Top 10 Musicians Who Died In the Worst Ways
This list examples the horrible ways musicians died! R.I.P. to all these amazing guys/gals!
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 Cliff Burton will forever be remembered as not just one of the greatest bassists of all time, but also one of the most talented musicians of his era. Tracks like "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "Orion" showcase his incredible talent to the point where even Metallica has struggled to replicate the former fully.
His death was swift and unexpected, but his legacy will be carried on by an entire generation of musicians, not just in Rock and Metal.
RIP to the bass master himself (10 February 1962 - 27 September 1986). "Cannot the Kingdom of Salvation take me Home..."
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. Shot onstage while performing, with his own brother watching from behind the drums. That's horrifying.
Pantera guitarist shot onstage while performing. R.I.P. Dimebag.
Shot onstage right in front of his bandmates and sibling. R.I.P.
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in... read more Taken too soon. Murdered by an unstable fan. A man of peace, integrity, unbelievable compassion, and brilliance. Missed every day all over the world!
Murdered by gunshot while with his wife, Yoko Ono, outside of a hotel.
Øystein Aarseth (1968-1993), who went by the pseudonym Euronymous, was a Norwegian guitarist and co-founder of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. Euronymous was stabbed to death by band member Varg Vikernes in August 1993... read more I don't care about him because he wasn't much better than his murderer, Varg Vikernes. However, Varg was his colleague, and this type of death is really painful and sadistic. The list title says "who died in the worst ways."
Apparently, he wasn't a very nice guy, but his death was extremely brutal and violent. He was stabbed about 27 times with a hunting knife.
This crazy satanist got stabbed over 30 times. I don't really care about him, but he died brutally.
John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 - 25 September 1980) was an English musician best known as the drummer of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Born in Redditch, Worcestershire, Bonham, nicknamed "Bonzo," is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential drummers in history. Noted for his speed, power, fast... read more He had alcohol poisoning, choked on his own vomit, and then died in his sleep. I didn't put him high on the list because I'm a huge Led Zeppelin fan, but because that's just horrible.
Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and... read more Okay, how is this not number 1? Sure, Cliff Burton's death was bad, but getting shot by your own father is messed up!
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. I think her killer was mad at her about something.
Shot by her best friend/fan club manager. Ouch!
Wow, her best friend shot her! I hear Selena Gomez was named after her.
Christina Victoria Grimmie (March 12th 1994 - June 10th 2016), known on YouTube as zeldaxlove64, was an American singer-songwriter known for participating in The Voice and for her covers of hit songs by contemporary pop musicians. She was shot dead during a meet-and-greet in Orlando, Florida, by fan... read more Getting shot by a deranged fan while she was signing autographs is just flat-out devastating. Her brother, who was there when she was shot, tackled the attacker, saving the lives of others, but he couldn't save his sister. That's just heartbreaking.
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. The guy got blown apart in a plane crash. Worst of all, he was only 25, meaning he still had a lot of potential left to show the world.
He did indeed die a hero, saving his 13-year-old son from dangerous Hawaiian surf. His body was never recovered.
Drowned in the ocean while trying to save his son.
The Newcomers
Mia Katherine Zapata (August 25, 1965 – July 7, 1993) was the lead singer for the Seattle punk band The Gits. After gaining praise in the nascent grunge rock scene, Zapata was murdered in 1993 during the recording of The Gits second album. The crime went unsolved for a decade before her killer, Jesus... read more
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the founder and vocalist, guitarist and bassist of the American heavy metal band Death. He is considered the most influential figure in Death Metal, with some publications referring to Chuck... read more Such a talented and kind musician. He deserved to live a full and happy life instead of losing his life to cancer.
Died of a horrible cancerous tumor.
Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959) was an American musician and singer-songwriter who was a central figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was a rising star when a tragic plane crash struck him down at age 22... read more Poor guy got into a plane crash.
Keith Relf was an English musician, well known as the lead singer for the psychedelic band The Yardbirds. He wasn't playing in the bathtub. It was just a badly installed plug that electrocuted him through his amp.
Not "just" electrocution. He was rehearsing in the bathtub with his plugged-in electric guitar!
He was killed by electrocution.
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
Stabbed in the heart with a kitchen knife.
Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) was an English musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the post-punk band Joy Division... read more
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997) raised as Scott "Scottie" Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist... read more Accidental drowning. No drugs, alcohol, or suicide. He was in a good frame of mind prior to the accident.
Drowned in his boat after drinking.
What's worse is that his dead body was used on one of Mayhem's album covers.
This list is about musicians who died in the worst ways. How isn't this guy in the top 5?
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
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016) was an English singer born in London, the son of a fundraiser and a waitress. He is credited for his experimental and creative musical discography which has won praise and accolades for many critics and fans... read more He died of cancer on Monday, making it 2016's Blue Monday.
Died of cancer. I am so sad. I loved David Bowie.
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
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
Keith John Moon was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. He was noted for his unique style and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour. His drumming continues to be praised by critics and musicians.
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead singer of the Doors.