Rockers We’ve Lost In 2012: Mothers of Invention Co-Founder Ray Collins

Singer and co-founder of the Mothers of Invention, Ray Collins, died on Monday, Dec. 24, in Pomona, Calif. at age 76. Collins had been hospitalized since Dec. 18 after suffering a massive heart attack, and was removed from life support on Saturday the 22nd. Collins served as lead singer for the Mothers’ debut album ‘Freak Out!’ in 1966, as well as its follow-up, 1967′s ‘Absolutely Free.’ He quite the group after that, finding himself at odds with Frank Zappa’s outlandish compositional style and satirical lyrics. In his words it was "Too much comedy, too much making fun of stuff." He returned to the band briefly for the 1968 album ‘Cruising With Ruben & the Jets,’ and continued to contribute to Zappa’s albums off and on throughout the ’70s.