Fans of the legendary rock band Steely Dan received some sad news a few months ago: Co-founder Walter Becker died unexpectedly at the age of 67. The cause of his death was an aggressive form of esophageal cancer.

What caused Walter Becker's death?

“Walter died in the course of being treated for an extremely aggressive form of esophageal cancer,” Delia Becker revealed. “The cancer was detected during one of his annual medical checkups and its presence came as a grim surprise to Walter, his doctors and to me.

What was Walter Becker addicted to?

During the making of the album, Becker was hit by a taxi in New York and was confined to a wheelchair while making the album. The punishing Gaucho sessions strained his relationship with Fagen, and Becker succumbed to a growing drug habit, reportedly heroin.

Did Walter Becker graduate from Bard?

Steely Dan coalesced in 1971, after Becker dropped out of Bard, and he and Fagen moved west, to California.

What guitar did Walter Becker play?

"Becker's main guitar is his signature Walter Becker model Sadowsky. It features custom Lollar P-90 pickups, spalted maple top and swamp ash body. In the neck/middle and middle/bridge settings, the pickups are wired for humcancelling output.

Steely Dan's Walter Becker Cause of death Revealed – He Went Quick

Where did Walter Becker grow up?

Born in New York in 1950, Becker grew up in a broken home in the Forest Hills area of Queens, New York. When his parents separated, his mother moved back to England.

Who replaced Becker in Steely Dan?

The solution came in the form of the singer-songwriter David Palmer. Palmer provided the lead vocals for the song 'Brooklyn' and sang most of the songs for the band in concert, but his most memorable and longest-lasting contribution came from one of the band's earliest rock radio staples: 'Dirty Work'.

Why did Steely Dan quit touring?

And they basically — and very justifiably — wanted to go out and play and make money. And so we decided to disband and concentrate on recording and writing music, which takes a lot of time and thought, and to eventually put another band together, perhaps, and go out.

What amp did Walter Becker use?

Quite the tonal alchemist, Becker relies on a bevy of different amps, cabs, and speakers. At the moment, he is using amps from Suhr, Bogner, Marshall, Ampeg, 3 Monkeys, Retro Channel, and Satellite.

What Bass did Walter Becker use?

"A 1963 Fender Bass VI solidbody electric used by Walter Becker during the live solo section of “Greenbook”. The offset body has a three-color sunburst finish, three single coil pickups and a Fender Mute bridge. The 6-string bass guitar has a scale length of 30 inches, maple neck and rosewood fre...

What Bass did Walter Becker play?

93221-WALTER BECKER 1958 FENDER PRECISION BASS

A 1958 Fender Precision Bass with alder body finished in a dark sunburst, gold-toned anodized aluminum pickguard, maple neck and fret board.

Where is Annandale in the Steely Dan song?

The “old school” to which Fagen and Becker refer is Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. In 1969, the two were nabbed in a pot raid by local police along with Fagen's then-girlfriend Dorothy White.

Did Walter Becker write songs?

Since they first met at Bard College, and then went onto play as touring musicians in the band Jay & The Americans, Becker and Fagen forged a songwriting partnership dedicated to writing uniquely compelling songs.

How did Steely Dan get their name?

Working with ABC producer Gary Katz, they secretly assembled Steely Dan (named after a prosthetic phallus in William S. Burroughs's novel Naked Lunch) with other young musicians, notably guitarists Jeff (“Skunk”) Baxter and Denny Dias, emerging in 1972 with Can't Buy a Thrill.

Are both members of Steely Dan still alive?

On Sept. 3, 2017, guitarist-lyricist Becker died of esophageal cancer. His death triggered a current legal battle for ownership of Steely Dan, with the estate of Becker feuding with the band's lone remaining member, Fagen.

Who is the oldest musician still performing?

The Oldest Living Musicians in 2021

• Frankie Valli, 87. ...
• Petula Clark, 88. ...
• Yoko Ono, 88. ...
• Willie Nelson, 88. ...
• Loretta Lynn, 89. Rick Diamond/Getty Images. ...
• Harry Belafonte, 94. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic. ...
• Tony Bennett, 95. lev radin/Shutterstock. ...
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