March 6, 2024 | Rachel Seigel

Tragic Facts About Musicians Who Died Too Young


Music's Lost Legends 

Some of the best musicians in history tragically passed before their time. Think of the mythical 27 Club, with "members" like Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin. 

Whether it be a result of substance use, illness, or some other factor, their talent was taken from the world far too soon. Regardless of the cause, they all have something in common: their loss left a void in the world of music, but their legacies will live on forever.

Musicians Who Died Too Young

1. Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number

At age 15, Aaliyah’s debut album sold over a million copies and catapulted the singer onto the R&B charts. Her life was cut short in 2001, when the small Cessna passenger plane carrying her and her video crew crashed and burst into flames. The star was only 22 years old at the time of her passing, and a series of white doves were released at her funeral to celebrate each year of her life.

Aaliyah Dana HaughtonWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

2. Come Back To Earth

Fans were blindsided in 2018 when it was announced that rapper Mac Miller had passed. After all, he was only 26 years old. Despite his young age, he'd been quite prolific, working with artists like Ariana Grande (who he also dated), SZA, and Vince Staples. A friend found him unresponsive on September 7, 2018, and was pronounced gone when first responders arrived. The cause of passing has been listed as an accidental use.

Musicians FactsWikimedia Commons

3. Pearl

Janis Joplin passed on October 4, 1970, less than one month after Jimi Hendrix. She was known for her blues-inspired music, and was tough-talking and outrageous. Eventually, her hard-partying ways caught up with her, and she passed at 27 from drink and drug use. Her posthumously released album Pearl became an instant hit, and the single “Me and Bobby McGee” reached the top of the charts.

American singer Janis JoplinGetty Images

4. The Left-Handed Guitarist

On Sept 17, 1970, Jimi Hendrix enjoyed some drink, and then took an excessive amount of his girlfriend’s sleeping pills. When she returned from buying smoke the next morning, he was found unresponsive and covered in vomit. Despite only living for 27 years, he is described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music."

 

London FactsPixabay

Advertisement

5. Frustration and Fury

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, was known for his unique sound, which was a mix of hip-hop, hard rock, and rap. He was also good friends with Chris Cornell, who took his own life in May of 2017. Bennington had always been open about his troubled youth, and his previous drug and drink use. Linkin Park’s first two albums explored his feelings of “frustration and fury.” On July 20, 2017, he was found gone by self-immolation in his Los Angeles home at the age of 41.

Chester BenningtonGetty Images

6. The Day the Music Ended.

On February 3, 1959, three musicians boarded a flight that was headed to their next tour stop. Unfortunately, the musicians, the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Richie Valens, along with their pilot, were all gone when the plane crashed.

The 1971 hit “American Pie” by Don McLean memorializes the crash as "the day the music ended," and the tragedy marked the end of the careers of three young, remarkable talents.

Musicians Who Died Too Young FactsFlickr

7. Starved to the End

Karen Carpenter was the lead singer of the popular '70s soft-rock duo The Carpenters, perhaps best known for the song "We've Only Just Begun." The duo was one of the most successful groups of the early '70s. In 1981, she asked a friend who had battled with anorexia nervosa for help and began seeing a psychotherapist. Despite multiple attempts at treating her illness, on February 4, 1983, the 32-year-old Carpenter collapsed. She later lost her life from heart failure, likely brought on by her ongoing battles with anorexia.

Karen CarpenterGetty Images

Advertisement

8. There Was a Light

Chris Bell joined the infamous 27 Club (musicians who passed before age 28) when he lost control of the sports car he was driving, and crashed into a light pole on the side of the road in 1978. Bell was a founding member of the pop band Big Star, but the band failed to find success with their debut album, and he later dropped out of the group. Big Star might not have been one of the most popular groups in their time, but their sound ended up being hugely influential on groups like R.E.M. and The Replacements.

Chris BellWikimedia Commons

9. Modern Metal Stylist

Darrell Lance Abbott, AKA Dimebag Darrell, was an acclaimed hard-rock guitarist and songwriter who co-formed the heavy-metal band Pantera. On December 8, 2004, the 38-year-old Darrell was shot by a concert-goer while on stage with his new band Damageplan. The Marine who shot Darrell also ended three more people and injured several others during the incident.

