1980

Bon Scott, ( Ronald Belford Scott ) 7/9/46 – 2/19/80. Born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, Bon was lead singer for AC/DC. He was vocalist on their album “Highway to Hell”. After a heavy night of drinking he was left to sleep in a car and was found dead the next day. There is controversy over his cause of death some saying he chocked on his vomit, but the official report listed alcohol poisoning. He was 33.

Bon was often heard saying that if the band (AC/DC) didn't make it big soon he was going to quit. Less than a year after his death they came out with Back in Black, one of the best selling albums of all time. His friend, Vince Lovegrove, is quoted as saying this about Bon, "There was unquestionably an undercurrent of resigned sadness behind his impish grin. "

Ac/Dc - Back In Black
via FoxyTunes



Ian Curtis, (Ian Kevin Curtis) 7/15/56 - 5/18/80. Ian was the vocalist and lyricist, as well as occasional guitarist and keyboardist, of the band Joy Division. People still discuss the his work today, his writing was influenced by a troubled life. Ian committed suicide. He was 23.

When Ian was a teenager he was obsessed with David Bowie and decided that he too would have a life as a musician. After watching a Sex Pistols show, he and three friends decided to start a band and Joy Division was born. Its said that many of the songs he wrote hinted of his eventual suicide. I guess no one will ever know for sure if that is true or not. There is a movie on his life called "Control", I plan to watch it soon. RIP, dear young Ian.

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Permanent Mix)
via FoxyTunes




John Bonham, (aka Bonzo) (John Henry Bonham), 5/31/48 – 9/25/80. Born in Worcestershire, England John was drummer for the legendary band, Led Zeppelin. He is considered by many to be the best rock drummer of all time and known for using “heavy sticks” in his hard hitting drum style. John was heavy drinker and died from asphyxiation of vomit after a day and night of consuming alcohol. John was 32.


This John, and the John below him died within months of each other. I have vivid and emotional memories of hearing the horrific news. On September 25, 1980 I was in a great mood because it was my 20th birthday. I was working at the local community college and as I walked across campus to go celebrate with friends, I noticed some students gathered together obviously upset. As I approached them I could hear that they were talking about the death of John Bonaham. I could not believe it, Led Zeppelin has always been one of my favorite bands. I'd been saddened by the death of a few rockers prior to John, but this was the first time it hit me hard enough to cry. It certainly wasn't the last....

Led Zeppelin - Moby Dick
via FoxyTunes




John Lennon, (John Winston Lennon), 10/9/40 – 12/8/40. Born in Liverpool, England John was a member of the Beatles and also had a successful solo career. He was shot and killed as he exited his apartment building in New York City. He was 40.

My memory of John's death is almost too eerie to discuss. I wrote about it elsewhere so let me know if you are interested in reading the whole story. The short version: I was looking at a drawing of him that a friend was doing when the news was broadcast over the radio. It was so surreal, I had to wonder if I was having a nightmare. I wasn't, someone had murdered John in cold blood. John was known for his love of peace, his desire for people to get along with one another. The irony of his violent death shocked the world. I still have a hard time thinking about it. In the case of John Lennon, I can’t say enough so I won’t attempt to say much at all. Life can be so damn unfair.

John Lennon - Imagine
via FoxyTunes

2001

John Phillips, (John Edmund Andrew Phillips) 8/30/45 - 3/18-01. Born in Paris Island, South Carolina, John was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known as Papa John of the Mama's and the Papa's. He also sang and played guitar with the Journeyman. John suffered from alcoholism and had a liver transplant in the 90's. He died of heart failure at the age of 65.

The Mama's and the Papa's filled the airwaves when I was a kid listening to AM radio. I loved this song that John wrote, San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair". I started to learn guitar when I was 12 and this was one of the first songs I tired to learn. His personal life reads a lot like a soap opera but he will (hopefully) be remembered for the many great songs he wrote.

The Mamas And The Papas - Monday, Monday
via FoxyTunes

Joey Ramone, (Jeffrey Hyman) 5/19/51 – 4/15/01. Born in Forest Hills, New York, Joey was the lead singer and a founding member of The Ramones. He co-produced for the band was a catalyst in getting the punk rock movement started. Joey died of Lymphoma cancer. He was 49.

The Ramones. They were more than a band, they were a movement and Joey's "image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon." How many times have you heard one of the great musicians of our time cite The Ramones as one of their main influences? There was something special about Joey - he did a lot in his lifetime and is sadly missed. (BTW, its commonly thought that the many members of this band were brothers....no, they all adopted the last name "Ramone" to be in the band. Does anyone know how many members they had in total over the years?)





George Harrison, (George Harold Harrison) 2/24/43 – 11/29/01. Born in Liverpool, England he was a guitarist, singer/songwriter. Best known for being one of The Beatles, George went on to have a successful solo career and also formed member of the The Traveling Wilburys with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. He died of lung cancer. George was 58.

My sister is the one who told me George had passed away, she was crying. I have fond memories of him dating back to my earliest childhood years. George was one of the first musicians to use his fame to bring attention to the poverty and starvation in a third world country, I still have my vinyl copy of "The Concert for Bangla Desh". So many excellent songs written by George. I am glad that he was able to have such a long and succesful career as a solo artist, we may not have been fortunate enough to have all his great music if they had stayed together.

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
via FoxyTunes