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The Biggest Tragedies in Rock Music


Apollo

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And I'm solely talking about the MUSIC WORLD. I'm not making light of the word Tragedy. Sickness, homeless, wars, etc - those all rank miles ahead of music issues.

But just in terms of music, what do you think the biggest tragedies are?

1. The Day The Music Died.........1959. A plane crash took the lives of 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 17-year-old Richie Valens and 28-year-old Big Bopper. The biggest loss there (musically) was Buddy Holly. At just 22 years old look at what he did and what's been said about his brief career:

*Lennon/McCartney both cited him as being one of the biggest influences of their careers. Everybody from Keith Richards to Bruce Springstein to Bob Dylan have praised him.

* Started the current rock format of 2 guitar, bass, drums. Also changed the way music was recorded in the studio.

* While Elvis sang other people's songs, Buddy wrote his own material, could play all the instruments, and he produced most of their work.

* First all white group to perform at the famous Apollo Theatre

At 22 years old he accomplished more than 99.99% of famous musicians accomplish in their entire careers. If his career would have continued as it had for this brief two years, we'd be talking about him ahead of - or on the same level of - as The Beatles and Elvis. Without a doubt.

2. Axl Rose's lack of released music

I know, people will quote a few other bands that had limited releases.

But imo, Axl Rose is the most talented, interesting, fascinating frontman of our generation. Not only is one of the best rock singers, but he brought an animal magnetism to the stage, a sense of danger, excitement. Going to see GnR was an event - not just a rock concert. He has been, and still is, one of the very select few musicians who could still be a game-changer in the industry. Another album by hall of fame rock acts like Metallica or Bon Jovi is no doubt pleasing to their fans, but what impact will it really have on the rock world? Even U2's new album isn't going to do much to the overall landscape of music. But an Axl Rose or new GnR album?

Now people argue about where he fits in the list of top rock frontmen of all time. Fans will say he is number one or top three. Regular rock fans will put him in the top 10. Now think about this. Jungle. Nov Rain. PC. SCOM. You Could Be Mine. Patience. Don't Cry. RQ. Nightrain. Better. TWAT. Catcher. You're Crazy. It's So Easy. Estranged. Got those songs in your head? Now double them. Imagine if his catalog contained all those songs - times two. If Axl had released those songs (and an equal number again), there would be absolutely NO DISCUSSION at all about who was the greatest rock singer of all time. It would be Axl Rose is number one - without question, and then debate about Mercury, Plant, etc for the 2nd spot.

3. Randy Rhoads.

He died way too young and before his talent was able to really be completely showcased.

Every so often a new guitar player comes around that changes/revolutionizes the way guitar is played. Obviously from my generation, guys like Eddie Van Halen was the 'God' that inspired thousands of young guitar players. Rhoads unique style, imo, would have eventually landed him in the same atmosphere at Van Halen, and his place in history would be on even keel with the rock greats of all time. He was a guy that people would go see a band specifically to hear him play.

OBVIOUSLY I'm making some big assumptions on all three. Nobody knows what they would have created. I'm just basing this on what they did create, and if they could have continued that same level of success forward.

Your choices?

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Phil Lynott was only 36 when he died from septicemia. Ireland's first rock star and Thin Lizzy were a great band.

255px-Phil_Lynott_Statue_at_Bruxelles_Du

Statue of Phil in Dublin.

Thin_Lizzy_-_Black_Rose_A_Rock_Legend.jp

Axl has this tattooed on his arm.

Great post man! Thin Lizzy perfected the dueling guitars. They must have been one of the pioneers of it.

Edited by wkuk04
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The tragedies would of course be any number of musician deaths, Bonham, Hendrix, but the ones that kill me are the self inflicted ones (outside of suicide or negligence). As far as self inflicted tragedies, Guns N' Roses will forever be one of Rock music's most tragic "what could have been's". If they stuck it out, they very well could have risen to the Zeppelin/Stones level of greatness. There's an equal chance that they would have washed out anyway, except together, releasing rehash albums or trying to follow the times and failing. The sad part is we'll never know.

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Everyone knows the obvious ones from the 27 club.

Some of the older musicians tend to get forgotten about. I mean , Roy Orbison was only 52 when he died. His life was full of tragedy. His wife died in a traffic accident and two years later his two sons burned to death in a house fire.

After years in the wilderness he had just made a comeback with The Travelling Wilburys and an album with You Got It. After complaining of chest pains he dropped dead from a massive heart attack. Awful loss.