Musicians Who Died Too Young FactsWikimedia Commons

10. Lady Day

Billie Holiday is remembered as one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. The circumstances of her final weeks on earth are utterly horrifying—she'd been pursued by agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics for decades, and when she was first admitted to hospital in 1959, "She was detained and handcuffed for drug possession as she lay dying, her hospital room was raided, and she was placed under guard." The narcotics bureau would never get the chance to pursue her legally, as she was gone shortly after. 

The Famous Ruby Slippers From The Wizard Of Oz Go On Display At The Smithsonian Institute.Getty Images

Advertisement

11. The Hillbilly Shakespeare

Hank Williams was one of America’s first country music superstars, and scored his first hit in 1948 with “Honky Tonkin'.” Heartbreak and turmoil seemed to always be part of his life, and as his success grew, so did his dependency on drink and morphine. On New Year’s Day 1953, his hard-living caught up with him, and he passed at age 29 of a heart attack in the backseat of his car while he was being driven to a show

Hank Williams IIIFlickr Hank Williams' grandson, Hank Williams III

12. Moon the Loon

Keith Moon was the drummer in The Who, and was known for having a distinctive, hard-driving style that made the drums a lead instrument. His stunts earned him the nickname “Moon the Loon,” and he had a hard-partying lifestyle—it's actually said that Animal from the Muppets is primarily based off of Moon's persona and antics. 

In 1978, he lost his life unexpectedly at the age of 32 from an accidental use of clomethiazole, the drug that was prescribed to wean him off of booze. He left behind the solo album Two Sides of the Moon, and has influenced countless other artists.

Drummer Keith MoonGetty Images

13. A Ghost in the Daylight

Although they formed in the '80s, the Manic Street Preachers definitely crested on the wave of the popularity of British rock bands in the '90s—that us, until their guitarist Richey Edwards disappeared on February 1, 1995. Edwards had been due to fly to the US, but had been taking out £200 a day from his bank account for two weeks prior to his disappearance, totaling £2,800. 

At 7:00 AM on February 1, he checked out of a hotel, leaving behind his suitcase and some medication, the rest of which he took with him, along with his wallet and passport. He was reportedly spotted periodically in the next two weeks, but on February 14 his car was first ticketed and later reported abandoned near a site of many known suicides, appearing to have been lived in. Since then, he's been periodically spotted across the globe (probably about as frequently as Elvis or Tupac), while his family refused to have him declared deceased until 2008. 

Musicians FactsWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

14. The King of Evil Disco

Wayne Richard Wells, AKA Wayne Static, also nicknamed “The King of Evil Disco,” had roots tracing back to the Midwest where he grew up. The guitarist/singer was the frontman for the group Static-X, whose musical style was a fusion of industrial and nu-metal. In 2014, his wife found Static deceased of a multiple toxicity drug use at age 48. Static had struggled with drug for several years, and it was a combination of oxycodone, hydromorphone, alprazolam and booze that caused the passing. Sadly, his wife, adult star Tera Wray, took her own life only a short few years later.

Static-X frontman Wayne StaticGetty Images

 15. The Day the Country Music Ended

While "the day the music ended " happened in 1959, an incident that has occasionally been referred to as "the day the country music ended" happened a few years later, in 1963, when a plane carrying Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Cowboy Copas crashed in Camden, Tennessee. Cline was at the top of her career and had just performed to a standing room only crowd despite battling the flu. The three musicians and the pilot all lost their lives in the crash.Musicians FactsWikimedia Commons

16. Losing Control

Ian Curtis was best known as the vocalist and lyricist for the band Joy Division. In 1979, he was diagnosed with epilepsy and was made to take regular medication to treat it, which may have been the cause of his intense depression. His experiences also led him to write the song “She’s Lost Control.”

In the early hours of the morning on May 18, 1980, he hanged himself with a rope from the clothesline. His wife had the words “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” the name of one of Joy Division's most popular songs, inscribed on his tombstone.

