Top 10 Best Albums Released After the Death of a Band Member
These bands have lost a member on the way, but they continued after the mourning and came back stronger.
That album was released after the death of lead singer Bon Scott, who choked on his vomit after a night of binge-drinking in early 1980. He was quickly replaced by Brian Johnson (former lead singer of Geordie), and together, they made what is considered AC/DC's magnum opus.
The album sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide and was certified 25x platinum in the United States. Talk about a triumph!
The album was released after the death of bassist Cliff Burton in a 1986 road accident. The instrumental track "To Live Is to Die" is dedicated to his memory.
This album was released after the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins following an overdose in March 2022.
This album was released while bassist Chi Cheng was in a coma after he was involved in a horrible car crash in 2008. He ultimately died in 2013, but I guess the rest of the band had little to no hope that Chi would survive.
This album was released after the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2022.
Released after the death of drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan at the very end of 2009.
Released two years after the death of guitarist Jeff Hanneman. It was also Slayer's final album before their separation.
Released after the death of bassist Paul Gray.
This album was recorded before Cobain died, though.
You know, back when Nirvana existed.
Released four years after Freddie Mercury's death from AIDS. All vocals were recorded by Mercury before his death. Queen released another album, The Cosmos Rocks (2008), with Paul Rodgers on lead vocals.
The first album to feature the RHCP's best-known lineup (Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante) is also a tribute to their original guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died of an overdose in 1988.
The follow-up to Def Leppard's blockbuster album Hysteria (1987) was released in the wake of guitarist Steve Clark's death in 1991. He has songwriting credits on six songs, and the song "White Lightning" is dedicated to him.
Released after James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon both died of drug overdoses.