The Death of Rock: The Archive

As a morbid hobby, I have archived the early deaths of many rock & roll notables. I do not claim to have an all-inclusive list. But I do feel that this archive is competently comprehensive.

Criteria for a death to be included in the archive: the cause of death is not due to natural causes, and/or the musician died "before their time" - in the interest of preserving space, age 60 or younger. The people archived must fit at least one of the following criteria: the person must have been famous (or a member of a popular group), the person must have been influential somehow in the music business, their death must have impacted the music industry in some significant way, or the story of their life and/or death must have been unusual enough to surpass the previous criteria. There are several lesser-known artists included in the archive because I thought their stories were interesting. In the interest of saving space, the Archive includes only Rock & Roll personalities and those who have influenced Rock music.

Each entry includes the artist's name, birth name (if different), year and cause of death, age at time of passing, accolades awarded (such as Hall of Fame memberships), notable songs in the artist's repertoire, and any interesting facts related to the artist's life and/or death. Photos are also provided for many of the performers. Many entries are cross-referenced. You may email me if you feel a worthy artist has been omitted. All decisions by the author (me) are final.

The photos on this site have been collected from various magazines and websites. My appreciation to all.

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News and Updates

21 November -

In Memoriam

Michael Hutchence

22 November 2009 marks the 12th anniversary of the death of Michael Hutchence. Hutchence was the sexy and charismatic singer of INXS and a talented solo artist (and occasional actor). He was found hanged in a Sydney, Australia, hotel room when he was 37. For more information on this remarkable man and his career, visit the Archive's Tribute to Michael Hutchence. "Never Tear Us Apart," "Need You Tonight," "Not Enough Time," "Disappear," "Slide Away"

21 November -

Jimi Hendrix Experience: Mitch Mitchell (d. 2008), Jimi Hendrix (d. 1970) and Noel Redding (d. 2003).

Recent information suggests that the death of guitar god, Jimi Hendrix, was not an accident but actually murder, perpetrated by his own manager, Michael Jeffrey. Hendrix aspirated his own vomit after ingesting sleeping pills and wine in 1970. He was 27. Follow the link for more information about the murder of Jimi Hendrix.

10 November -

Jerry Fuchs (Gerhardt Fuchs) has joined The Archive. While at a benefit party in Brooklyn, Fuchs became stuck on a freight elevator between the fourth and fifth floors. He attempted to jump to the fourth floor, but his jacket got caught; he fell down the elevator shaft and was killed. He was 34. Fuchs was a drummer with Maserati, LCD Soundsystem, !!! (pronounced "chk chk chk"), Turing Machine, MSTRKRFT, and The Juan MacLean. He was also "house drummer" for the record label DFA.

2 November -

The Archive extends greetings to Steve Ferguson, the guitarist and founder of NRBQ. He organized the first incarnation of the band (which stands for New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) in 1967 and remained with the group until 1970. Ferguson succumbed to cancer; he was 60.

29 October -

The Archive welcomes the young Taylor Mitchell. Mitchell was attacked by coyotes while hiking; she was 19. Mitchell was a Canadian folk singer who was nominated for Young Performer of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards. During a break while touring, she decided to go hiking on the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia. Fellow hikers witnessed the coyote attack and called 911. Mitchell was airlifted to a hospital, where she died 12 hours later. Her album, For Your Consideration, was released earlier this year.

6 October -

Michael Hutchence

The Archive's Tribute to Michael Hutchence, lead singer of INXS, has been updated. Hutchence was found hanged in 1997 at the age of 37. Visit the Tribute for the complete story. "I Need You Tonight," "New Sensation," "Disappear," "Never Tear Us Apart," "Slide Away," "Rooms For the Memory"

5 October -

Patrick Swayze

The Archive belatedly welcomes Patrick Swayze. Although Swayze was primarily known as an actor (Dirty Dancing, Ghost), he co-wrote and sang the top ten hit song, "She's Like the Wind," from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. He was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991. Swayze died of pancreatic cancer; he was 57.

Direct yourself to the 2006-2009 page for the most recent inductees to the Archive.

Navigating The Archive

The Archive is divided into three main categories in addition to three special supplements. The three main categories are:

The Alphabetical Archive

The Chronology

Causes of death

The special supplements are explained below.