Musicians Who Died Too Young FactsWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

17. Going Off the Rails on a Crazy Train

Randy Rhoads was a talented young guitarist who formed the band Quiet Riot and played with Ozzy Osbourne after his departure from Black Sabbath. Far from the typical rock star stereotype, Rhoads was a student of the guitar and deeply dedicated to his craft. He was even considering quitting the music biz in 1981 to study classical guitar at UCLA. And compared to his bandmate Osbourne—or anyone he was on tour with, for that matter—he was a teetotaler, only enjoying the occasional drink. Osbourne actually recalls that in his last conversation with Rhoads, the guitarist had told him to slow down with his drinking or he'd kill himself. 

One night while on tour, the air conditioning on the tour bus broke, so it stopped in Florida. The driver of the bus was also a licensed pilot, and they were near an airfield, so he started up an unattended plane. He took a few of the band and crew members on short joyrides before Rhoads and the band's makeup artist got on. They decided to "prank" those who were sleeping in the bus by flying low over it to scare them. On their third pass over, the plane wing touched the roof of the bus and broke up, sending Rhoads and the makeup artist through the windshield, and causing the plane to spiral before crashing nearby. Both Osbourne and his then-fiancee Sharon woke up, thinking that the bus had either crashed or exploded, and ran outside to find the horrific wreckage. Rhoads was just 25 years old.

Randy Rhoads Honored Posthumously By Hollywood Rockwalk.Getty Images

18. Fly Away, Freebird

Another horrific plane crash that forever changed rock music involved the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was on a chartered plane that crashed in 1977, taking the lives of band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, along with several members of their entourage. The plane had run out of fuel and attempted an emergency landing.

Eerily, the album that was planned to come out three days after the crash was named Street Survivors and the cover photo featured the band engulfed in flames. Out of respect for the families of the deceased, the photo was changed on subsequent pressings of the record.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Band (1973)MCA Records, Wikimedia Commons

19. He’s Outta Here!

Dee Dee Ramone was the founding member and songwriter of the iconic punk band The Ramones. He struggled with drug addiction, becoming addicted to drug in his teens. The song "53rd and 3rd" was reportedly based on Ramone's real life experiences turning tricks in NYC to fund his habit. His addiction eventually ended him: he overdosed in 2002 at age 49.

Musician Dee Dee RamoneGetty Images

Advertisement

20. Before She Exits

Christina Grimmie was only 22 years old when she was shot three times at an autograph signing with Before You Exit following a performance. The talented singer became a YouTube sensation for her covers of popular songs before competing on The Voice. With Adam Levine’s mentoring and her talent on the guitar, she was able to make it to the finale and place third in The Voice competition. The man who shot her was tackled by Grimmie's brother before ending himself. His motives remain unknown but he appeared to be a crazed fan of Grimmie's.

Christina GrimmieGetty Images

21. Sent to the Crossroads

Robert Johnson was one of the greatest blues performers of all time, but largely didn’t find success until after his passing at age 27. His mythology included a story about how he made a deal with the devil in exchange for his talents, made relevant by his frequent references to the devil in his music. He left behind a legacy of recordings that have been adapted by the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Eric Clapton.

As the legend goes, Johnson was poisoned by the jealous husband of a woman he'd danced with; he ended up being handed an open bottle of moonshine, which he finished—the moonshine was apparently the vehicle for the poison. However, this story is disputed and the true cause of his passing remains unknown. 

Madame de Montespan factsPexels

22. Shredded

Bassist Cliff Burton joined Metallica in 1982 after band-members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich saw him on stage while he was playing a gig with Trauma. His fast, guitar-like shredding became an important part of Metallica’s sound, and to music in general. He was tragically ended in 1986 when the band’s tour bus crashed, and he flew through the window. Blame for the crash has been alternately blamed on black ice (by the driver of the tour bus) and fatigue or tipsy driving by the tour bus driver, who was ultimately determined not at fault for the accident.

Many tributes to Burton have arisen in the years since his passing, but perhaps the most touching came from his own parents. It was recently revealed that they'd been donating Burton's royalty payments to a scholarship fund for music students at the high school that their son had attended.

Clifford Burton Memorial Stone At Crash SiteWikipedia

Advertisement

23. Unforgettable

Born in 1919 in Alabama, Nat King Cole gained prominence as a jazz pianist and for his baritone voice. In 1964, he discovered that he had lung cancer and succumbed to the disease at age 45. His funeral was attended by stars such as Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny, and his music continues to endure.

