The Cruelest and Saddest Deaths in Music History

Many of us have been moved to tears by a death of a musician when they still had so much to give, even if their health was poor. These deaths may have occured in the distant past or only recently. In the end, they are all of equal import or emotional impact. So I would not say any one was so much more tragic than another.

Some of these musicians were torn from us suddenly and abruptly, and some had a long and difficult decline in their health.

No rules on this thread. Any musical style, any time period.

The musicians may have barely started on their career or may have already had an extremely productive career. Some may have clearly done their best work, but some of those may have yet had a new revival of creativity. Some were taken away perhaps years before audiences finally came around to be open to their music. Some very well could have changed their style to renew their creative juices. Some were very young, some middle-aged, and some might have had a fairly long life. Some may be considered to be among the greatest musicians of all time with great accomplishments.

Feel free to post anyone who moves you in this way. Post a picture if you can, or post comments on someone listed by another forum member. Add some of your thoughts if you wish.

For me, I have probably dozens, or even hundreds, of artists I could name for this thread, from many styles or eras. We could go back to Mozart or even earlier.

For me, I have spent much of my life in "tribute" to these musicians and their associates who enjoyed a very full life.

Right now, just to start, I'll name one that might be on many people's minds right now. One who was taken from us so suddenly, right when he was very likely on the verge of an amazing renewal.

JOHN LENNON

 

Phil Ochs’ suicide.

 

27 Club Members

• Kurt Cobain
• Amy Winehouse
• Jimi Hendrix
• Janis Joplin
• Brian Jones
• Jim Morrison
• Ron McKernan

and others.

 

Pete Ham, Tom Evans

 

Johnny thunders, the last few years of his life were sad and depressing and the way they found him was even worse, heroin is a bad life choice

 

Marvin Gaye

Dimebag Darrell

 

Pete Ham for me. The man had so much more to give, but everyone just wanted to take, take, take. The best pop songwriter who ever lived, and that's including that other guy. We Miss You, Pete.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Kirsty MacColl
She totally changes her sound to Cuban and one of her songs is picked up by a popular US TV show and she dies in a tragically gory way.

 

Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. Not cruelest, they died very quickly, but very sad because they were so young and showed such promise.

 

Warren Zevon

Started listening to him recently and he is amazing. Sadly found out that he had terminal cancer, probably could've been avoided if he went to the doctor.

I think he made a joke about that somewhere.

 

Bobby Fuller

 

Jim Croce hit me the hardest

 

Mary Hansen of Stereolab being run over by a vehicle while riding her bicycle in 2002

 

Butch Trucks suicide. Flooring.

 

Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley Assumed Dead – Rolling Stone

I was born and raised in Memphis and still living there at the time this happened. I recall hearing that he had been playing shows locally (a club called Barristers) and was going to be recording a follow up to GRACE.

Just a sad way to go, swimming at night in the Mississippi.

 

I'll add one from jazz

Clifford Brown may have been the greatest trumpet player of all time (many believe that). But he died in a car accident (another driver at fault) when he was just 26.

 

Elliot Smith lived a troubled life and died a terrible death. And, IMO, was at a peak of his abilities

 

I'm 36 and it amazes me how many of my favorites I've already outlived.

Ronnie Van Zant was 29 and Steve Gaines 28. Buddy Holly was 22. Pete Ham was 27. Jim Croce was 30, his road "band", Maury Muehleisen, was 24. Phil Ochs was 35.

Tammi Terrell. Her whole life was cruel and sad but nobody deserves to die from a brain tumor at 24 after eight unsuccessful surgeries.

Duane Allman and Berry Oakley. Both also 24, both motorcycle accidents.

Tim Buckley was 28. Would have loved to heard what he would have done with his career.

Stan Rogers was 33, a bit older, but had many more great songs to write and sing that he never got the chance to.

 

Frank Zappa

Captain Beefheart

 

I still can't believe he stabbed himself in the heart. What a way to go.

 

Not necessarily a musician, but didn't comedian Tommy Cooper die when he had a stroke on stage, while the crowd in the theatre were roaring with laughter, because they thought it was part of the act?

 

Clarence White, killed by a drunk driver in a parking lot while loading instruments after a show. What a senseless loss to the guitar world!

 

Eva Cassidy.

How many other singers became famous five years after they died?