As most of the regulars here know, back in early October, we lost Ben Orr of The Cars; now this past Thursday Loverboy bassist Scott Smith has apparently drowned in a boating accident off San Francisco. He was an original and founding member of the band, and never left in the group's 20-year history...

For those who weren't aware, Loverboy reunited about five years ago, released a new studio album (1997's "VI"), and have been touring across the U.S. and their native Canada ever since. (Their first-ever live album, which keeps getting delayed, is supposed to come out early next year.) In fact, I caught them in concert four times over the last five years. Even met all five original members after two of those shows, including Scott. Got his (and all the other members') autograph on several items both times. A sad time, indeed...

Here is an AP article on the subject that was published yesterday (Saturday):

>

: As most of the regulars here know, back in
: early October, we lost Ben Orr of The Cars;
: now this past Thursday Loverboy bassist
: Scott Smith has apparently drowned in a
: boating accident off San Francisco. He
: was an original and founding member of the
: band, and never left in the group's 20-year
: history...

: For those who weren't aware, Loverboy reunited
: about five years ago, released a new studio
: album (1997's "VI"), and have been
: touring across the U.S. and their native
: Canada ever since. (Their first-ever live
: album, which keeps getting delayed, is
: supposed to come out early next year.) In
: fact, I caught them in concert four times
: over the last five years. Even met all five
: original members after two of those shows,
: including Scott. Got his (and all the other
: members') autograph on several items both
: times. A sad time, indeed...

: Here is an AP article on the subject that was
: published yesterday (Saturday): >

Oops! Not sure what happened to the article. Let's try again...

80s Loverboy Guitarist Missing

By RON HARRIS .c The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Friends of a guitarist from the 1980s pop band Loverboy searched the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean on Saturday but found no sign of the musician, who had been swept off his sailboat.

Scott Smith, 45, of Vancouver, British Columbia, was knocked off the 37-foot sailboat on Thursday about four miles off San Francisco's Ocean Beach, an area where the sea floor shallows and wave heights can grow monstrous.

The wave that swept Smith overboard was so strong it broke the boat's steering wheel, according to a press release from Loverboy manager Lou Blair. Friends Yvonne Mayotte and William Ellis were below deck when the wave hit and were not injured.

The three were moving the boat to a marina in Southern California, where Smith was planning to stay for the season, Blair said.

The Coast Guard spent two days searching a 133-square-mile area for Smith with no success, petty officer Carl Hausner said.

Smith was wearing track pants and two sweaters but no lifejacket when the wave knocked him in the 52-degree water. The average person could survive a little less than 2 1/2 hours in such conditions, Hausner said.

Friends hired a marine service and conducted their own private search of the area Saturday but returned after four hours.

``We went out to the location didn't see anything,'' said Weststar general manager Rich Smith.

The band Loverboy released its debut album in 1980 and had such Top 20 hits as ``Working for the Weekend,'' ``Lovin' Every Minute of It,'' and ``Turn me Loose.''

: Oops! Not sure what happened to the article.
: Let's try again...

: 80s Loverboy Guitarist Missing

: By RON HARRIS .c The Associated Press

: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Friends of a guitarist
: from the 1980s pop band Loverboy searched
: the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean on
: Saturday but found no sign of the musician,
: who had been swept off his sailboat.

: Scott Smith, 45, of Vancouver, British
: Columbia, was knocked off the 37-foot
: sailboat on Thursday about four miles off
: San Francisco's Ocean Beach, an area where
: the sea floor shallows and wave heights can
: grow monstrous.

: The wave that swept Smith overboard was so
: strong it broke the boat's steering wheel,
: according to a press release from Loverboy
: manager Lou Blair. Friends Yvonne Mayotte
: and William Ellis were below deck when the
: wave hit and were not injured.

: The three were moving the boat to a marina in
: Southern California, where Smith was
: planning to stay for the season, Blair said.

: The Coast Guard spent two days searching a
: 133-square-mile area for Smith with no
: success, petty officer Carl Hausner said.

: Smith was wearing track pants and two sweaters
: but no lifejacket when the wave knocked him
: in the 52-degree water. The average person
: could survive a little less than 2 1/2 hours
: in such conditions, Hausner said.

: Friends hired a marine service and conducted
: their own private search of the area
: Saturday but returned after four hours.

: ``We went out to the location didn't see
: anything,'' said Weststar general manager
: Rich Smith.

: The band Loverboy released its debut album in
: 1980 and had such Top 20 hits as ``Working
: for the Weekend,'' ``Lovin' Every Minute of
: It,'' and ``Turn me Loose.''

This is so, so sad!!! What a terrible time, too...when the holidays are right around the corner! I have always been a fan of the band Loverboy...in fact, they are from my hometown of Vancouver. Very tragic...

: Oops! Not sure what happened to the article.
: Let's try again...

: 80s Loverboy Guitarist Missing

: By RON HARRIS .c The Associated Press

: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Friends of a guitarist
: from the 1980s pop band Loverboy searched
: the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean on
: Saturday but found no sign of the musician,
: who had been swept off his sailboat.

: Scott Smith, 45, of Vancouver, British
: Columbia, was knocked off the 37-foot
: sailboat on Thursday about four miles off
: San Francisco's Ocean Beach, an area where
: the sea floor shallows and wave heights can
: grow monstrous.

: The wave that swept Smith overboard was so
: strong it broke the boat's steering wheel,
: according to a press release from Loverboy
: manager Lou Blair. Friends Yvonne Mayotte
: and William Ellis were below deck when the
: wave hit and were not injured.

: The three were moving the boat to a marina in
: Southern California, where Smith was
: planning to stay for the season, Blair said.

: The Coast Guard spent two days searching a
: 133-square-mile area for Smith with no
: success, petty officer Carl Hausner said.

: Smith was wearing track pants and two sweaters
: but no lifejacket when the wave knocked him
: in the 52-degree water. The average person
: could survive a little less than 2 1/2 hours
: in such conditions, Hausner said.

: Friends hired a marine service and conducted
: their own private search of the area
: Saturday but returned after four hours.

: ``We went out to the location didn't see
: anything,'' said Weststar general manager
: Rich Smith.

: The band Loverboy released its debut album in
: 1980 and had such Top 20 hits as ``Working
: for the Weekend,'' ``Lovin' Every Minute of
: It,'' and ``Turn me Loose.''

I read an article on Sunday's OC Register: seems everyone's called off the search - they never found the dude...

T B