American jazz pianist and singer Nat King ColeGetty Images

24. The Depressed Artist

Elliott Smith emerged out of the Pacific Northwest rock scene of the early 1990s. His music was drawn from his life of childhood exploitation, drug addiction, and self-loathing, and earned him the reputation as “the ultimate depressed artist.” On October 21, 2003, Smith past away from two stab wounds to the heart. While an apparent  self-immolation note was found by his girlfriend, detectives concluded that his passing was possibly suspicious.

Elliott SmithFlickr

25. Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

TLC singer Lisa Lopes (AKA “Left-Eye”) often found herself in the media for her turbulent relationships, and for setting fire to her boyfriend’s mansion. On April 25, 2002, she was ended in a car crash when her car swerved off the road near the town of Roma, Honduras. She left behind a son and a daughter whom she’d adopted years before, and legions of distraught, grieving fans.

Eerily, she'd been involved in another car accident two weeks prior when a van driven by her assistant struck a 10-year-old boy as he stepped off a median in Honduras. Immediately after the accident, Lopes and the other van passengers loaded the boy, Bayron Isaul Fuentes Lopez, into the van and drove him to the hospital. Lopes cradled his head in the back of the van as they sped to find a doctor. He lot his life the next day in hospital and even though her assistant was not found to be at fault in the accident, Lopes paid for the boy's hospital bills and funeral costs, also leaving the family close to $1,000 for any other costs. In a documentary filmed around that time, Lopes noted the eerie similarities between hers and the boy's family names, even noting that perhaps she had been meant to die instead of the young boy.

ozonda Chili ThomasShutterstock

Advertisement

26. Dream a Little Dream of Me

Cass Elliot was one of the founding members of the Mamas & the Papas, and after the band dissolved, was pursuing a successful solo career despite some hiccups, including an embarrassing court case invoving stolen hotel sheets and a disastrous attempt at a Las Vegas residency. She was on her way back up in 1974 when she was found deceased of heart failure in 1974, at age 32. To add insult to injury, the first doctor who examined her body spoke to the media too soon and started an awful rumor that she'd choked to the end on a ham sandwich. Despite the fact that it's not true, this mean-spirited rumor has persisted over the years.

Singer Cass ElliotGetty Images

27. He Knows It’s Too Late

Scott Weiland was only 48 when he passed, but prior to his passing , he’d enjoyed a successful career as the lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. Problems with substance use led him to spend five months in jailhouse in the late '90s, and permanently forced him from STP in 2013.

On December 3, 2015, Weiland was found deceased on his tour bus, having passed in his sleep. A deadly mix of drug, ethanol and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) was found in his system.

Stone Temple Pilots at the Roseland Ballroom.Getty Images

28. Too Much Excess

Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS led a life that matched the name of the band (chosen as a reflection of their lifestylealways in excess) and indulged in an excess of women, drug, and drink. At age 37, he was found hanged in his Sydney hotel room. The courts ruled that he took his own life, but many have insisted that he wasn’t suicidal and that his passing may have been accidentally caused by choking while pleasuring himself.

Michael Hutchence.Getty Images

Advertisement

29. Prince of Soul

Marvin Gaye was known as the Prince of Soul, and he had a phenomenal range spanning three vocal styles. He was easily one of the most successful Motown artists. In 1984, Gaye was shot by his own father Marvin Gay Sr. after he broke up a fight between his parents. Three years after his passing, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Marvin Gaye.Getty Images

30. Go Go No More

George Michael was the biggest British Pop star of the '80s. He found early success with the pop group WHAM, and in 1985, the band became the first Western pop group to tour the Republic of China. Michael’s solo career was even more successful, and his debut album sold over 20 million copies worldwide.His passing from heart and liver disease at the age of 53 in 2016 shocked the world, and another pop icon was lost.

Singer George Michael performs on stage at "Live 8 London"Getty Images

31. The King of Pop

A performer since age five, few performers achieved greater success than Michael Jackson. He got his start performing with his brothers in the Jackson Five. There are actually ten Jackson children; Marlon and Brandon, sixth and seventh down the line, were twins born premature by several weeks. Sadly, Brandon passed within 24 hours of birth, but he still has an impact on the rest of his siblings.

