Dead musicians.

[Laharl]

Just for fun, I went through my music playlist and figured out how many bands I listen to have at least one of their original members (or a famous guy in the band if not there from the get-go) that is now dead.

This is what I came up with.

AC/DC - Bon Scott, their original lead singer (well, pretty much... their first lead singer made, like, two songs with them and I didn't even know about it until I looked up info on how Scott died), died on Feb 19th of 1980, after getting drunk and passing out in his car.


The Doors - Jim Morrison, their singer, died "under mysterious circumstances" in Paris on July 3rd, 1971. Common speculation was a drug overdose.


Jimi Hendrix - Found dead on the morning of September 18th, 1970. He took a bunch of sleeping pills and choked to death on his own vomit.


Led Zeppelin - Joh Bonham, their drummer, died of an accidental asphyxiation after a drinking binge on September 25th, 1980.


Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ronnie Van Zant (lead singer), Steve Gaines (guitar) and Cassie Gaines (back-up singer) died in a tragic plane crash on October 20th, 1977. (The assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick was also killed, as well as the pilot and co-pilot of the airplane.)
Ronnie Van Zant
Steve Gaines
Cassie Gaines

Metallica - Cliff Burton, their original bassist, died in a freak automobile accident on September 27th, 1986. The tour bus hit black ice and rolled and he fell out the window. He might have survived, but when the bus was being lifted off him, the cable snapped, the bus crushing him again. (Kirk Hammet and he drew cards to see who would have got the top bunk that day. Hammet still feels terrible about it.)


Queen - Eccentric front man Freddie Mercury died of AIDS on November 23rd, 1991.


Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hillel Slovak, their original lead guitarist, died of a heroin overdose on June 25th, 1988.


Steppenwolf - Jerry Edmonton, their drummer, died in a car accident in 1993.


These are just bands on my personal playlist of songs on Winamp. I know I didn't include Nirvana, because *gasp* I don't like them. The only song of theres I genuinely like is Heart Shaped Box. So they're not on my playlist. I also believe that the singer of Alice in Chains is dead, which is a band I'm told by a lot of friends I should look into.

Feel free to add to this list. Tell the band name, then which members are dead, how they died, and when. Include a picture if you want.

EDIT
If you want a good site to look this stuff up, I used a place called wikimedia.

[Tank101]

Dschinghis Khan-Louis Potgieter, lead singer, died of AIDS in 1996. Nice one.

[Tasselfoot]

Have music from all but Skynard, who I used to have a while back... but multiple hard drive wipes have removed the Skynard. And, I have no Steppenwolf, although I'm quite familiar with their Magic Carpet and its wonderful Ride.

I'd wager that all the artists in my Classical folder are dead. Motzart, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Vivaldi, etc.

Layne Staley of Alice in Chains is infact dead, in 2002.

[b00mbat0wer]

Originally Posted by Tank101

Dschinghis Khan-Louis Potgieter, lead singer, died of AIDS in 1996. Nice one.

hahahahaha

[Laharl]

Originally Posted by Tasselfoot

I'd wager that all the artists in my Classical folder are dead. Motzart, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Vivaldi, etc.

Heh, go ahead and include them.

[Spazzbite]

A well known girlfriend of Paul Banks, the lead singer of Interpol, died in a car accident. The car was driven by Paul Banks, and he was sent to court for involuntary man slaughter, if I remember correctly. For those who listen to Interpol, but don't know much about them, this whole happening is what their song "Evil" is based on.

[Laharl]

A friend of mine wanted me to include this.

Joy Division - Ian Curtis, lead singer, hung himself at the age of 23 on the night of May 17th, 1980.


You know, I just realized this makes 3 who died in 1980.

[Laharl]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I forgot this. Punch me, I give you permission.

Pantera - "Dimebag" Darrel Abbot, former guitarist for the band, was gunned down during a concert with his band at the time Damageplan, December 8th of last year (2004). It's suspected the murderer, Nathan Gale, commited the crime out of anger of Pantera's break-up. Three other people were killed in the shooting: attendee Nathan Bray, club employee Erin Halk, and Damageplan's security guard Jeff Thompson.

[Tasselfoot]

True... I have multiple Pantera albums. Good call.

[jewpinthethird]

Originally Posted by Spazzbite

A well known girlfriend of Paul Banks, the lead singer of Interpol, died in a car accident. The car was driven by Paul Banks, and he was sent to court for involuntary man slaughter, if I remember correctly. For those who listen to Interpol, but don't know much about them, this whole happening is what their song "Evil" is based on.

I wondered what was up with that creepy music video.



Steven Paul (Elliott) Smith

Died of a single, self inflicted stab wound to the chest. 22 October, 2003.

[Laharl]

How come no one is joining in? This thread was interesting, I thought.

It's almost an excuse to talk about music you like that just happens to have a dead guy in the band.

[Cenright]

I am looking through, and seeing how many are from AIDS, Drugs, or Alcohol. Those are all things that happened from their own obsessions/stupidity. I'm not counting the 2 suicides in there, just because they fall into their own group.
Even with those 2 not in the statistics, over 50% of them died from AIDS, Drugs, or Alcohol. (7 to 6)

[Laharl]

So far, outside of drugs/alcohol, it's all been vehicle accidents or some kind or murder, and one case of AIDS.

I showed this thread to a friend and they went "OMG YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE JOHN LENNON WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU" and they were right. Too lazy to make a thing about it. Chalk up one more murder, though. Maybe I should keep track in the header post.

[jewpinthethird]

坂本九 (Kyu Sakamoto) - The only Japanese artist ever to take the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart for three weeks during 1963. Kyu Sakamoto died on August 12, 1985, when JAL Flight 123 crashed 60 miles northwest of Tokyo. The crash killed 520 people, and injured four. The worst single airplane disaster in the history of aviation. He was 43 years old.

[Tasselfoot]

Not that I have any of their music... but the American Pie crashed, killing Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, and someone else.

I'd have thought of Lennon, but I hate the Beatles.

Also, Janis Joplin and Mama Cass.

[Jam930]

Hate the Beatles?

= O

[NightSonnett]

Originally Posted by Jam930

Hate the Beatles?

= O

I know, I have a couple of friends like that, and I don't understand how people can hate them.

I love them

But as for dead musicians, Michael Hutchence who died in 1997 from suicide by hanging


was an amazing lead singer for the band INXS who I still love today despite their stupid reality TV show. I'm glad that they've decided to continue with their music, however I disagree with a reality show way of going about finding a new one. That's just ridiculous.

[natetheffrer]

Originally Posted by Laharl

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I forgot this. Punch me, I give you permission.

Pantera - "Dimebag" Darrel Abbot, former guitarist for the band, was gunned down during a concert with his band at the time Damageplan, December 8th of last year (2004). It's suspected the murderer, Nathan Gale, commited the crime out of anger of Pantera's break-up. Three other people were killed in the shooting: attendee Nathan Bray, club employee Erin Halk, and Damageplan's security guard Jeff Thompson

thats scary, all the nates dieing, im glad i wasent there.

[RSF_HAWK]

I have nothing to add, but that you actually like good music! Most people hear seem to be techno anime people nerds...not disrespecting them, its just not my type. If you don't actually like that kinda music but just did a random report on it then you suck...........im really bored........but i have a lot to dooooooooo......................like hw =p............okay bye

[Mental_detachment]

Keith Moon
drummer for the who
i dont know all the details about his death and if i had time to look it up right now i would but if you really wanna know google it