Top 10 Saddest Things in the History of Music

The Top Ten

  1. John Lennon's assassination

    John Lennon was looking after his son for half of the '70s. Unfortunately, he was shot in 1980 at the age of 40, which meant there could never be a full Beatles reunion. The part of this that makes me cry even more is that his last words to Paul McCartney (who was more than likely his best friend) were, "think about me every once in a while, old friend."

    Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and most other musicians who died young brought it upon themselves. Not so with Lennon. He'd taken most of the '70s off to spend time with his wife and son. Then, just as he was recording a new album, he was gone.

  2. Freddie Mercury's death

    Freddie Mercury is the best frontman in rock history. He continued to work as hard as he could until he died. What a legend this man was! He will be remembered until this planet is no more!

    He died from AIDS. How sadder can you get?

  3. Kurt Cobain's suicide

    Nirvana isn't my favorite band, and Kurt isn't my favorite musician, but I do believe his death killed music. Nirvana honestly was the last great band in music history.

  4. Over 50 musicians in rock died at the age of 27

    I have to say this should be number one. So many great artists died so young. Many could have become legends in rock, and some even did, like Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Robert Johnson, Jim Morrison, and many more who sadly didn't get to show all they could do to reinvent music. R.I.P. to them all.

  5. Death of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens

    February 3, 1959, will always be remembered as "The Day the Music Died."

    As Don McLean sang, "the day the music died."

  6. Dimebag Darrell shot and killed while playing a song

  7. Michael Jackson's death

    Michael Jackson didn't deserve to die at the hands of Conrad Murray. Michael's three children were very heartbroken when he died. Michael Jackson was talented, smart, and beautiful. He was also a very good singer and dancer. Michael Jackson is one of the most influential celebrities that has ever existed. He's iconic!

    Even worse, he was expected to perform a series of concerts in London starting the next month. It's just sad to see him leave early.

  8. George Harrison's death

    Slow and painful. One of the greatest people ever, so sad. Let this be a lesson to all of you kids: never smoke!

  9. The Beatles' breakup

    Shame. They had been together since 1960 and split in the 1970s. They could have reunited if John hadn't been murdered and George hadn't died of cancer.

    The Beatles were a legend! They had everything! Why?

    That's why I don't like Johnny. I mean John Lennon.

  10. John Bonham's death and Led Zeppelin's breakup

    Wow, just wow. Also, Bonham's death was from too much alcohol.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Olivia Newton-John's death

    The saddest thing for music in the 2020s.

  12. ?

    2008 Universal Music Group archives fire

    In 2008, the media called it The Day The Music Burned. It contained recordings from almost every artist from the 1940s and 1950s.

    Hundreds of legendary artists were affected by this incident. This should definitely be in the top 10.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Keith Moon's death

  14. Elvis Presley's death

  15. Jimi Hendrix's death

    A musical juggernaut who had so much more music to write and play.

    Should be way higher than where it is. Only three albums!

  16. Selena's murder by the manager of her fan club

    I am still pissed off about that. Who would kill their favorite person?

  17. Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane crash

  18. Aaliyah's death in a plane crash

  19. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes's death in a car accident

  20. Jim Morrison's death

    It's really sad that this happened. The Doors were an awesome band, and he died at the very young age of 27. It's sad there are so many people in the 27 Club.

  21. Tupac Shakur's assassination

    Rap is the best genre of music: deepest, most sincere, and meaningful. Pac is the best there is. It's truly saddening that someone changing the world, expressed in the songs "Changes" and "Ghetto Gospel," was taken from us when he was only 25. You will be missed.

    Live the thug life, die the thug death.

  22. Luciano Pavarotti's death

  23. My Chemical Romance's breakup

  24. Ludwig van Beethoven's death

  25. David Bowie's death

  26. Chester Bennington's suicide

  27. Original lineup of Guns N' Roses splits

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