On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson suffered cardiac arrest at his home in LA. At Michael’s funeral in 2009, during his eulogy, Marlon asked Michael to give their brother Brandon a big hug from him. His dancing, distinct voice, and style of dressing made him recognizable throughout the world, and he remains a pop icon.

X-men factsGetty Images

Advertisement

32. Grunge Pioneer

Chris Cornell was pioneer of Seattle grunge, forming Soundgarden in the mid-'80s. They achieved multi-platinum sales with Superunknown, but disbanded in 1997. Cornell joined Audioslave and also performed solo before reuniting with Soundgarden in 2010. In May 2017, the 52-year-old singer’s self-immolation shocked the world, and both fans and fellow musicians paid tribute to his indelible influence on rock music.

Chris CornelGetty Images

33. The Maker of the Stones

Brian Jones was the original frontman of the Rolling Stones, forming the group, and even giving them their name. In the mid-1960s, Jones began drinking and experimenting with drug, and fell deeper into drug and depression when his girlfriend Anita Pallenberg left him for Keith Richards in 1967 while the three were on holiday together. After a drug conviction and problems within the band, he was asked to leave the Stones in 1969. Roughly a month after the announcement of his departure, on July 3, 1969, Jones was dragged unconscious from his swimming pool, and eventually pronounced deceased .His passing was ruled an accident, but many have claimed that he may have been ended.

Brian Jones.Getty Images

34. Latina Madonna

At age 15, Selena won the Tejano Music Award for Female Entertainer of the Year, which led to a deal with a major record label. Her music was able to cross cultural boundaries, and she was sometimes hailed as the “Latina Madonna.” On March 31, 1995, at 23-years-old, Selena was fatally shot in the back by her friend, and president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Saldivar had been managing boutiques opened by Selena, and had been accused of embezzling from both the stores and the fan club. The two met to discuss the financial situation, and that's when Saldivar shot Selena.

According to doctors, if the projectile had hit just a millimeter to the side, Selena would've survived. A few weeks later, then Texas Governor George W. Bush declared April 16 Selena Day in her honor in the state.

Madame Tussauds New York. Selena Quintanilla.Getty Images

Advertisement

35. I Will Always...

Whitney Houston was famous for her powerful vocals, and her tumultuous relationship with singer Bobby Brown. Throughout the '90s and 2000s, struggles with drug and poor health threatened her career. In 2012, she passed  of accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub, but heart disease and the drug found in her system were also contributing factors to her passing.

Since her passing, Houston and other members of her family have alleged that Houston was molested by an older cousin when she was a child. Whitney’s half-brother and her former manager also say that Houston told them about the molestation in private. Whitney’s half-brother alleges he was a victim of it as well. The cousin, Dee Dee Warrick, went on to become a singer as well but was eclipsed by her younger family members. The allegations were made public via Whitney, a documentary that premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May 2018. Warrick passed in 2008, so we will never hear from her side.

Singer Whitney HoustonGetty Images

36. High Priest of Pop

The artist known as Prince frequently created controversy with his music due to his use of sensual and religious themes, but he cemented his superstar status with hit singles like “When Doves Cry.” On April 21, 2016, Prince was found deceased at his compound in Minnesota from an accidental use of the synthetic opiate fentanyl. On the night of his passing, thousands of mourners sang to “Purple Rain” in downtown Minneapolis.

Prince performs during the 'Pepsi Halftime Show' at Super Bowl XLIGetty Images

37. The Youngest Bee Gee

Andy Gibb was the youngest brother of Bee Gees Barry, Robin and Maurice, and performed with his brothers from a young age. Although never a member of the Bee Gees, he did have a solo career. Fame came too quickly for Andy, and his life was marred with depression, which led him to try and escape with booze, substance use, and women. Five days after his 30th birthday in 1988, he lost his life from a heart attack, but nearly two decades later, his music lives on.

Andy GibbGetty Images

Advertisement

38. All I Can Say Is That My Life Is Pretty Plain

Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon was not the first or the last of the '90s grunge icons to die prematurely, but regardless, he was fondly remembered, especially for his band's hit song and music video, "No Rain," which infamously featured a young girl in a bumblebee costume. Hoon, unfortunately, had everything to lose at the time of his passing; he'd recently entered rehab after the birth of his first child, a daughter, with his girlfriend Lisa Crouse.

