From the AP...

LONDON, England -- Police in southwestern England say a former member of the Electric Light Orchestra was killed in a freak collision with a huge hay bale that rolled down a steep hill.


The victim was identified on Monday as 62-year-old Mike Edwards, who played cello in the British rock band between 1972 and 1975.

Sgt. Steve Walker of the Devon and Cornwall Police said Edwards was driving a van Friday when he collided with a 600-kilogram (1,300 pound) hay bale that had rolled down a hill to the road.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

A couple of miles from where I have my country place, as it happens. I didn't even know Mike Edwards lived round there till this was reported a day or two ago. They certainly do pile those hay trailers very high sometimes.

ELO were never my thing, but I seem to recall that Mike Edwards was a talented player away from the simple stuff he had to do in that band. Sympathies to those he leaves behind.

- C

Love ELO, RIP Mike

_________________
Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I was never into ELO either, but they did have a good sound. RIP Mike Edwards.

Another rock great dies before his time,it seems like an epidemic. Mike was the quintessential cellist,just listen to his playing on Face The Music and Eldorado especially.Mike's bowing on Boy Blue from Eldorado is truly sublime.God Bless you Mike,thanks for helping fuse rock and classical music.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I love ELO. Their best album was "A New World Record". Every song on that album is brilliant. As for the other stuff, I created my own greatest hits album in iTunes by picking and choosing from their other albums ... that is 2 hours of fantastic material.

I did not know who Mike Edwards was. RIP ... travel well, my friend.

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I was never into ELO, but it's sad when anyone dies unexpectedly. RIP Mike.