Most Shocking Rockstar Deaths
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 Lennon's death was the day the music died. He formed the most famous and best-selling band in history. He chose the members of the band and was always really the leader.
He selected the most famous band name in history, the Beatles. He sang and wrote most of the songs, more than any other Beatles member. He had one of the most famous songs in history, Imagine, and definitely the most famous song compared to those of Paul, George, and Ringo. He is the only musician who had a number 1 single on the U.S. Billboard after he died.
Lennon was a big threat to U.S. politics in the early '70s because of the Vietnam War and was not afraid to protest against kings, queens, and presidents, something not many famous people then and today would dare to do. Everyone who was alive in 1980 knew how big Lennon's death was, even bigger than Senator Kennedy and definitely more significant than Dimebag's, even though I love Pantera.
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. I agree with you guys. His death is the most tragic and should have never happened. No musician deserves to be murdered, especially not while on stage.
Definitely the number 1 most shocking - shot onstage while performing!
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 Michael Jackson's a rockstar? Pretty sure he is a popstar, but Kurt is the most shocking though.
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 Never have I heard anyone with such talent as Freddie. So sad and tragic that he died. Absolutely unique and irreplaceable. RIP, Fred. You legend.
One of the saddest deaths in rock history. A beautiful voice was lost and will continue to be missed to this day.
Miss him so much. I can't express my sadness in words. Such a great treasure we lost, such a tragedy.
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 Elvis, the KING of Rock, ranked beneath the non-rocker Michael Jackson? Is this list serious?
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. That bus driver was a jerk! He made us all lose one of the greatest guitarists ever born!
He is one of the greatest guitarists of all time and he died in a plane crash (how I think Bruce Dickinson will go by the way). Everyone was shocked at his death.
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
The top 3 can be considered the death of 'The King' Elvis, John Lennon, and Jimi Hendrix.
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
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997) raised as Scott "Scottie" Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist... read more
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 acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled as homicide. Michael is widely regarded as one of the most significant... read more I still cannot come to terms with this. It hurts so bad!
The Newcomers
It happened too soon. What's even more shocking is that it happened just 10 days after his birthday.
He will be remembered for his covers of several songs by The Rolling Stones, as well as Rocket Man by Elton John, and his song Good Times. He was the father of three children, including Emily Robison. R.I.P. (1964-2023).
He was known as the Godfather of drunken Caribbean rock 'n' roll. He passed away on September 1, 2023, after privately battling Merkel cell carcinoma (a rare form of skin cancer). We did not see this coming, even though his hospital trips were reported.
A truly huge loss for rock and calypso music. He was also the co-founder of the Margaritaville restaurants, which were created in honor of his big hit. R.I.P. (1946-2023).
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead singer of the Doors.
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 Awesome lyricist and frontman - died right before AC/DC skyrocketed to the heights of rock and roll fame. Probably wrote most of Back in Black, the second or third best-selling album of all time.
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
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, actor, activist and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer, starting in the 1970s.
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 He had been clean for a year and was doing great until that horrible crash.
Christopher John "Chris" Cornell was an American rock musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Seattle rock band Soundgarden and as former lead vocalist and songwriter for the supergroup Audioslave. His vocal range was C2 to A5, while... read more
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
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
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.
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.
Marc Bolan, born Mark Feld (30 September 1947 – 16 September 1977) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist, and poet. He was best known as the lead singer of the glam rock band T. Rex. Bolan was one of the first pioneers of the glam rock movement of the 1970s. He died at age 29 in a... read more When his manager once told him jokingly the rockiest way for him to die was at the wheel of a white roller, Marc joked back, No, I'm too small for a Rolls Royce. It'll have to be a Mini... a little purple Mini.
John Anthony Genzale Jr. (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), better known by his stage name Johnny Thunders, was an American rock and roll/punk rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of the New York Dolls. He later played with The Heartbreakers and... read more
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
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 Stupid cancer has taken the life of one of the greatest pop stars of all time. He left the Blackstar album so that he will always be remembered 100 years after his death. R.I.P. David Bowie!