So sad.
Grammy-Winning Composer Kamen Dies
His last, or at least one of his last works was helping Kate Bush. According to the London Metropolitan Orchestra site …
There’s a photo of him on that site, with Kate, and conducting the orchestra.
Damn.
The band Queensryche and Kamen collaborated on a few projects. In fact, in the liner notes of Empire, they refer to him as “Michael ‘What movie hasn’t he done?’ Kamen.”
It goes without saying, but he will be missed.
Great website. Apart from his amazing work with Queensrÿche, he also collaborated with Pink Floyd on many an occasion. In various roles, he can be heard on The Wall, The Final Cut, and The Division Bell, just off the top of my head.
The general public will mostly recognise his mainstream works, including Bryan Adams’ Everything I do and a host of Aerosmith ballads.
He will be missed, indeed.
He did the orchestral arrangements for Metallica’s S&M concerts/album, too.
“Maestro Michael Kamen at the helm!”
Very sad indeed.
The one who did the string arrangement for “Moments of Pleasure” on Kate Bush’s last album? I’m shedding a tear. I worship brilliant orchestrators…
Yes, he did that. Kate loved working with him.
I’m so glad the new work was finished (recorded, anyway). I hope she doesn’t decide to NOT use it for some reason.
No way! That’s so sad… 
He was also the orchestrator of that Aerosmith performance of “Dream On” on the MTV music awards in 1994 (?).
Taken from us way too soon…
Another classic of his hand: Guns ‘n’ Roses’ November Rain.
Seeing as how it’s November, I can’t imagine that song not being played at his funeral, ya know?
You young’uns. If you don’t remember his combination of rock and classical music with the New York Rock and Roll Ensemble, then you don’t know the full Michael Kamen. For a few brief moments he looked as if he would push back the boundaries set up by those who insisted that rock had to be three-chord guitars and drums. He failed, but it was a valiant effort.
I played viola right under his baton at the Hollywood Bowl a couple of years ago at the premier of Band of Brothers.
He did the soundtrack to Brazil, one of my favorite soundtracks.
I’ve loved the Metallica album S&M (Symphony & Metallica) since it first came out…
He will be missed, but his arrangements and works live on.
Damn. I was a huge fan of his. His soundtracks are classics. I love S&M, and “November Rain” is one of the all-time great rock ballads.
Kate Bush sang the theme song to Brazil, but it was never included in the movie (or something).
And about Michael Kamen having done orchestration work on two tracks from Kate’s upcoming album… well, we have that to look forward to.
Ironically, “Moments of Pleasure”, which he orchestrated, is a song Kate wrote about all the people she’s lost over the years, going as far back as the lighting designer on her one and only tour (in 1979) - Bill Duffield - who died in a freak accident following the final dress rehearsal of the show.
“Hey there Bill,
Could you turn the lights up…?”