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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

141. Debbie L -
Whoa....How about the Big Bopper and the others who died in the Plane crash. Yea yea yea...I know you can't name them all. We all have our favs, and there is way too many to name. May they ALL REST IN PEACE!!!!!

142. aren f -
god people it says icons yea alyiah was good and so were some of the others but it says ICON. R.I.P ALL THE GREATS

143. Yahoo! Music User -
Oh yeah what about Karen Carpenter. She Was an icon as well. Her song would be "We only just begun(To Live)"

144. Wet Willie -
Johnny Cash February 26, 1932 - Sept 12, 2003 R.I.P. "John"

145. Yahoo! Music User -
how about selena? her death was tragic and not to mention at a young age and when she was coming up to be big!!!!!!

146. KIRK B -
i almost forgot jim croce,iconic in my eyes ,1 of the best songwriters ever

147. David -
The world is a safer place without Michael Jackson. How many other children will be spared this creeps advances.

148. Kayla -
what about the Charlie's Angles girl! That movie ROCKED!!!!

149. Rob -
Michael Jackson was larger than any star on this list. His grasp of the needs for the survival of humanity goes far beyond being a great entertainer. He was an amazing PERSON. While these other artist can be credited for being great in their craft Michael Jackson in all of his unique ways connected with people and touch their soul in a way that noone ever has. He had a innocent spirit in many respects. It was almost child-like. He never really grew up. He craved attention in ways that these others had gone far beyond. He was a genius child trapped in a man's body. That is partly why I am so sad. He represents a side of every adult that gives themselves permissions to be a child forever.

150. Yahoo! Music User -
what about freddy,from the band queen

151. Yahoo! Music User -
whoa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????!?? what about SELENA PEREZ!!! WE CANT FORGET HER AND ITS JUST LIKE ANOTHER SELENA DIED AND LOOK AT THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!AND BON SCOTT,..FREDDY MERCURY,...AaLIYA COME ON I NOT ABOUT THE NEWER POEPLE wellsorry for disturbist bye:(

152. Jamie -
Michael Jackson should be number one. MJ worldwide super star & icon. One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records — including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" — 13 Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. 1982 album Thriller remains the world's best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

153. Yahoo! Music User -
dstokes1955 & others like you are [profane]s! have some respect, this man just died let him rest in peace. at least have respect for his family & children. MJ the best ever, he should be number one on the list.

154. Yahoo! Music User -
R.I.P he will always be the king of pop go MJ

155. Sophia -
I completely agree with the 10 ICONS selected. However, I would have included Bob Marley. What I find to be most upsetting about this list is over 50% of these Icons died because of drugs and/or crimes committed against them. I am a huge supporter of music, all types, and when icons like MJ pass away, it is important to remember the contributions they made. Even if you didn’t agree with his/her lifestyle, you can’t take away from their talent.

156. Yahoo! Music User -
ok people all these other deaths are terible yay but Michael Jackson was a lengend like michale jordan this is for michale jackson so all you other people just beat it!!!!go make your website about woh ever!!! :(

157. Yahoo! Music User -
what in the *******

158. Eric -
i agree with#161

159. Kevin -
Jesus Christ died a tragic death.. Why isnt he on the list?

160. Yahoo! Music User -
175. kevinquick68 - 19 minutes ago
Jesus Christ died a tragic death.. Why isnt he on the list?

Bcuz this is a list of 10 most tragic MUSIC icon deaths.
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