Death Watch Beatle

I read today that Carlos has been on hunger strike at the Paris jail he is banged-up in. He stopped eating a week ago, protesting about being kept in solitary confinement and having unjustifiable body searches, and says he is prepared to go on as long as necessary. If we have any doctors amongst us, could they let the DL know if he could survive into 2005 if he continues his protest. Could be the quickest score ever if the sums add up. DWB

I notice that his name hasn't been mentioned on the forum, so I will correct this oversight by mentioning him now. I think most people know he announced he was HIV+ in 1991 and has been working tirelessly for AIDS charities ever since, but news on his health and well-being seems a little scarce. Anybody got any news on him? DWB

Always a good sign that your time is nearly up is winning a 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. Dave Swarbrick, former violinist with Fairport Convention, received one this week at the BBC Folk Awards. Unfortunately Dave was too ill to receive his award in person! Swarb, rather surprisingly, has already passed the famousness test, by having an obituary written in the Daily Telegraph a couple of years ago. (Oops). His poor health (mainly self-inflicted it has to be said) has included 2 tracheotomies in the last few years, and he is now confined to a wheelchair with oxygen mask (see also Marlon Brando). Keep an eye on him. DWB

Doing a bit of research this morning and came across the following very recent news item. Was anyone aware he has cancer? One to watch. DWB

Came upon this article concerning HRH's bit on the side: http://www.itv.com/news/1236626.html Aren't these things always officially denied regardless of whether they are true or not? Could be the start of something bigger (and I don't just mean the cancer). DWB

Just been reading that poor old Baz is in hospital for chest pains. His PR person says its due to stress and the doctors are trying to get his heart rate back down to normal. He has been in hospital a few days now, undergoing various tests, so every chance that these stress related pains could turn out to be something more sinister. I don't think he can be that old either. One to watch. DWB

Another brain tumour candidate. Although his cancer is benign, Scott does have a history of cancer etc. http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,...7-23210,00.html DWB

Another music casualty - just like the Metallica article the exact cause and prognosis seems to elude the reporter - probably a bad hangover for all we know. Anyway, have a read and see what you think. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3792065.stm DWB

I was listening to the radio today and the song "I am a women in love" came on. A BeeGee's number, and immediately I thought of our very own Mr. Alive on the DL Forum. I have never met Stayin' personally, but I am now stuck with this perception of a man in over-tight white trousers and a squeaky voice sitting at his computer. I thought about others, Teddy must always wear braces, Yeti is quite cuddly, GR is two-dimensional etc. etc. Am I the only one suffering from this mad perception syndrome? DWB

It's research time again - and this news article came to my attention. http://www.star-ecentral.com/music/sleeve/...D&date=6/8/2004 Quite how famous the Metallica drummer is could be debatable - however we should check on his progress. DWB

The Sun reports that Pete is on hunger strike and well into his 2nd week. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005260343,00.html Well, at least he is better at it than Carlos the Jackal! DWB

This article says she is very unwell after collapsing, and has had to cancel the rest of her tour schedule. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4076097.stm DWB

Found this article relating to his Hepatitis C diagnosis. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headli...nt/4216087.html He says he is clear of it now, but it is still worth reporting me thinks. A few years ago there was some discussion on the different strains of Hep, and which one is likely to see you off. Can't find the thread now, and can't remember which Hep is worse either. DWB

I was recently chatting to work colleague about the Magnificent Seven - and it occurred to us that none of the seven are still with us (although I am open to correction on this point) - Eli Wallach is still just about going (No 38 on this years list) - but he was a bad guy. We then got onto the subject of who was left from the Great Escape (like you do) and the only only one we could think of was James Garner - so my suggestion for one to watch this year is good ol' Jim Rockford - based only on the fact that every other star in the film is brown bread. If only he had told Donald Pleasance to get stuffed before he escaped. DWB

The Mirror reports she is seriously ill in hospital suffering from incurable and advanced brain cancer. When she does venture out she is wheelchair bound and accompanied by a helper. Is she famous enough for the DL? DWB

Found this article about the Archbishop: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&cl...63139116C303910 It isn't too serious yet, but certainly worth a watching brief over the next few months. DWB

Just watched the Fantastic 4 on DVD - not a bad film as superhero live action goes. Stan Lee does his usual cameo as a postman this time. Hell, this guy is 84 and looks in better shape than people 20 years younger, so no reason to stick him on the list, but it does give an excuse to run a thread on comics and comic heros. I had a sizeable collection of American Spiderman, Batman, Superman et al stuff, but when I hit my teens only 2000AD did it for me. Any thoughts? DWB

Found the following article about Andy being HIV. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4098677.stm I know we've had the HIV doesn't mean AIDS discussion before, but the information is worth putting on the DL I think. DWB

