Top Ten Musicians Who Died in Their 30s
Many rock stars are known for dying at age 27 and joining the unofficial 27 Club. However, what I'm trying to show is that even though you may get past age 30, you're not completely out of the woods yet. Having said that, there are a lot more cases here of lives being lost to external circumstances than to drug or alcohol abuse. May all these musicians rest in peace. Feel free to add more examples.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era, born in Salzburg. Thanks for adding him, Metal_Treasure. It's crazy to think that a musician so prodigious and accomplished died so young.
How can he even be compared to today's musicians, they're work pales in comparison to his masterpieces.
And I'm glad he's dead. He's as overrated as Shakespeare.
Better than most artists today for sure.
Pppl be shakin' booties to get someone to listen to them.. really disgusting. No class :/
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. What a guitarist! He sussed life out didn't he - stop ageing, but still live on. He and his music will always be here while he is fondly thought of and remembered.
He died at age 35 from a helicopter crash. The sad thing about his death was the fact that he sobered up a few years earlier and was playing better than ever.
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. Most metal fans would know that he was "The Godfather of Death Metal". Died at the age of 34 from Pneumonia while dealing with a brain tumor. Tragic loss in the metal community.
Music trends didn't bother him or songwriting. he was a self-taught guitarist and had such an original and driving musical vision
Such a shame he died so young... One of the biggest musical geniuses of all time!
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist who achieved international fame and acclaim. One of the greatest. His songs never get old. Every time I listen to his songs it's like I am hearing it for the first time.
He's pretty good... My dad really like him
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. Keith died after taking 32 clomethiazole tablets, pills designed to alleviate alcohol withdrawal. He was 32 years old.
Possibly best drumming style ever
Right after number 4 on this list
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. Like Keith Moon, Bonzo was also 32 when he died. According to his autopsy, he died after consuming 40 shots of vodka and choking on his own vomit.
Poor dude went out like a drunk Russian by drinking 40 shots of vodka and choking on his vomit
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. ...read more. Most soulful, talented, and underrated singer of my generation...that's why he's #13 on this list. Unforgivable! There will never be another close to Layne's power and range, AIC died on April 5, 2002 with Layne. RIP Layne, can't wait to hear you sing in person when I get there
Only 17? He should be at least in the top 5. How is such a great singer not in the top 10.
Best grunge singer ever! I love his voice. He died too early. Vote for him.
Yes, Layne desrerves number one. Such a good musician and a amazing person.
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. A working man's poet
James Joseph Croce was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and singles. His songs "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle" reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. I completely forgot about Jim Croce. Thanks for adding him to the list.
Died in a plane crash while on tour. (30)
Eric Lynn Wright better known by his stage name "Eazy-E", was an American rapper who performed solo and in the hip hop group N.W.A. He is affectionately called "The Godfather of Gangsta Rap". He was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton, California. On March 26, 1995 Eazy-E dies from complications ...read more. One does not simply forget "The Godfather of Gangsta Rap." Rest easy Eazy (1964-1995).
Godfather of Gangsta Rap. Rest in peace.
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. As most metal fans know, Dimebag was murdered while performing on stage. He was only 38 years old.
I love Pantera, I buy every Dimebag shirt I can find, just in memory of him... I've been surching for a Vinnie item but can't find anything.
I must say, Patsy Cline is a close second for me! :-)
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. His most commercially successful group was Thin Lizzy, of which he was a founding member, the principal songwriter, lead vocalist and bassist. After collapsing in his home and being rushed to the hospital, Phil Lynott died in the ICU at the age of 36. He was a frequent user of heroin during his last years.
She died in her sleep at the age of 32 from heart failure. She ended up dying in the same room and at the same age as Keith Moon did a few years later.
Cass Elliot is considered to be one of the greatest female singers of the 1960's.
Franz Peter Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer. Schubert died before his 32nd birthday, but was extremely prolific during his lifetime. His output consists of over six hundred secular vocal works, seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music ...read more. Died at almost 32 and left more than 900 works. Many of them have been used in movies - arthaus as well as blockbusters - e.g. the Rosamunde-Quartet D 804 (in the first Avengers movie), the 2nd movement of the Trio D 929 (Hunger Games, etc.). The String Quintet D 956 is widely seen as one of the greatest chamber compositions of all times.
Left us a lot of beautiful music, a lot of which was only discovered years later! Illegal drugs aren't the only addictions that have cost the world a lot...
Thanks for including him.
One of the first preeminent blues rock guitar players. He was found dead in his car in 1981, sitting in the driver's seat. What exactly happened to him is unknown, except for two unnamed sources who claimed that he died during a party in San Francisco and was driven to another location by two of his fellow partygoers. He was 37.
Frédéric François Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849), born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for the solo piano. He gained and has maintained renown worldwide as a leading musician of his era, whose "poetic genius ...read more. Thanks to whoever added him. He deserves to be way higher up this list, as does Franz Schubert.
Keith Relf was an English musician, well known as the lead singer for the psychedelic band The Yardbirds. Keith Relf died from electric shock at the age of 33 while playing a guitar that wasn't properly grounded. He suffered from emphysema and asthma, which hampered his ability to survive the shock.
For those of you who don't know, Lowell George was the original vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for Little Feat. He died from a heart attack that was caused by an accidental cocaine overdose. He was only 34.
Yes, great singer and songwriter. Jackson Browne's song, "Of Missing Persons" was written after Lowell George's death. Tragic loss.
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the 1970s duo Carpenters.
Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Winchester, Virginia. She became a professional country singer in the 1950s, and became one of the most important artists in American music history. Patsy died on March 5, 1963, in a plane crash in Camden, Tennessee. She was inducted ...read more.
John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III was an American jazz bassist who was a member of Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. He worked with Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, and recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader. One of the best bassists of all time and one of the biggest figures in jazz fusion. He died from a brain hemorrhage that resulted from a bar fight he had with a bouncer at the Midnight Bottle Club. He was 35.
He drowned in Marina Del Ray after drinking all day and diving into the water to retrieve some items he threw overboard in the marina three years prior. He was 39.
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter, humanitarian, and producer best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs, who achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest paid performers. Died in a car accident. (38)
Paul Dedrick Gray, also known as The Pig or by his number #2, was an American musician, best known as the bassist and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award-winning metal band Slipknot.Tommy Caldwell was the original bassist for the Marshall Tucker Band. He died at the age of 30 due to a car accident.