Still, the band had to tour, so a drug counselor accompanied them, but after he was unable to keep Hoon from using, he was dismissed. After an underwhelming concert in October 1995, Hoon went out on a binge, and the next day, he was found unresponsive on the tour bus. He was 28 years old.Musicians FactsWikimedia Commons

39. Dazed and Confused

Led Zeppelin are one of the most influential bands of the 20th century, and their early albums were characterized by the powerful drum sound provided by John Bonham. In 1980, the band was beginning rehearsals from an upcoming tour, and on the first morning they were supposed to meet, Bonham began drinking with breakfast. He continued drinking throughout the day, going to bed just after midnight. Over the course of the day, he'd managed to ingest over a liter of booze, causing him to vomit and choke. The coroner ruled it an accidental end,

As a result, the group disbanded, releasing a heartbreaking message that read: "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were."

Top Band.Getty Images

40. Fire Extinguished

Poet and songwriter Jim Morrison is best remembered as the lead singer of the rock band “The Doors.” As the band rose to popularity in the late '60s, Morrison became dependant on booze and drug. On July 3, 1971, his girlfriend found him passed in his bathtub. The official cause of his end was heart attack, but no autopsy was ever performed.His passing was kept secret until after his funeral in order to keep crowds of fans from attending.

Speaking of other members of the 27 Club, Morrison and Janis Joplin interacted several times in their lives and were said to have had a drunken one night stand, though according to musician David Crosby, Morrison was very cruel to her. Joplin was no pushover, however; she allegedly took a moonshine bottle to his head after the two of them got into a very public fight.

Musicians Who Died Too Young FactsPixabay

Advertisement

41. The Quixotic Rebel

S.E.X P.istols bassist Sid Vicious was a punk icon, and was viewed by some as a crude, foul-mouthed hoodlum with a corrupting influence. In 1978, he was charged with the ending of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, but four months later, he was gone at 21 of a drug use. His will actually requested that his girlfriend's grave be the site where his ashes were spread.Musicians FactsWikimedia Commons Chicago Art Department

42. Tough Gong

Legendary singer/songwriter Bob Marley was best known for helping to introduce Jamaican music to the world. Marley was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 1977, but kept the diagnosis secret, and continued touring. He also released the album Kaya, which remained on British charts for 56 weeks. He succumbed to the disease in May 1981 at the age of 36, and is remembered as a visionary and revolutionary artist.

On his deathbed, Bob Marley told his son, “Money can’t buy life.” His final words were “On your way up, take me up. On your way down, don’t let me down.”

Bob Marley Performs On StageGetty Images

43. Down in a Hole

Alice in Chains was one of the most influential bands of the '90s grunge movement, and was adored by their contemporaries. The band was led by singer Layne Staley's distinctive singing style, but at the height of their success in 1996, it all fell apart for Staley. In October of that year, Staley's former fiancée, Demri Lara Parrott,lost his life from an drug use. Staley took the loss particularly hard, and many friends saw this sad event as the beginning of the end for the singer.

Staley became reclusive and was virtually isolated from 1999 to 2002. He was often alone for weeks at a time, despite the efforts of friends to get him into a rehab program. In April 2002, after his accountants noticed that he hadn't taken out money in two weeks, they called his mother, realizing she also hadn't heard from him. After a 9-1-1 call, first responders broke down his door and found his partially decomposed body. He'd been deceased for two weeks, from drug use. He was 34 years old.

Years later, his former bandmate Mike Starr confessed to Staley's mother that he'd visited with Staley the day before his passing had threatened to call 9-1-1 due to Staley's disturbing appearance. Starr ended up storming out, and the last thing he heard was Staley yelling "Not like this, don't leave like this"—possibly the singer's last words. It's believed that Staley passed the next day, and Starr carried the guilt with him for many years, despite receiving forgiveness from Staley's mother. Starr tragically also lost his life from an drug use in 2011, despite attempts to get clean through rehab. 

