Garry Sharpe-Young Dies

New Zealand promoter and music journalist Garry Sharpe-Young died at his home March 12 after suffering an aneurism.

Sharpe-Young, 45, founded the G-Taranaki guitar festival in July 2008 and was working on the bill for this year’s event, Aug. 11-15, with Slash rumoured as the headliner.

As the events business development manager at the New Plymouth District Council, he brought in acts including Elton John, Jack Johnson, Fleetwood Mac and Cliff Richard and The Shadows to play the TSB Bowl. He also brought Motorhead, The Beach Boys and Westlife to TSB Stadium.

Born in the UK, Sharpe-Young wrote 20 books on heavy metal acts including Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. He ran the encyclopedic rock music Web site Rockdetector.

He moved to New Zealand in 2002.

He is survived by his wife Grace-Anne and three children.