Indeed. As someone who grew up and into music in the late '60s/early'70s (via my Brother's rapidly expanding record collection) this was a terrible shock, even though his hit days were - mostly - behind him. Someone whose complete singles collection - in chronological order - can still lift my day and make me grin inordinately. I can still remember hearing just about every T. Rex single as they came out. And they made me so f****** happy.
No musician death will ever approach the trauma of Lennon's for me. Jerry Garcia's and George Harrison's hit me pretty hard too. Was thinking the other day which upcoming musician death would affect me the most -- Neil Young I'll be crushed when he goes to The Great Gig in the Sky. .
Jason Molina was very sad to me. His whole output seemed to lead us to his death but his hit me the hardest from recent memory. It'll be a sad day when Robert Wyatt and Willie Nelson pass too.
That reminds me of an error a newspaper made when Neil Armstrong died 2 years ago. They confused him with Neil Young. Bad mistake. I'm reading Neil's autobiography right now and he discribes how he nearly died after his aneurysm was treated. I'm very happy Neil is still with us.
At this point, there are too many... Joe Strummer, Jim Carroll, Warren Zevon, Joey Ramone, Adam Yauch. And none of them were old men.
John Lennon I was only 12 at the time but it’s something I will always remember. Elliot Smith Around the same age as me, his Oscar performance was so unexpected, like I couldn’t believe it was happening when it happened, it was like the underdog finally got his due and I was a fan his before that. I felt the same sadness, anger, confusion, compassion about the writer David Foster Wallace when he passed, it was somebody of my generation the I could relate with that was very talented that also took his own life. Adam Yauch Lke Evolvist stated: It was so out of the blue, plus everything he stood for, how he inspired us to be better people. I had to take a moment at work when I saw the news, I started calling all of my old friends that weekend just because I had to talk to someone about it.
From the picture (I was too young too experience most of those in real time): George Harrison Michael Jackson Freddie Mercury Frank Zappa Not pictured (listed alphabetically): James Brown Johnny Cash Ray Charles Miles Davis Ronnie James Dio Jerry Garcia Roy Orbison Lou Reed Dusty Springfield Johnny Winter
Jeff Hanneman and Diamond, err Dimebag Darrell. The whole Dimebag thing might have been the most shocking death in music. PERIOD. How many people get gunned down on stage, let alone on the anniversary of Lennon getting assassinated? Too me, those are the biggest thus far. Kurt Cobain was not too shocking, but I recall soooo many people on campus bawling their eyes out. Keggers that evening were rather somber. Shannon Hoon's death was sad, as he never really had time to excel. The way Layne Staley went out was one of the saddest rock deaths. Dying alone, on the anniversary of his contemporary Kurt Cobain's Death/Murder alone is enough to give one pause. In my eyes, Alice in Chains was the better of the two bands.
I would have to say John Lennon just for the way it happened. I was never a big Beatles fan, but he along with McCartney were great song writers. The next would be Steve Clark of Def Leppard. So Unexpected and the music world lost a real under rated great guitarist with an awesome stage presence.
every Ramone Cobain, although i was pretty blitzed… I was same age as him. I'm assuming, when Keith goes, I'll be a mess… although, he may outlive me.
George he lived such a great reserved life and it really closed a chapter in the Beatles, a great soul missed I was too young to mourn John Coltrane
Marc Bolan (T.Rex) As a 13 year old his death really hit me hard. I remember reading about it in the newspaper.....living in Australia it didn't get a huge amount of coverage but it was enough to sadden me greatly.
Elvis Johnny Cash Stevie Ray Clarence John Bonham Of course many others but I'll never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news.