Musicians FactsWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

44. Love Is a Losing Game

British singer Amy Winehouse was known for her deep vocals and her eclectic mix of jazz, soul, pop and R&B. She had a reputation as an unstable party girl, and her top 10 single “Rehab” discussed her refusal to receive treatment for substance use. On July 23, 2011, she became a member of the 27 Club with her passing from accidental booze use.

Biographer Chloe Govan’s Amy Winehouse: The Untold Story made some headlines when it alleged that Winehouse tried to kill herself when she was ten. According to an old friend, Winehouse was emotionally devastated by her parent’s divorce and this led her to drug use on pills. The friend says she found Winehouse clutching her stomach, with her mouth foaming. Old acquaintances talking about self-immolation attempts seems to be a trend, since Winehouse’s ex also claimed she cut herself eight weeks prior to her passing . According to Fielder-Civil, Winehouse had called him up on their wedding anniversary day, but his new wife was in labor at the time so he filled Winehouse in on the situation and hung up. When Fielder-Civil called back the next day, she allegedly said that she had cut herself really badly. However, with all of the stories that swirled through the tabloids following Winehouse's passing, it can be hard to really separate truth from fiction.

Tragic Lives Of Musicians FactsFlickr

45. Long Live the King!

Elvis Presley was the most popular singer of the early rock ‘n roll era, and he had a major impact on American pop culture. On August 16, 1977, the day before he was set to begin a new concert tour, Elvis was found deceased in his Graceland mansion. Four decades after his passing , Elvis continues to be celebrated as a superstar.

Contrary to the popular belief that it was drug-induced arrhythmia, Elvis’ long-time friend and physician, Dr. George “Nick” Nichopoulos revealed that The King’s end was caused by his chronic constipation.

“We didn’t realize until the autopsy that his constipation was as bad – we knew it was bad because it was hard for us to treat, but we didn’t realize what it had done.”

According to Dr. Nick, the autopsy revealed that his colon was 5 to 6 inches in diameter (normal width is 2 to 3 inches) and instead of being the standard 4 to 5 feet long, his colon was 8 to 9 feet in length.

Dr. Nick also believes the condition was hereditary and that it was likely the primary cause of his weight gain later in his career.

elvis-presleyFlickr

46. East Coast Savior

Christopher Wallace, AKA the Notorious B.I.G., is credited with leading East Coast rap in the early '90s. He helped by Sean Combs’ label become the biggest hip-hop imprint in America, and paved the way for future stars like Jay-Z. The gunning of the Notorious B.I.G. took place just six short months after the gunning of his rival Tupac. Biggie was just 24 years old when he was gone , and his passing made him a symbol of the senseless intolerance that was plaguing the world of rap at the time.

After the murders of Tupac and Biggie, theories flew around about who was involved, but the FBI actually discovered that there were certain individuals who were present at the deaths of both rappers and that Biggie was shot with a rare pistol, a Gecko 9mm, that is only made in Europe and only sold in certain stores in California and New Jersey. The heavily redacted papers released by the FBI reveal that the bureau also suspected corrupt LAPD involvement: some LAPD officers on duty at the party Biggie left before his ending were also, against LAPD policy, employed by rival record label. Ultimately, however, they couldn't make those hunches stick, and the mystery still lives on.

Notorious B.I.G. at Madame Tussaud's New YorkFlickr

Advertisement

47. Lover of Life, Singer of Songs

Known for his flamboyant persona and stage presence, the lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, maintained that he wanted to keep making music as long as possible after being diagnosed with AIDS. After telling the band, he refused to discuss it again, and only confirmed rumors of his illness one day before his end.

One of Mercury’s longtime idols was the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Mercury had admired Jackson all the way back to his Jackson 5 days, and in 1983, barely a year after Jackson’s Thriller had become the biggest album in the world, Mercury got the chance to collaborate with Jackson. They began recording three demos that were, sadly, never completed. Asked in 1987 why things didn’t work out, Mercury evasively blamed the fact that the two stars were never being in the same country long enough and commented that Jackson had “retreated into his own little world.”

Another story emerged wherein Jackson had allegedly picked a fight with Mercury after catching him using substances during the recording session. A third explanation, from Queen manager Jim Beach, stated that Jackson brought his pet llama into the studio, which astonished and frustrated Mercury’s attempts to record. Turns out you shouldn’t ever meet your heroes.