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And I'm solely talking about the MUSIC WORLD. I'm not making light of the word Tragedy. Sickness, homeless, wars, etc - those all rank miles ahead of music issues.

But just in terms of music, what do you think the biggest tragedies are?

1. The Day The Music Died.........1959. A plane crash took the lives of 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 17-year-old Richie Valens and 28-year-old Big Bopper. The biggest loss there (musically) was Buddy Holly. At just 22 years old look at what he did and what's been said about his brief career:

*Lennon/McCartney both cited him as being one of the biggest influences of their careers. Everybody from Keith Richards to Bruce Springstein to Bob Dylan have praised him.

* Started the current rock format of 2 guitar, bass, drums. Also changed the way music was recorded in the studio.

* While Elvis sang other people's songs, Buddy wrote his own material, could play all the instruments, and he produced most of their work.

* First all white group to perform at the famous Apollo Theatre

At 22 years old he accomplished more than 99.99% of famous musicians accomplish in their entire careers. If his career would have continued as it had for this brief two years, we'd be talking about him ahead of - or on the same level of - as The Beatles and Elvis. Without a doubt.

2. Axl Rose's lack of released music

I know, people will quote a few other bands that had limited releases.

But imo, Axl Rose is the most talented, interesting, fascinating frontman of our generation. Not only is one of the best rock singers, but he brought an animal magnetism to the stage, a sense of danger, excitement. Going to see GnR was an event - not just a rock concert. He has been, and still is, one of the very select few musicians who could still be a game-changer in the industry. Another album by hall of fame rock acts like Metallica or Bon Jovi is no doubt pleasing to their fans, but what impact will it really have on the rock world? Even U2's new album isn't going to do much to the overall landscape of music. But an Axl Rose or new GnR album?

Now people argue about where he fits in the list of top rock frontmen of all time. Fans will say he is number one or top three. Regular rock fans will put him in the top 10. Now think about this. Jungle. Nov Rain. PC. SCOM. You Could Be Mine. Patience. Don't Cry. RQ. Nightrain. Better. TWAT. Catcher. You're Crazy. It's So Easy. Estranged. Got those songs in your head? Now double them. Imagine if his catalog contained all those songs - times two. If Axl had released those songs (and an equal number again), there would be absolutely NO DISCUSSION at all about who was the greatest rock singer of all time. It would be Axl Rose is number one - without question, and then debate about Mercury, Plant, etc for the 2nd spot.

3. Randy Rhoads.

He died way too young and before his talent was able to really be completely showcased.

Every so often a new guitar player comes around that changes/revolutionizes the way guitar is played. Obviously from my generation, guys like Eddie Van Halen was the 'God' that inspired thousands of young guitar players. Rhoads unique style, imo, would have eventually landed him in the same atmosphere at Van Halen, and his place in history would be on even keel with the rock greats of all time. He was a guy that people would go see a band specifically to hear him play.

OBVIOUSLY I'm making some big assumptions on all three. Nobody knows what they would have created. I'm just basing this on what they did create, and if they could have continued that same level of success forward.

Your choices?

I agree with all 3, but rather than Axl it would be the death of the afd/uyi lineups and the music we never got.

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Randy Rhoads and Cliff Burton

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Dimebag

John Lennon

Skynyrd

Neil Peart's wife and daughter within 2 years.

Freddie Mercury

Brad Nowell missing out on Sublime's album becoming a big hit.

Jaco Pastorius - beaten to death by a fucking bouncer. Trujillo's documentary will probably go into what happened.

Harry Chapin, Jim Croce

Karen Carpenter

Kirsty MacColl - run over by a mogul with a speedboat who was never charged.

Marvin Gaye

Otis Redding

Jeff Buckley

Terry Kath of Chicago

Dennis Wilson - he did a lot of drugs and partied with Manson, but it was his diving in a boat marina looking for stuff on the bottom that killed him.

Jim Gordon (drummer, co-wrote Layla, killed his mother)

Roy Orbison

Keith Relf (Yardbirds) - got grounded to his guitar.

Robert Plant losing his son and Bonzo within a couple of years.

Nico - fell off a bike

Hanoi Rocks

Shania Twain for losing her parents and having to work at a young age, and her best friend fucking her husband Mutt Lange behind her back.

Syd Barrett

The Ramones dying after the band broke up.

Badfinger

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