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The Death of Rock: The Chronology

2015 - 2019

Artists are listed alphabetically within year of demise.

Key

2015

Jeremy Brown

multiple drug intoxication; he was 34. Brown, the guitarist for Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, died the day before the release of the band's debut album, Blaster. Weiland would also be dead by the end of the year.

The Partridge Family.

Back: Shirley Jones, Dave Madden (d. 2014),

David Cassidy (d. 2017), Susan Dey.

Front: Brian Forster, Danny Bonaduce,

Suzanne Crough (d. 2015).

Suzanne Crough

arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a rare form of cardiomyopathy. She was 52. Crough played Tracy, the youngest daughter on TV's The Partridge Family. The musical family (based on the Cowsills) scored several hits on the charts. Fellow Partridge Family member, David Cassidy, died of liver failure in 2017, age 67. "C'mon Get Happy," "I Think I Love You," "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted"

Mike Porcaro

Lou Gehrig's Disease. Porcaro was the bassist for the band, Toto (and brother to Jeff). The group garnered six Grammy Awards in its heyday. Porcaro was 59. "Africa," "Rosanna," "Hold the Line"

Scott Weiland

Scott Weiland

found dead in his bed on his tour bus of an accidental overdose of drugs and alcohol. He was 48. Weiland was the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most successful bands of the grunge era with 11 top ten hits. His latest project, Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, suffered a loss when their guitarist, Jeremy Brown, died earlier in the year, just a day prior to the release of their debut album, Blaster. "Plush," "Creep," "Interstate Love Song," "Big Empty"

2016

Black

(Colin Vearncombe), car accident. He was 53. Vearncombe, stage name "Black", was in a car accident near Cork Airport (Ireland) and placed in a medically-induced coma after suffering severe head injuries. He never regained consciousness. Black was an English singer-songwriter who enjoyed pop success in the 1980s, most notably with his 1986 single, "Wonderful Life".

Pete Burns

cardiac arrest, age 57. Burns was the lead singer of Dead or Alive, popular for their 1985 dance hit, "You Spin Me Round." The artist also appeared on television's Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

Eddie Harsch

(Edward Hawrysch) died at the age of 59 of undisclosed causes. He was the keyboardist for the Black Crowes and a member of Bulldog. The Black Crowes: "Hard to Handle," "She Talks to Angels," "Twice As Hard," "Jealous Again"

Roy Koutsky

cause of death unknown (he "passed away in his home"). He was 53. Koutsky was the original drummer for Seattle punk outfit, L7. The group had minor hits with 1992's "Pretend We're Dead" and 1994's "Andre". Read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle.

Nick Menza

Former Megadeth drummer, Nick Menza, died after collapsing on stage while performing with his band, OHM. The musician suffered a heart attack at the age of 51. Menza performed with Megadeth at the height of their success, appearing on such albums as Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia.

George Michael

*George Michael

(Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou), cardiac arrest, age 53. He died peacefully in his sleep. Michael hit the scene with the pop duo, Wham! and then followed that success with a phenomenal solo career. He won two Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. With Wham!: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper" As a solo artist: "I Want Your Sex," "Praying for Time, "Freedom! 90," "Faith," "Monkey," "Father Figure"

Prince

Prince

(Prince Rogers Nelson), accidental overdose of fentanyl, an opiod (pain killer). Fentanyl is prescribed by doctors for cancer treatment and is 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin. It is unclear whether the artist was prescribed the drug or came about it illegally. Prince was 57. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. He has won an Academy Award, two Brit Awards, a Golden Globe, 7 Grammy Awards and 4 MTV Video Music Awards (and one Golden Raspberry Award). "When Doves Cry," "Purple Rain," "Let's Go Crazy," "Raspberry Beret," "Kiss"

P.M. Dawn: Prince Be and DJ Minutemix

Prince Be

(Attrell Cordes), diabetes and renal disease. He was 46. Cordes founded the psychedelic '90s R&B group, P.M. Dawn, with his brother, Jarrett (DJ Minutemix). "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss," "I'd Die Without You," "Looking Through Patient Eyes"

Matt Roberts

former lead guitarist and backing vocalist (1996-2012) for 3 Doors Down. Prescription drug overdose; he was 38. Roberts was a founding member of the group. "Kryptonite," "When I'm Gone," "Here Without You"

James Woolley

fall from a ladder (severe neck injuries) while retrieving music equipment. He was 40. Woolley was the former keyboardist (1991-1994) for Nine Inch Nails. Woolley appeared on the band's influential album, The Downward Spiral. He won a Grammy in 1993 for "Best Metal Performance" for "Wish." "Closer," "Hurt," "March of the Pigs"

2017

Tommy Page

suicide, age 46. Page was best known for his 1990 Number One single which he performed with members of New Kids On The Block, "I'll Be Your Everything."