The Gateway/Tributes

The details surrounding the deaths of a few of Rock's luminaries deserve a more thorough explanation than a regular entry in the Archive would allow. For this reason, the Gateway was created, a page where you may access several Tributes which explain in depth the circumstances surrounding the deaths of a few of music's brighter lights. The current Tributes available for viewing are:

Hank Williams, Buddy Holly / Big Bopper / Ritchie Valens, Jesse Belvin, Patsy Cline / Cowboy Copas / Hawkshaw Hawkins, Eddie Sulik, Bobby Fuller, Otis Redding, Jim Croce, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Andy Gibb, Kurt Cobain, John Denver, Michael Hutchence and Falco.

The Curse of Buddy Holly

The rock & roll legend died in a plane crash in 1959, along with "The Big Bopper" and Ritchie Valens. But those two performers weren't the only artists associated with Holly who would die cruel and early deaths. Visit this page for a list of over a dozen others, including Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bobby Fuller, Ricky Nelson, Del Shannon, and John Lennon.

The Curse of Harry Nilsson

Nilsson's hits include "Coconut," "Everybody's Talkin'," and a cover of Badfinger's "Without You." He died in 1994 at the age of 52 from heart failure. Several prominent artists associated with Nilsson would meet violent and/or untimely deaths, including John Lennon, Keith Moon, Mama Cass, and Badfinger.

Strange Thought-Patterns at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

In my humble, yet educated, opinion: the following artists deserve induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. Yet year after year, all go unmentioned and unnoticed. (One notable victory: after years of whining to anyone who would listen, Lynyrd Skynyrd were inducted in 2006.)

J. P. Richardson - "The Big Bopper"

"The Big Bopper"

(Jiles Perry "J.P." Richardson) was killed in the same plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens (both inductees; 1986 and 2001, respectively). Richardson was a disc jockey, performer, and arguably the inventor of the novelty song. His hits include "Little Red Riding Hood," "That's What I'm Talking About," "White Lightnin'," "Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor," and the wildly popular "Chantilly Lace." Big Bopper also wrote and sang back-up on Johnny Preston's "Running Bear." I nominate J.P. under the category of "Early Influence." He has already been inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and he was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Visit the Tribute to Rock's Royal Trinity.

Jan and Dean

Jan & Dean

Jan Berry (d. 2004) and Dean Torrence were the originators of the '60s California surf sound. They pre-dated the Beach Boys, who would cover several Jan & Dean songs. Incidentally, the Beach Boys, who owe their careers to Jan & Dean, are R&R Hall of Fame inductees (1988). I nominate J&D under the category of "Early Influence." Hits include "Little Old Lady From Pasadena," "Surf City," and "Dead Man's Curve." (Yes, those are originally Jan & Dean. The Beach Boys covered them.)

Jim Croce

Jim Croce

No explanation should be necessary. Croce's music was memorable - either for the touching and bittersweet feelings it evoked, or for the humorous and catchy anecdotes he related. He sang about topics that the average person could relate to, and he told his stories with, depending on the song, either sharp wit or raw emotion. The tragedy of his death is compounded by his omission from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was, however, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990. Visit The Archive's Tribute to Jim Croce. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)," "Time in a Bottle," "I Got a Name," "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song," and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim."

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan could play a guitar like nobody's business. Fusing blues and rock & roll, Vaughan gave us a new standard by which all ax-men should be judged. (In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him the #7 greatest guitarist of all time.) SRV had the technical skills and the artistic sensibility to make some of the most passionate and memorable music, classics such as "The Sky is Crying," "Pride and Joy," "Cold Shot," "The House is Rockin'," "Couldn't Stand the Weather," "Crossfire," "Change It," and "Tightrope." The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame needs to catch up - The Blues Hall of Fame inducted Stevie Ray in 2000.

For My Father

12 February 1949 - 31 October 2005

This site is dedicated to my father, who always loved good stories, good music, and good stories about music.

"Our captain and leader has not left us -

Today, tomorrow, this year, next...

Our endeavors will reflect our love and admiration for him."

(Inscription on New York Yankee Thurman Munson's memorial.)

The Archive was first compiled on 20 March 2004.

Most recent updates were executed on 21 November 2009.

Updates may include the recently deceased, new entries of those previously deceased who were missing from the Archive, and the addition of photos and/or information for existing inductees.

This site was created and is maintained by Coyote Dawn.