Top 10 Saddest Musician Deaths of the 20th Century

The Top Ten

  1. John Lennon

    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 the... read more

    The way Lennon died was one of the most horrible ways possible. He wasn't battling cancer. He didn't suffer a cardiac arrest. He didn't suffer an overdose of drugs. And he didn't suffer a disease. He was shot. He was only 40 years old. We miss you, Lennon!

    Not only was he shot, which is one of the scariest and most disturbing ways to go, he was killed by his own fan.

    World changing, phenomenal activist for peace and otherworldly musician. Loved him so!

  2. Freddie Mercury

    Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibari‑born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range.... read more

    Death didn't even stop him. He is basically immortal. RIP Mr. Fahrenheit, you will be remembered by many generations ahead.

    Even though he is at number 3, pretty soon he will be on top of the list.

    Freddie: "When I'm dead, who cares? I don't..."

    But we care so much, Freddie!

  3. Elvis Presley

    Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor, widely dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" and regarded as a pivotal cultural icon of the 20th century. His energetic musical interpretation and provocative performance style, bridging racial music traditions in a shifting era, both fueled his fame... read more

    Presley died in arguably the most unhealthy way possible. He died of an overdose of drugs and junk food in Memphis, TN. He was only 42 years old.

  4. Kurt Cobain

    Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. Founded in 1987, Nirvana achieved global success in the early 1990s, reshaping rock music with albums like Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. Cobain died... read more

    He died horribly. His cause of death was suicide.

    Kurt Cobain was 27 years old.

  5. Cliff Burton

    Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton (February 10, 1962 - September 27, 1986) was an American musician best known as the second bass guitarist for the American thrash metal band Metallica. He performed on the band's first three studio albums: Kill 'Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984), and Master of Puppets... read more

  6. Duane Allman

    Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician, and co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band. He was known for his slide guitar work and contributions to Southern rock. He died in a motorcycle crash in 1971 at the age of 24.

  7. Harry Chapin

    Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter, humanitarian, and producer best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest paid performers of that decade. His best-known songs include Cat's in the... read more

  8. Buddy Holly

    Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 - February 3, 1959), was an American musician and singer-songwriter who was a central figure in mid-1950s rock and roll. He was a rising star when a tragic plane crash killed him at age 22.... read more

    His death truly was the day the music died.

    R.I.P. Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens. The Day the Music Died.

  9. Jim Croce

    James Joseph Croce was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and a number of singles. His songs "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle" both reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

  10. Bon Scott

    Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Forfar, Scotland, and lived in Kirriemuir for five years before moving to Melbourne, Australia, in 1952 at... read more

    There's no one like Bon Scott. Voice or personality.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Rob Pilatus

  12. ?

    Bob Marley

    Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist who achieved international fame and acclaim. He was a pioneering figure in reggae music and is considered one of the genre's most influential artists. His work with The Wailers helped popularize Jamaican music... read more

    13. The Contenders

  13. Ritchie Valens

    Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. A pioneer of rock and roll and a founding figure in the Chicano rock movement, his career lasted only eight months.... read more

    So sad that he died from a coin toss. If he had lost, we would still have him. R.I.P. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Bopper. The Day the Music Died.

  14. Jim Morrison

    James Douglas "Jim" Morrison (December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead vocalist and lyricist of The Doors. He became a counterculture icon of the 1960s, known for his flamboyant stage presence and poetic lyrics. Morrison died in Paris in... read more

  15. Richard Manuel

    Richard George Manuel was a Canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the pianist, regular lead singer, and occasional drummer of The Band. He was a founding member of the group and contributed to their distinctive sound during their influential years in the late 1960s and 1970s... read more

  16. Jimi Hendrix

    Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though his mainstream career lasted only about four years from 1966 to 1970, he's widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in popular music.... read more

  17. Janis Joplin

    Janis Joplin (1943-1970) was an American singer who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She was known for her powerful voice, emotive performances, and distinctive hippie style. Joplin remains an iconic figure of 1960s counterculture and... read more

    She died just sixteen days after Jimi Hendrix, and like him at the age of 27, making them number 2 and 3 (after Brian Jones) in what would become the infamous "27 Club." It refers to the belief that an unusual number of popular musicians have died at age 27. Jim Morrison joined one year later, but it wasn't until the death of Kurt Cobain about two and a half decades later that the idea of a "27 Club" began to catch on in public perception. Amy Winehouse, Kristen Pfaff (from Hole), Mia Zapata, and many others are sadly also members of this "club."

  18. The Big Bopper

  19. Ronnie Van Zant

    Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was known for his distinctive voice and storytelling lyrics. Van Zant died in a plane crash in 1977 along with other band members.

    It was sad the way he died.

  20. Randy California

    The founder and lead guitarist of the band Spirit, he died a hero saving his 13-year-old son from dangerous Hawaiian surf. He also may, or may not, have written the first part of "Stairway to Heaven."

  21. John Bonham

    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

  22. Marvin Gaye

    Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.. April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, initially as an in-house session musician and later as a solo artist with a series of hits, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and... read more

    He was shot by his own father. Of course it's sad.

    Who murders their own son?

  23. Karen Carpenter

    Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the 1970s duo Carpenters. Known for her contralto vocals, Karen Carpenter is regarded as one of the greatest female vocalists of all time.

  24. 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

  25. Selena Quintanilla

    Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. Known as the Queen of Tejano music, she was one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. She was tragically murdered in 1995 at the age of 23.

    So sad she was murdered by Yolanda. And she wanted to have kids.

  26. Cass Elliot

    Ellen Naomi Cohen, known professionally as Mama Cass and later as Cass Elliot, was an American singer and voice actress. She was a member of the singing group the Mamas and the Papas. After the group disbanded, Elliot released five solo albums and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall... read more

  27. Keith Moon

    Keith John Moon (1946-1978) was the English drummer for the rock band The Who. He was known for his energetic, unconventional style and eccentric, often self-destructive behavior. Moon's drumming continues to be praised for its influence on rock music and his showmanship is remembered as legendary.

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