Yesterday after hearing of Michael Jackson's passing I started thinking about all the musicians that have passed away at a young age just in my lifetime. Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper were a bit before my time but they deserve mention. Right off the top of my head I can think of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Brian (last name slips my mind) from the Stones, Jim Croce, Elvis, members of Skynard, John Lennon, Stevie Ray, Phil Lynott and many others that I'm sure I missed. These people who entertain us represent a very small portion of the population but pass away in enormous numbers. Accidents claim a few but the majority seem to be from substance abuse. I started playing music with a group of friends in Junior High until we were in our late 20's. We played in front of a few crowds that were 250 or 300 people. The rush from playing live and having the crowd enjoy the music is something that I'll never forget. I wonder if our hero's get used to that rush and when they can't have it turn to drugs? Musicians for the most part are an eccentric bunch (myself not included of course!) and seem to be more prone to substance abuse.
What are your thoughts? I'm interested in hearing.

Many talented and intelligent people cannot deal with Real Life - think 'A Beautiful Mind' - it goes part and parcel with the talent/intelligence.

country music, too; Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams sr. it's definitely a volatile life.

I don't think it's just musicians.. I've known people that died from OD's, drinking, and health problems related to both... Look in the news papers.. people always chasing the tail trying for the next better buzz and falling off the edge... It's human nature...

Many a non musician died from drug use and a fast life. We don't hear about those, We only hear what the media wants us to hear about, and that's the stars...

I think the life of a working musician is tough. Long hours on the road, erratic sleep patterns, pressure to perform, the dichotomy of extreme adulation and probably profound loneliness... and the temptation is readily at hand. Beyond the one's that died very young, there's many who passed away while still well below the average life expectancy. Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, Jerry Garcia, John Lennon, George Harrison, Lowell George, Nicolette Larson, (I'm free associating a little here...), Laura Nyro, Roy Buchannan, Magic Sam... who else?

... and Keith Richards lives on (I think).

... who else?

Danny Gatton:guitar:

Buddy holly & elvis.........................

Duane Allman. Some facts about Duane that are astonishing... He died at age 24 (well, almost 25). To have created such a body of work, with such grace, maturity, and style in his playing at only 24 is unbelievable in itself. But the icing on the cake is that he first started playing slide guitar on his 22nd birthday! His unparalleled slide work on "Fillmore East" was done with less than one year of slide playing experience. A genius, gone from this world way too young.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/sep/04/musicnews.topstories3

The real test of character is not how you handle failure, but how you handle success.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/sep/04/musicnews.topstories3

Very interesting article and study. I was surprised. The death rate for musicians according to the study is higher than the average person. I didn't really expect to see that.

I guess I've lived more the rock star life myself, only without the fancy cars and hotel rooms and hot chicks.. I just had regular beat up cars, a trashed apartment, and regular looking girls.. but I'll bet I've done as much or more than a lot of stars, and I know for a fact I'm very lucky I lived through quite a few nights...

Because of my past lifestyle, I hung around a lot of very similar people, and many of them in popular area bands.. I watched people I know die early because of it... and I guess that's the reason I felt the only reason we seem to think more stars die early than regular people is because the news lets us know...

Guess I was wrong there according to this study... Glad I wasn't a star.. I'm sure I wouldn't be here according to them if I just barely squeaked by in my past.. but I have seen many many lives of regular people destroyed... It's a sad thing, star or not... either way, there is a lot of lost potential and hurt family and friends.

gram parsons, beethoven, glen miller, johnny ramone, joey ramone, dee dee ramone, jack nitzshe (sic), sky saxon, mr. rodgers, bruce barry, frank sinatra, dean martin, peter lawford, sammy davis jr, joey bishop, harry partch, charles ives, various keyboard players for the dead, richard manuel, john cage, johnny horton, johnny cash, waylon jennings, marvin gaye, buck owens, porter wagoner, col. sanders, sid, nancy, snakefinger, clarence clemmons(THE BIG MAN IS STILL WTH US!! I REPEAT HE IS NOT DEAD, Danny Federici died in 2008) , Zal Yanovski (i think, many apologies if he is still alive)

I agree but also would include actors/actresses etc....

Figure musicians are on the road a lot. Plenty of free time, money.....

How old is Les Paul??

Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Syd Barrett, Warren Zevon, That Dude who was an ememy of Mozart, Mozart, Curtis Mayfield, John Belushi, John Candy, That other fat comic, Sam Kinnison, Andy kaufman, Trotskey, Frank Zappa, Spike Jones, Blind Lemmon Jefferson, Sonny Boy I, Sonny Boy II, The Other Sonny Boy, Guitar Slim, Sam Cooke (very tragic), Lester Bangs

Stevie Ray Vaughn, Randy Rhodes, Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher, Bon Scott, Kurt Cobain

Wendy O. Williams, Robin Crosby, Kevin Du Brow, Harry Chapin, John Denver, Johnny Burnette, Sid Vicious, Otis Redding, Alan Freed, Clyde Mc Phatter, Little Willie John, Johnny Ace, Michael Hutchence, Joe Strummer, I could go on and on.

D. Boon from the minute men, Harry Chapin and Elvis all played their last shows in Indianapolis. I was at both the Minute Men and the Harry show, but I missed Elvis.

Sometimes somebody won't wake up one day
Sometimes it's a heart attack
Sometimes, they just don't say
When they pulled poor old Hank Williams
Out of that Cadillac Coupe de Ville
He ended up on alcohol and pills

Alcohol and pills
It's a crying shame
You'd think they might have been happy
With the glory and the fame
The fame don't take away the pain
It just pays the bills
And you wind up on alcohol and pills

... Fred Eaglesmith

some are natural causes, others are from having to travel so much, while some are self-induced.
No control over the first two. The latter may be due to the "tortured artist" effect. The creative mind is often unstable in some ways.
Another thing is the public's love affair with celebrities. We tell them how wonderful they are, even if they are human waste, and they start to believe it. When the truth finally is revealed to them, it is too much to handle

Les Paul is over 90. Still gigs once a month in NYC.

gram parsons, beethoven, glen miller, johnny ramone, joey ramone, dee dee ramone, jack nitzshe (sic), sky saxon, mr. rodgers, bruce barry, frank sinatra, dean martin, peter lawford, sammy davis jr, joey bishop, harry partch, charles ives, various keyboard players for the dead, richard manuel, john cage, johnny horton, johnny cash, waylon jennings, marvin gaye, buck owens, porter wagoner, col. sanders, sid, nancy, snakefinger, clarence clemmons, Zal Yanovski (i think, many apologies if he is still alive)

Some of these I wouldn't think were much younger than expected... Johnny Cash, Col. Sanders, Sammy Davis Jr... I didn't know Clarence Clemmons is dead. When was that?

Hey JonL!!

Oops you are right! Very Sorry. The Big Man is still with us, It was E Street Keyboard Player, Danny Federici who died in 2008, interestingly enough he also made his last appearence in Indianapolis.

Sammy was only 64 and died from throat cancer caused by chain smoking (his rat pack nickname was smoky), Now Peter Lawford, he died all lonely and messed up on drugs. Frank was a shell at the end: all wore out and busted up in the heart and brain. Dean, he was cool but stll was only 78 when he died. Sorry I can only refer to these guys as a group.

Johnny Cash, I just figure he died of a broken heart after June passed away, very sad and 71 is not that old by todays standards.

As for Col. Sanders, maybe I was joking, maybe not, I always figured he had a couple more good records in him. :)

Don't forget Janice Joplin.

what's heaven for you is hell for me, and so on...

Stevie Ray Vaughn.....................

It seems that people that have a desire or a need to perform in front of large audiences also sometimes have other needs that are not good for them. It's not just in the music world but spreads across all of the performing arts. I would be interested to see what doctors of the mind have to say about it. :scratch2:

It seems that people that have a desire or a need to perform in front of large audiences also sometimes have other needs that are not good for them. It's not just in the music world but spreads across all of the performing arts.

My experience with symphony orchestra musicians is that they rarely retire and almost never die until they are well into their 70s. Maybe what music one plays has something to do with it.

My experience with symphony orchestra musicians is that they rarely retire and almost never die until they are well into their 70s. Maybe what music one plays has something to do with it.

Perhaps there is a difference in playing in large ensembles or smaller groups or being "up front". I don't know, but I am curious. :scratch2:

Perhaps there is a difference in playing in large ensembles or smaller groups or being "up front". I don't know, but I am curious. :scratch2:

Could be. The kind of personality that wants to be up front may also be the kind that takes more risks or that tends towards more emotional swings. Maybe the kind that needs the "high" from stardom, and seek it in other ways when unavailable.

From my experience musicians are typically drug abusers. I am a musician and although not in the big time have been in a few bands and have lots of friends who are musicians. Part of the lifestyle includes drugs and theres a pressure to do them. Atleast for myself I know there is.

I think its just out there and on the road its a lot more in your face.