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Polar Blair's Den Menu PageStrange Deaths in Music
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For some reason, musicians' deaths can often be the most peculiar of anyone. I don't celebrate death, and I'm not fascinated by it, but I thought a quick rundown of unnatural deaths for our favorite musicians would prove informative. We care about these people, so it's nice to have some knowledge as to what happened. Rest in peace, guys and gals!
Anorexia
Bus Accident
Car Accident
Construction Accident
Drowning
Drug Overdose
Electrocution
Motorcycle Accident
Murder (Gunshot)
Murder (Stabbing)
Plane/Helicopter Crash
Suicide
Anorexia:
Karen Carpenter, one-half of brother/sister singing duo The Carpenters. Died February 4, 1983.
Bus Accident:
Clifford Burton, bassist for heavy metal group Metallica. Died September 27, 1986. Near Dorarp, Sweden, Metallica's bus flipped over several times. Burton was pinned under the bus.
Car Accident:
Jesse Belvin, soul singer and writer of The Penguins' hit, "Earth Angel". Died February 6, 1960. Since he died at the age of 27, he's considered a member of the "27 Club", a sort of fictitious alumni of rockers who died at 27.
Marc Bolan, legendary glam singer and leader of rock group T-Rex. Died September 16, 1977. He was a passenger in the car of Gloria Jones, which struck a sycamore tree. Bolan died instantly, Jones lived but was badly hurt. Incidentally, Bolan never learned to drive, fearing a premature death.
Harry Chapin, singer. Died July 16, 1981.
Eddie Cochran, early rocker. Died April 17, 1960.
Keith Godchaux, keyboardist for The Grateful Dead. Died July 23, 1980.
Johnny Horton, country artist. Died November 5, 1960. It was a head-on collision with a drunk driver.
Taylor Kramer, bassist for Iron Butterfly. Died February 12, 1995. It has been publicly announced, by those close to him, that this car "accident" might be a cover-up for murder.
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, member of R&B group TLC. Died April 25, 2002.
Cozy Powell, legendary rock drummer. He typically worked with high-profile acts like Jeff Beck, Black Sabbath, Peter Green, and Whitesnake to name a few. Died April 5, 1998.
Dave Prater, one-half of the R&B duo Sam & Dave. Died April 9, 1988.
Billy Stewart, R&B singer of the early 1960s. Died January 17, 1970.
Dottie West, country singer. Died September 4, 1991.
Construction Accident:
Jerome Smith, member of KC & the Sunshine Band. Died July 28, 2000.
Drowning:
Randy California, leader of the rock group Spirit. Died January 2, 1997.
Brian Jones, founder/lead guitarist of rock group The Rolling Stones. Died July 3, 1969. This is actually believed by most people to be murder by his architect Frank Thorogood, although this has not been made official.
Art Porter, jazz saxophonist. Died November 23, 1996.
Dennis Wilson, member of rock group The Beach Boys. Died December 28, 1983.
Drug Overdose:
Steve Clark, guitarist for Def Leppard. Died January 8, 1991.
Robbin Crosby, guitarist for rock group RATT. Died June 6, 2002. When Crosby first died, there was widespread belief that he died of AIDS due to sharing needles.
Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for heavy metal group Quiet Riot. Died November 19, 2007.
Brian Epstein, original manager for rock group The Beatles. Died August 27, 1967.
Pete Farndon, bassist for The Pretenders. Died April 14, 1983.
Judy Garland, actress and singer. Died June 22, 1969.
Bobby Hatfield, one-half of The Righteous Brothers. Died NoLʡxN .,6 MK)6rNUW*YqOIw1u6S{i֭Yep^7
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Karen Carpenter, one-half of brother/sister singing duo The Carpenters. Died February 4, 1983.
Bus Accident:
Clifford Burton, bassist for heavy metal group Metallica. Died September 27, 1986. Near Dorarp, Sweden, Metallica's bus flipped over several times. Burton was pinned under the bus.
Car Accident:
Jesse Belvin, soul singer and writer of The Penguins' hit, "Earth Angel". Died February 6, 1960. Since he died at the age of 27, he's considered a member of the "27 Club", a sort of fictitious alumni of rockers who died at 27.
Marc Bolan, legendary glam singer and leader of rock group T-Rex. Died September 16, 1977. He was a passenger in the car of Gloria Jones, which struck a sycamore tree. Bolan died instantly, Jones lived but was badly hurt. Incidentally, Bolan never learned to drive, fearing a premature death.
Harry Chapin, singer. Died July 16, 1981.
Eddie Cochran, early rocker. Died April 17, 1960.
Keith Godchaux, keyboardist for The Grateful Dead. Died July 23, 1980.
Johnny Horton, country artist. Died November 5, 1960. It was a head-on collision with a drunk driver.
Taylor Kramer, bassist for Iron Butterfly. Died February 12, 1995. It has been publicly announced, by those close to him, that this car "accident" might be a cover-up for murder.
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, member of R&B group TLC. Died April 25, 2002.
Cozy Powell, legendary rock drummer. He typically worked with high-profile acts like Jeff Beck, Black Sabbath, Peter Green, and Whitesnake to name a few. Died April 5, 1998.
Dave Prater, one-half of the R&B duo Sam & Dave. Died April 9, 1988.
Billy Stewart, R&B singer of the early 1960s. Died January 17, 1970.
Dottie West, country singer. Died September 4, 1991.
Construction Accident:
Jerome Smith, member of KC & the Sunshine Band. Died July 28, 2000.
Drowning:
Randy California, leader of the rock group Spirit. Died January 2, 1997.
Brian Jones, founder/lead guitarist of rock group The Rolling Stones. Died July 3, 1969. This is actually believed by most people to be murder by his architect Frank Thorogood, although this has not been made official.
Art Porter, jazz saxophonist. Died November 23, 1996.
Dennis Wilson, member of rock group The Beach Boys. Died December 28, 1983.
Drug Overdose:
Steve Clark, guitarist for Def Leppard. Died January 8, 1991.
Robbin Crosby, guitarist for rock group RATT. Died June 6, 2002. When Crosby first died, there was widespread belief that he died of AIDS due to sharing needles.
Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for heavy metal group Quiet Riot. Died November 19, 2007.
Brian Epstein, original manager for rock group The Beatles. Died August 27, 1967.
Pete Farndon, bassist for The Pretenders. Died April 14, 1983.
Judy Garland, actress and singer. Died June 22, 1969.
Bobby Hatfield, one-half of The Righteous Brothers. Died NoLʡxN .,6 MK)6rNUW*YqOIw1u6S{i֭Ye