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The Death of Rock: Medical Causes

Diabetes

Because the Medical Archive has the largest number of entries, I have divided it into several pages. Musicians who died from diabetes and its complications are listed on this page. You can select different medical causes using the links, below.

Key

Matthew Ashman

diabetes; 1995. He was 35. Guitarist for '80s new wave group, Bow Wow Wow. "I Want Candy"

*Syd Barrett

(Roger Keith Barrett), complications from diabetes (2006). He was 60. Barrett was a founding member of Pink Floyd, who wrote most of Floyd's first two albums, before succumbing to drug addiction and mental collapse. (He was replaced by David Gilmour and became rock's most famous recluse.) Many of the band's later hits, such as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Wish You Were Here" were tributes to Barrett. Pink Floyd (including Barrett) were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. With Floyd: "Arnold Layne," "Bike," "See Emily Play." Solo albums: The Madcap Laughs and Barrett

Danny Joe Brown

complications from diabetes, including renal failure and pneumonia (2005). He was 53. Brown sang lead for the Southern rock band, Molly Hatchet, which was named after a prostitute who supposedly beheaded her clients. Hatchet's 1978 eponymous album went platinum. "Flirtin' With Disaster," "Bounty Hunter," "Whisky Man"

Eddie Guzman

complications of diabetes (1993). He was 49. Guzman played the conga for rock/soul group, Rare Earth. Fellow band members Mark David Olson died of chronic alcohol consumption (1991), and John Persh succumbed to a staph infection (1976). "I Just Want to Celebrate," "Hey, Big Brother," and covers of The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "Get Ready"

*Marvin Isley

complications from diabetes in 2010. He was 56. Isley was a member of the Isley Brothers, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and Isley-Jasper-Isley, who had a #1 hit with "Caravan of Love". Isley had both legs removed because of his diabetes in 1997. The Isleys: "Fight the Power," "I Wanna be With You," "The Pride," "Take Me to the Next Phase," "Between the Sheets"

Biz Markie

(Marcel Theo Hall), complications of diabetes in 2021. He was 57. Markie suffered a stroke after falling into a diabetic coma. The rapper had the hugely successful and inescapable hit, "Just a Friend" (1989), which reached No. 9 on Billboard.

Ben McMillan

diabetes; 2008. He was 46. McMillan was the singer for Skin Yard, a Seattle band who were contemporaries of Soundgarden and Screaming Trees. (Soundgarden's long-time drummer, Matt Cameron, was previously the drummer for Skin Yard.) Skin Yard contributed two songs to the Deep Six compilation, which was the first showcase of Grunge music. Released in 1986, it also featured Soundgarden, Melvins, Malfunkshun, U-Men and Green River. Skin Yard released five albums before breaking up. Read about McMillan's involvement with the Shadows of Seattle."Bleed," "Stranger," "Start at the Top"

Jesse Pintado

diabetic coma in 2006. Pintado was a long-standing guitarist for the death metal group, Napalm Death. He appeared on seven Napalm Death studio albums between 1990-2000, including Harmony Corruption, Utopia Banished, and Inside the Torn Apart. Pintado also played in the groups Terrorizer and Lock Up. He was 37 at the time of his death. With Napalm Death: "Suffer the Children," "If the Truth Be Known," "I Abstain"

P.M. Dawn: Prince Be and DJ Minutemix

Prince Be

(Attrell Cordes), diabetes and renal disease in 2016. 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"

Michael Ward

complications from diabetes (2024) at the age of 57. Ward was guitarist for The Wallflowers, whose hit, "One Headlight", won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. "The Difference," "Heroes," "6th Avenue Heartache"