RIP LEE ALTOMARE (GUITARIST- THE COMMUNION) AND GURU OF GANG STARR

DEATH COMES IN THREE's: In a VERY tragic week for New York metal and music lovers, LEE ALTOMARE,NYC metal promoter and guitarist of the Bethpage, New York metal band THE COMMUNION passed away last week from complications of eye surgery.Also, GURU of legendary rap ensemble GANG STARR has passed to cancer at 43. GURU of GANG STARR's
vision of consolidating jazz with rap on his JAZZMATAZZ releases was very progressive for it's time, GURU will be missed.
FROM THE COMMUNION (THANKS TO SMNNEWS.COM FORUM and THE BROOKLYN VEGAN-http://www.smnnews.com/board/showthread.php?t=234173):


Lee Altomare of The Communion: 1976 - 2010
Lee Communion

on April 16th 2010, Lee Altomare passed away due to complications from eye surgery.

We are all deeply wounded, white and shaking with shock, by this sudden loss of our great friend. He brought us all together. He brought out the best in us, enabled and encouraged us to be at our absolute best in music and life. I personally cannot imagine being where i am today without all Lee put together.

I say all this with zero hyperbole, and those who knew him best no doubt feel the same way we do at this moment. Our hearts go out to his amazing family and all his friends, as well as anyone whose supported us in the last 6 years. Know that Lee loved, appreciated, and cared about all of you very much, as do we.

we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and condolences from everyone. We all truly appreciate it.

like already said, we're going to miss him greatly. there's really nothing more i can say than that. he was our best friend, and we'll miss making music with him, but more than that we're going to miss just chilling with him, complaining about the state of everything, ogling young ladies, and making fun of people with him.

we'll'll be sure to keep everyone updated on everything that happens. anything that we decide to do will be with Lee in mind, and probably always will be.

take care everyone.

Lee, We'll miss you forever.
- Nick, Billy, Jimmy, Joe - The Communion. - The Communion

So tragic. R.I.P. Lee.
FROM UNEARTHLY TRANCE: Lee was a guy that Jay and I both knew since the 1990's Long Island Hardcore days. I considered him an ally as we always were the ones who were at the sludge,underground metal,grind,doom etc. shows in the late 90s/early 2000 up until the present. Whenever I was at a killer show Lee wouldnt be far away enjoying the same band I was there to see. One of the first UT shows ever was in Lees back yard and just as we set up with full stacks ready to blaze, the cops came. But my best memory was getting the opportunity to jam with him last year. We were going to do a sludgey hardcore band called "nøwhere". Well the project kinda went nowhere due to all of us being busy, but it was a great fun time. It was like jamming with no worries and just for the joy of it all. Ill miss you bro. - R

I posted a jam from that day on our page for people to hear as I feel its best to honor with with a document of a shared moment.
*ALSO, New York City Rap legend GURU (Keith Elam) of GANG STARR has passed away to cancer at 43. GANG STARR are a legendary groundbreaking rap ensemble who often consolidated jazz with rap. Check out GURU's JAZZMATAZZ and GANG STARR's "Daily Operation".
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/04/20/gang-starr-rapper-guru-dead/
FROM GURU (GANG STARR)reported from MTV: "I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world," it begins. "I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.

"I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

"My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody's feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf [of] myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own."

Guru very pointedly distanced himself from Premier in the letter, saying he didn't want his former musical collaborator to be able to participate in any tributes or events surrounding his death.

"I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," wrote Guru. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ.

"As the sole founder of Gang Starr, I am very proud of what Gang Starr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with Gang Starr or Jazzmatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now.

"The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small-mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life."

At press time, Guru's family — from whom he was reportedly estranged, along with other past associates — had not commented on his death, and last month his nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff posted several emotional videos on YouTube saying that Solar was preventing them from seeing the MC during his illness.

"Solar has completely cut us off. My family has no way of knowing what is going on with Guru's situation," he said in the video. "Solar has complete control over the flow of information given from the hospital and will not disclose any information to us. The doctors and the hospital staff will not discuss any info with Guru's family." Ruff said in one of the videos that no one in Guru's family had not seen him since February 28, and that he was prevented from seeing Guru when he visited the hospital last month.
FROM ICE T:
woke up today to hear that one of closets friends pasted away.. I'm paralyzed with sorrow. "Guru..Rest In Peace OG..I miss you." Ice T
-Ice-T, Actor ("New Jack City," "Law & Order: SVU")

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-RIP LEE and GURU-\m/ -l-