Freddie Mercury.Getty Images

48. Founder of the Fab Four

John Lennon was best known as the founder of the Beatlesone of the most impactful groups of the 20th century. He is also remembered for his activism and pleas for peace, and for his anti-battle songs “Give Peace a Chance” and "Imagine." In 1980, a deranged fan fatally shot Lennon outside his apartment building in New York City. Moments after Mark David Chapman shot Lennon, he sat down and started reading The Catcher in the Rye.

Lennon’s murderer, Mark David Chapman, has been close to getting parole a number of times since Lennon’s end. Ono has fought the man’s parole on nine occasions for fear for her own life.

John LennonGetty Images

49. Better to Burn Out Than To Fade Away

Kurt Cobain was the iconic frontman for grunge band Nirvana back in the '90s. Throughout his career, he struggled with drug addiction and depression. In 1994, he committed self-immolation with a pistol to the head. The musician has no gravesite and was never buried. His body was cremated, and his ashes scattered in an unrevealed location.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case and the rampant conspiracy theories perpetuated by fans, Seattle authorities decided to revisit the case of Cobain's end in 2014. Detectives claimed an undeveloped roll of film with photographs of the scene that had sat in an evidence locker for years. These photos provided a clearer image of Cobain's final moments than the Polaroids that had been previously used. Upon re-evaluation of the scene, the detective only confirmed the finding that Cobain had blasted himself, but they initially refused to release these new photos to the public, saying "What are people going to gain from seeing pictures of Kurt Cobain laying on the ground with his hair blown back, with blood coming out of his nose and trauma to his eyes from a penetrating projectile wound. How’s that going to benefit anybody?" However, some of the photos, including one tragically showing the hospital bracelet he still had on his arm from the detox program that he had escaped from just days before his end , were later made publicly available.

Musicians Who Died Too Young QuizFlickr

Advertisement

50. Still I Rise

Hip-Hop artist Tupac Shakur’s break came in 1991 as a member of the group Digital Underground, and his music was controversial for its mentions of cop-ending and female misconduct. In 1996, the 25-year-old was ended in drive-by-action outside a Vegas hotel. His body was cremated, and members of his band claimed to have smoked some of his ashes in his honor.

According to Las Vegas officer Chris Carroll, the first on the scene, Tupac’s last words were “f*** you,” after which he refused to speak to any other officer. Later, in the hospital, it was discovered that someone had called his record company and made ending threats against him. The receptionist had informed Las Vegas authorities , who declined to investigate, saying they were too understaffed to do anything.

Forrest Gump factsFlickr

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71


READ MORE

Awthumb

Things Americans Think Are Normal But No One Else Gets

These everyday activities are totally normal if you call America your home but are considered odd or out of context to any other country on the outside looking in. Take a peek into the bizarre habits and tastes of American culture.
August 15, 2024 JK
Mindtricks Internal

Psychological Mind Tricks That Really Work On People

Applying psychology principles can help you achieve your goals in personal relationships, work, and other aspects of your life. The following "mind tricks" are backed by research studies and can gain you a healthy advantage in various situations—but they should only be used wisely and ethically.
June 11, 2024 Eul Basa
60S Internal

24 Things Only 60s Kids Will Remember

The 1960s were filled with positive energy and new ideas. Iconic bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones ruled the music scene. Bold and innovative fashion trends were embraced by the youth. Significant events like the civil rights movement and rallies for peace marked the era. If you're a '60s kid, these will be all too familiar to you.
June 4, 2024 Eul Basa
Gentleparenting Internal

Gentle Parenting Methods That Confuse Older Generations

When it comes to parenting styles, there is a huge generational gap. As times have changed, so has the consensus on what is best for a child's development.
June 25, 2024 Eul Basa
JFK funeral, Jacqueline Kennedy and her children (left) food tray at a drive-in (right)

36 Things Only Baby Boomers Will Understand

From going to drive-in movies to witnessing some of the most poignant moments in history, these are things that only boomers will understand.
May 14, 2024 Sarah Ng

30 Tips for Aging After 30

Uncover 30 things you should prioritize once you hit age 30. From starting new routines and using new products to specific ways to unplug and unwind, these wellness tips will set you up for success.
May 9, 2024 Penelope Singh