After doing a bit more surfing, I have come across the following testicular cancer scare article. When you read it you will see that the lump on the Dennis crown jewels was benign, but I mention it here for two reasons. 1 - His name can be noted and any reoccurance can be monitored for DeathList research purposes. 2 - Seeing as a number of members of the DeathList like to write witty headlines, they might like to have a crack at this one - assuming that the cancer would see him off. http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2732106 DWB

Estrada has not been very well of late. Here is a short update on his health: Estrada stable after health scare Former president Joseph Estrada's condition is improving and may stay at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan for four to five days to fully recover from a bout of pneumonia, his spokesman Didagen Dilangalen said Wednesday. "He's resting now. He didn't want to go to the hospital at first but he was prevailed upon to go," Dilangalen told DZMM's "Tambalang Failon and Sanchez" program. He added that Estrada will return to his Tanay villa as soon as his health improved. He said Estrada's condition deterioted for the past three days after suffering from fever and body pains. He said Estrada is recuperating from knee surgery he underwent in Hong Kong in December, but doctors said the fever was not necessarily related to the operation. Estrada is confined to room 617 and being personally attended to by Dr. Cecil Tady, head of the Pulmonary Medicine Division of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Ferdie Ramos, Estrada’s publicist, earlier said that laboratory tests showed one fourth of the former president’s right lung was in bad shape and his doctors advised his confinement. Dr. Lorenzo Jocson, Estrada's personal physician, said the former president had to be brought to hospital because there is no proper medical facility in Tanay or at his villa. Estrada’s son, Senator Jinggoy, said the chilly temperature in Tanay, Rizal made his father sick. abs-cbnNEWS.com/DZMM If you are not familiar with ex-Filippino rulers, have a read of this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1063976.stm I don't think an ex-leader of the Philippines will fail the famousity test. He seems to get plenty of coverage. DWB

I have been reading about the antics of Ms. Love for some time now - and quite frankly she strikes me as being barking mad - she sounds almost as big a liability as Pete Libertine. So here is a link to her latest mis-adventure. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3882433.stm Overdose prospect or gun to head (husband fashion?), one to watch! DWB

If you've got some time on your hands, have a go at writing a "Latest News" DL Headline for one or more of the listees. I know we have one or two hacks onboard, so it should be a no-brainer for them. No prizes for the best ones and no guarantee that they will ever be used, or even read by GR. The only other rule is you can't write one for Clive Dunn for 2 reasons. 1 - His name says it all and 2 - He's immortal. Have fun. DWB

So, you have never heard of Chhouk Rin. He is a former Khmer Rouge commander who was found guilty of the abduction and murder of 3 westerners in Cambodia in 1994. The guerrillas demanded a £100,000 ransom for them, but 3 months later, when the money was not forthcoming, killed the hostages. Chhouk Rin is 50 and has suffered from malaria, heart problems and tetanus which was caused by a land mine injury, and is not expected the live long enough to see his final appeal through. I bring this man to your attention as a test for the obituary rule. I think Rin's passing will get at least a mention in the papers when it happens due to the fact that one of his victims was British. If so, would it qualify as a missed scoring opportunity, or would he not count due to being too unknown? Could the Deathlist Ruling Junta please pass judgement on this case otherwise I am faced with a right nightmare at work, as some clever cock has got him in our Death Pool! DWB

Johnny has not been doing his Radio 2 show for 6 months or more now, I think he was diagnosed with cancer (of the throat?) and was having treatment. He was tipped to come back to work after the appalling Noel Edmonds stand-in stint was up, but no sign of him - is he knocking on the door or what? DWB

I'm not sure if this has been reported on the forum (I'm sure somebody will tell me if it has): http://15rounds.com/press/2005/10/102805.php/ I reproduce the article below, as links tend to go dead rather quickly sometimes. Ali Losing Battle With Parkinson's By John Raygoza Former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali is losing his battle with Parkinson's disease, according to daughter Laila Ali. Ali, 63, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1983, four years after his loss to Trevor Berbick. Laila revealed to the L.A. Times that her father's condition has worsen. "I feel like the disease is progressing," Laila said. "Different things start happening as you get older. I have noticed a change in him, something that goes along with the Parkinson's. It's painful for me because I would love to sit down and talk to my dad about the way he used to be when he was my age, when he was in his prime because we are so much alike. I can't really do that. I can't share a lot of things with him." "We don't talk about boxing," she said. "He might come to a fight and say, "You're bad.' But he was never one to talk much boxing with us. That was not him. And he doesn't talk much these days anyway. It takes him too much energy to talk. He has good days and bad days. He's taking a lot of different medications. Sometimes his speech is so slurred you can't hardly understand him. But he definitely knows what's going on. That's for sure. He sees everything." Earlier this year, Muhammad Ali purchased a $2 million home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, 10 minutes outside of Phoenix. DWB