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell was the lead singer of Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, and Audioslave. He was a Grunge/Rock legend. On 18 May 2017, after finishing a Soundgarden show in Detroit, Cornell returned to his hotel room and hanged himself. The only drugs in his system were prescription, at therapeutic doses. His death was ruled a suicide. Cornell was 52. Soundgarden won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated once for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. With Soundgarden: "Slaves and Bulldozers," "Rusty Cage," "Spoonman," "Black Hole Sun," "Pretty Noose, "Burden in My Hand." With Audioslave: "Cochise," "Like A Stone," "Doesn't Remind Me"

Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington

suicide, age 41. Bennington was the lead singer for rock outfit, Linkin Park. Their mash-up "Numb/Encore" which paired their song "Numb" with rapper Jay Z's song "Encore" scored them a Grammy Award in 2006. "In the End," "Crawling," "What I've Done," "New Divide"

Gordon Downie

brain cancer, age 53. Downie sang lead for the Canadian band, The Tragically Hip. In 2002, the group was given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and in 2005 they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The band has won over a dozen Juno Awards and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017. "Courage," "Ahead by a Century," "Poets," "In View"

Grant Hart

liver cancer at the age of 56. Hart was a singer and the drummer of Husker Du. "Eight Miles High," "Makes No Sense At All," "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely"

Robert Miles

(Roberto Concina), cancer; he was 47. Miles was a record producer, DJ, composer and musician. His 1995 work, "Children", sold 5 millioncopies and was an international hit.

Joni Sledge

(Joan Elise Sledge), "natural causes" at age 60. Sledge belonged to the disco/pop group, Sister Sledge. "We Are Family," "He's the Greatest Dancer," "Lost in Music"

2018

Devin Lima

(Harold Lima), cancer. He was 41. Lima was a member of LFO (Lyte Funkie Ones), who had the ubiquitous hit of 1999, "Summer Girls". Fellow band mates, Rich Cronin (see 2010) and Brian Gillis (see 2023) also died at an early age.

Vinnie Paul

(Vincent Paul Abbott), dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease; he was 54. Vinnie Paul was the drummer and co-founder of Pantera and Damageplan (with his brother, "Dimebag" Darrell, see 2004) and a member of Hellyeah. Pantera: "Planet Caravan," "Revolution is My Name," "Piss"

Jill Janus

lead singer of the metal band, Huntress. Janus committed suicide. She was 43. "Eight of Swords," "Spell Eater," "Zenith," "Sorrow"

Dolores O'Riordan

Dolores O'Riordan

drowned in the bath while intoxicated. Toxicology tests found she had more than four times the legal alcohol limit for driving. She was 46. O'Riordan was the lead singer for the Irish rock/pop band, The Cranberries. "Zombie," "Linger," "Dreams" "Ode to My Family"

2019

Neal Casal

age 50; suicide. Casal was a guitarist who was a member of The Cardinals, and played with Willie Nelson, Phil Lesh and Chris Robinson.

Keith Flint

Keith Flint

suicide by hanging. Flint was 49. He was the lead singer of the dance/electronic/punk band, Prodigy. "Firestarter," "Breathe," "Smack My Bitch Up"

Daniel Johnston

"natural causes" after being hospitalized with a kidney ailment; he was 58. Johnston was an influential artist who was admired by the likes of Kurt Cobain (see 1994), Matt Groening and Tom Waits. Artists such as Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, and Beck covered his songs. "Life in Vain," "True Love Will Find You in the End," "Walking the Cow"

Shawn Smith

torn aorta and hypertension. He was 53. Smith was a singer and songwriter who had a solo career and performed with several Seattle bands, including Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed, and The Twilight Singers. In 1999, the British techno group, Lo Fidelity Allstars, remixed and released the Pigeonhed song, "Battle Flag". The song reached #6 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. Read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. Smith's solo albums include Let It All Begin, Live at the Point, and Shield of Thorns.