ago, aged 91. - Eiffel had studied both chemistry and engineering in his youth, and his first construction job came in 1857, for a railway bridge. - He would continue to work in the train industry, overseeing the construction of steam engines used to help complete the Suez Canal, as well as several viaducts in his native France. - One of Eiffel's first building commissions came in 1868 when the Peruvian government asked him to redesign the St. Mark's Cathedral after the original was destroyed in an earthquake. - In 1881, Auguste Bartholdi contacted Eiffel to help with the construction of the Statue of Liberty- Eiffel was responsible for designing its internal structure: - The Eiffel Tower was not his idea- one of his friends, Maurice Koechlin made the original sketch in 1884; Eiffel initially disliked the idea of building it until another architect, Stephen Sauvestre, added decorative supports to it. The building permit was signed in 1887, and it was the tallest man-made structure in the world between 1889 and 1930. - Eiffel was also involved in designing the locks for France's preliminary idea of the Panama Canal; however the company went under in 1888, and would be accused of misappropriating funds. Eiffel was found guilty in 1893, but successfully appealed and avoided jail time. - In later years, Eiffel studied meteorology and aerodynamics, constructing wind tunnels and weather stations. - Eiffel died while listening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

John Amos is 84.

12/26/2023 38 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 31 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 26 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You 25 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? 25 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 25 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 16 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again 16 Mr Acker Bilk ft. The Leon Young String Chorale — Stranger on the Shore 15 Bruce Channel — Hey! Baby 13 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan — Scarlett O'Hara 12 The Searchers — Sugar And Spice -2 8 The Shadows — Atlantis -4 08 Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen — Midnight In Moscow

Gerald Ford died on this day 17 years ago, aged 93. - Ford's birth name was "Leslie King"- he was renamed by his stepfather (also named Gerald Ford), although he legally did not change it until 1935. - Before Ford became Nixon's VP, he was a Michigan congressman from 1949 to 1973- most notably being a part of the Warren Commission that investigated the JFK assassination, and being the House Minority Leader from 1965 until his resignation. - Ford's presidency was best known for his pardon of Nixon, and then replacing nearly all his cabinet (excluding Henry Kissinger and Secretary of the Treasury William Simon), the Fall of Saigon occurring, and hosting his daughter Susan's prom at the White House in 1975: - During his stay in the White House, Ford had several pets- three dogs (Liberty, Misty and Lucky) and a cat (Shan). - Ford would replace Nelson Rockefeller on his 1976 presidential ticket with Bob Dole. They lost to Jimmy Carter in a ratio of 297-240 electoral votes (one elector voted for Ronald Reagan). - Ford would end up having a lifelong friendship with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in his post-presidency. Ford was known for his liberal ideology, supporting the assault weapon ban of 1994, stating gay marriage needed to be considered equal to straight marriage, and disagreeing with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. - Ford became the longest-living US president in November of 2006, having surpassed Ronald Reagan's age. This would be surpassed by George H. W. Bush in late 2017 (and also by Jimmy Carter in 2018). - Ford debuted on the DeathList in 1997, making six appearances over the next nine years. He was the 13th and final hit of 2006.

Lars Ulrich is 60.

Christmas 2023 37 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 32 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 31 Mr. Acker Bilk ft. The Leon Young String Chorale — Stranger On The Shore 29 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You 25 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 23 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 22 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? 17 Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen — Midnight In Moscow 16 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan — Scarlett O'Hara 16 The Shadows — Atlantis 16 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again 16 Bruce Channel — Hey! Baby 14 The Searchers — Sugar And Spice 6 Helen Shapiro — Tell Me What He Said -1 0 Freddie & The Dreamers — I’m Telling You Now (This Song's Time is Up) -5

George Michael died on this day 7 years ago, aged 53. - Michael was the son of Greek Cypriot immigrants to England- his real name was "Georgios Panayiotou". - Michael would meet Andrew Ridgeley while in school, and the two would perform as a musical act together, covering songs by other bands such as Queen. - In 1981, the two of them formed Wham!, with Michael on lead vocals. They were an immediate breakout group, and they had many top-10 singles between 1981 and 1984- most notably "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go". - - Michael went solo in 1984, releasing his biggest hit, "Careless Whisper", that year: In 1985, Michael would perform in China- the first Western act to do so. He would continue to see success with songs such as "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", "I Want Your Sex", and "Faith"- the latter being Billboard's number one single of 1988. - In the early 2000s, Michael became a protest singer against the Iraq War, causing controversy when depicting Tony Blair as George W. Bush's pet poodle in the music video for "Shoot the Dog": - Michael was outed as being gay in 1998- when he was arrested for "public lewdness". The officer who arrested him sued him for $10 million due to content in the music video for "Outside" showing male cops kissing each other, thinking he was being personally mocked. The case would be dismissed in 2003. - Michael died from acute heart failure on Christmas Day in 2016. This was considered ironic because... (It is now safe to listen to this song. Merry Christmas, and congrats to those who won Whamageddon this year.)

Annie Lennox is 69.

12/24/2023 41 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 34 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 30 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You  29 Mr. Acker Bilk ft. The Leon Young String Chorale — Stranger On The Shore 25 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 24 Bruce Channel — Hey! Baby  22 Helen Shapiro — Tell Me What He Said 21 Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen — Midnight In Moscow 21 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? 20 The Shadows — Atlantis 18 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 17 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan — Scarlett O'Hara -3 14 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again 14 The Searchers — Sugar And Spice 10 Freddie and the Dreamers — I’m Telling You Now -3

Harold Pinter died on this day 15 years ago, aged 78. - Pinter wrote his first play in 1957, called The Room (which was not adapted by Tommy Wiseau). He followed this up the following year with The Birthday Party. - His breakout came in 1960, when he wrote both The Caretaker and A Night Out, and in 1964 he wrote The Homecoming, for which he received four Tony Awards. - Pinter's career as a playwright has been often compared to a three-act structure. First were the "comedy of menace" plays from 1957 to 1968, the "memory play" saga from 1968 to 1982, and the "political plays" from 1982 to 2000. - Pinter would also act in several TV and theatrical films, which included Rogue Male, Mansfield Park, and The Tailor of Panama. - In 2005, Pinter would be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature because of the political themes of his later plays, which led to a mixed reaction from the public. - Pinter would be diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001, and would later be diagnosed with liver cancer as well. He debuted on the DeathList in 2006, staying on until his death (the 14th and final hit of 2008).

Diedrich Bader is 57.

12/23/2023 36 Little Eva — The Loco-Motion 32 Andy Williams — Can’t Get Used To Losing You 31 Chris Montez — Let’s Dance 31 The Crystals — Then He Kissed Me +2 27 Mr. Acker Bilk ft. The Leon Young String Chorale — Stranger On The Shore 22 Bruce Channel — Hey! Baby 21 Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen — Midnight In Moscow 21 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas — Do You Want To Know A Secret? 20 Helen Shapiro — Tell Me What He Said 20 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan — Scarlett O’Hara 20 The Searchers — Sugar And Spice 19 Freddie and the Dreamers — I’m Telling You Now 18 The Shadows — Atlantis 18 Chubby Checker — Let’s Twist Again 17 The Beatles — Please Please Me +2 13 Del Shannon — Hey Little Girl 12 Roy Orbison — Dream Baby 0 Joe Brown & The Bruvvers — A Picture Of You -6