Top 10 Biggest Losses to the Music Industry

Some artists, love them or hate them, have made a tremendous mark and influence on the music industry that their deaths have affected everyone in some way.
The Top Ten
1 Michael Jackson Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael... read more

Michael should be #1-MJ was a songwriter, composer, arranger, dancer, and a singer-was voted in the Dance Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of fame2x- Michael is an Artist that wrote 9 #1 songs-has the biggest selling album of all time (Thriller) has the Guiness world record with the most awards- Michael creates music-Mj is the King of Music - Period-

For Real. He's the only artist I miss.

2 Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave... read more

I'm sorry to any Michael fan but Freddie should be number one. He was both Queen AND KING to the music world and having him die at such a young age? That was one of the worst things. He had made so much great music and he had SO MUCH ideas but to his untimely death, his ideas are forever left in his mind which no one will be able to retrieve... Michael at least had half of his life put down already but not Freddie. Hardly half. He didn't even live up to the release of Made In Heaven... RIP Freddie. You were truly the greatest... Now, the greatest lost...

3 John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980) was an English singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. He was assassinated by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980 at age... read more

Greatest human and musician we've ever had!

Number one biggest loss, hands down!

One of, if not the best musician ever.

4 Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone... read more
5 Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1987, he started the grunge band Nirvana, which became one of the most successful bands ever. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his... read more

This man was the temporary leader for a generation kids. Saad as it may be that he took his own like at the age of 27, it still doesn't mean that he wasn't great at making good music. He must be really good if e still continues to influence people from today. To me, his death has impacted me the most and I was born more than two years after his death.

The darkside's plan to ruin music: Kill off the lead singer of Nirvana, let Bieber live, and indirectly bring forth "What Do You Mean? ".

6 Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston is one of pop music's best-selling music artists of all-time, with an estimated 170–200... read more

She had the most brilliant voice I've ever heart. Losing her to drugs is so sad. The saddest thing.

7 John Bonham John Henry Bonham was born on May 31, 1948 in Redditch, United Kingdom. Bonham (nicknamed Bonzo) was a professional hard rock drummer who was best known for being the drummer in the band Led Zeppelin. Bonham was also one of the background singers in the band. His drumming is mainly displayed on the... read more

One of the greatest drummers of all time.

8 Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined... read more

Please, its simple; no Elvis- no Beatles, no Elvis- no MJ.
Why do you think MJ ripped off the title "King of Pop"?
Because "King of Rock-n-Roll" was taken.
Why do yo think MJ married Elvis' daughter Lisa-Marie?
Because he was obsessed with the fact that not matter WHAT he did, he would never be able to measure up to Elvis.
MJ is also badly in third place behind The Beatles and Elvis for overall most record sales.
MJ's so-called 750K sales were proven to be a PR stunt that was "made up" by the advertising firm in charge of hyping up "This Is It", and the real number is about half of that.
Elvis is THE KING.

9 Cliff Burton Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton (February 10th 1962 - September 27th 1986) was an American musician, best known as the second bass guitarist for the American thrash metal band Metallica, recording three studio albums... read more

How can we forget cliff? Arguably the Best and most innovative bassist of all time. And unlike many people on this list, cliff didn't die of drug abuse or some crazy suicide. He died in an accident just the age of 24. This makes it all the more sad. I can't even imagine the great heights Metallica would have reached and whole genre of metal would have reached if he was Alive today

No doubt Metallica regained their ground once again after Burton's death but there shall never be any bassist with the style of Cliff Burton...

10 Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor born on June 16, 1971 in East Harlem, New York. Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide and has been referred to in multiple major publications such as Rolling Stone as one of the greatest music artists of all time. 2Pac was... read more

His dumb actions led to his death...

The Contenders
11 Randy Rhoads Randall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. He was killed in a plane crash.

He had nowhere to go but up. He already proved himself a legend and yet wanted to move on and get a degree in classical guitar playing. I'm a guitarist and I can tell you classical is not easy. All this by the age of 24. Rest easy and thank you for the music

He was so great! Songs like "Mr. Crowly", "Crazy Train" and "Flying High Again" are so magical! The way the guitar "lifts" up the song is amazing! It was such a shame that he died :(

Rest In Peace Randy Rhoads!
Always Remembered, never forgotten

Why isn't he at top 10? He was so good!

12 Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most... read more
13 Johnny Cash John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author, who was widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. He died of... read more
14 The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace, born May 21, 1972, better known by his stage name The Notorious B.I.G (sometimes Biggie Smalls or just simply Biggie), is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. On March 9, 1997, he was murdered in a drive by shooting in Los Angeles, California at the age of only... read more
15 Jim Morrison James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead singer of the Doors.
16 Bon Scott Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Forfar and lived in Kirriemuir, Scotland, for 5 years before moving to Melbourne, Australia,... read more
17 Amy Winehouse Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter known for her deep expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz. She is also a well-known member of the 27 Club, as she overdosed on alcohol at age 27.

So special and giften and talented in a time where that originality was so scarce.

18 The Rev James Owen Sullivan (February 9th, 1981 - December 28th 2009), better known by his stage name "The Rev" (Short for "The Reverend Tholomew Plague") was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the former drummer, backing vocalist and co-founder of the American alternative metal/ metalcore... read more

How can we forget the knife master? Arguably the Best and most innovative drummer of all time. Not only drum, but he is a singer, he can play keyboard, piano, guitar, songwriter of avenged sevenfold. He is a big losses of avenged sevenfold and the members.. They are 5 best friend. And still they are with out the rev... We love you rev foREVer..

19 Janis Joplin Janis Joplin (1943-1970) was an American singer who rose to fame as the main singer of acid band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She was known for her eccentric hippie style and psychedelic rock music.

Her voice gave such a raw feel to the music she created. All her songs are an instant attractions and she would have kicked more ass if only she lived to see today.

20 Dimebag Darrell Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of two bands, Pantera and Damageplan, alongside his brother, Vinnie Paul. Abbott died in 2004 after he was shot by a mentally unstable fan.
21 Prince Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21st, 2016) was an American musician, best known for being one of the most popular and influential artists from the 80s, with songs such as "Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette", "1999", and "When Doves Cry" .
22 John Entwistle John Alec Entwistle, was an English singer, songwriter, composer, musician, film and music producer. He is mostly known as the lead bassist for the rock band The Who.
23 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stephen "Stevie" Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. In spite of a short-lived mainstream career spanning seven years, he is widely considered one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of music, and... read more

An amazing guitarist and will never be forgetten (well he better not be forgotten or there will be hell to pay).

Stevie Ray Vaughn was one of the best guitarists to walk the planet. His loss will always be a sad one

24 Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar was an Indian film playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the most successful playback singers of the Hindi film industry.
25 Willie Dixon
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