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10 Most Tragic Music Icon Deaths

Posted Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:16pm PDT by Robert of the Radish in The Y! Music Playlist Blog

Every death is a tragedy, but in the world of music when an icon dies too young, it sends reverberations throughout the whole world. We saw it this week with the death of Michael Jackson at the age of 50. Those who have reached the pinnacle of success in the music business always see an outpouring of sympathy when they die because of the sheer number of fans they leave behind. But there is more to it. It also reminds us all that life is short and all the money and fame in the world won't stop death. In the most tragic cases it also proves that money and fame cannot buy happiness. To the contrary, sometimes the star simply cannot deal with the trappings of fame and self-destructs. For this playlist I've selected what I feel are the 10 most tragic music icon deaths. These are all artists who have reached millions of people with their music, but died much too young under tragic circumstances.

May they all rest in peace and may their deaths remind the stars of the future that they too are only human.

10 Most Tragic Music Icon Deaths 

   1. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley   

   2. That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly   

   3. (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon   

   4. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson   

   5. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix   

   6. Riders On The Storm - The Doors(Jim Morrison) 

   7. Piece Of My Heart - Janis Joplin   

   8. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana(Kurt Cobain) 

   9. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye   

   10. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd(Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines)

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219 Comments

61. adam o -
ok lets straighten some of you people out... first of all Aaliyah was not an ICON you could mention her name to a diverse range of people and maybe 50 percent of people even know who she is... was her death tragic? Absolutely. was she an ICON? absolutely not. There is only one name i do agree to on this list which is Kurt Cobain im sorry he may have been to most notable grudge rocker but he wasnt a revoltionist like almost everyone else on this list... he didnt start grudge he didnt do anything that nobody hadnt done before... he was the poster boy for a new era of people who didnt want big hair do's and guys in make up. I do agree with the name i have seen mentioned alot and that is Tupac. I would be the first to admit I am not a huge rap fan but nobody can deny is influence and uniqueness that seperates his lyrics and rap style at the time. but i also agree if tupac goes on the list notorius B.I.G. does too becuase those two young men changed rap in this world forever. of course there are others that i liked and i hate they died young especially dimebag, staley, bradley nowell, lynn strait, but unfortunately its a top ten list and arguments can be made for everyone but overall the authors list isnt a bad one. So yeah theres a lot of people who had a tragic death but lets not be blinded by our love for them to call them music icons.

62. juaquin -
i would of at least put 2Pac but thats just me

63. Gustavo -
WHAT ABOUT BOB MARLEY?? WITHOUT HIM THIS LIST IS INCOMPLETE!!!

64. Amador -
i'am very happy to have grown up with all of Michael Jackson music he was the best singer,dancer,performer.there will never be another Michael Jackson he will be missed but his music lives on forever my you '' rest in peace''

65. Jenny -
yeah..where's aaliyah? :(

66. Tia -
Yea WTF. Where's Aaliyah?! Her death is more tragic and was a bigger idol to me than micheal Jackson. His death makes sad but reminds me of her. Everyone else besides Kurt & John died cuz of dealt with drugs which cuz heart problems I do like Janis and Jimmi!

67. Philips -
Inaillahi wa inaillaihi roji'un, may Allah takes your soul in peaceful place.

68. Lackshme -
what about Luther Vandross?

69. Samantha R -
selena would have been on my list
:(

70. JoseA -
Sleepwalk - Richie Valens

The Day the Music Died.

71. kevin -
Tupac Amaru Shakur??

72. Ashif -
Hindian song

73. debbie -
Many of you have lost perspective...they are talking about ICONS. Many of you have mention great artist/musicias but ICONS...that's another story. Not everyone is

74. emmy -
America think if there kill Michael Jackson things will change in the pop world, this is just the bringing of the bringing, Jesus Christ was kill due to the power he has shown to his world, but there kill him thinking there will take over but what happened, from the minter there killed him things change for the better, the glory of God shown up, the hand of God is everywhere, he is so big that no man can over throne him. Michael Jackson is a child of God, he gave his life for other to live.

75. shane -
ehheemmm!!!

76. Yahoo! Music User -
what about Tupac Amaru Shakur? This is absolutely unfair!

77. Yahoo! Music User -
Aaliyah, Tupac and Left Eye. What about them? Well, you don't care. Do you?

78. -
I don't miss Michael Jackson one bit! He was a child molester and should have been killed a long time ago. He's probably in Hell and I'm sorry for that, but I'm not sorry he's dead.

79. monique -
i luv all u guyes.........R.I.P. JUSTIN SIMMION 2

80. ZBlade -
exscuse me but is this only americans i the list because i believe that Ryszard Reidel from the Polish band Dzem
Dlaczego? po jego piosenke Skazany na bluesa.
Ryszek Riedel jest najlepsze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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