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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

161. Kendall -
I THINK THAT MICHEL JACKSON WAS A FAMES PERSON IN THE WORLD . A good singer and dancer

162. Yahoo! Music User -
This list is crazy, Buddy Holly #2 on the list. No disrespect but he is not a music icon. As & most people couldn't even tell you who he is or name any of his songs.

163. summi -
Yeah!! Where's Freddy Mercury, one of the top voices ever and performer's!!? I agree with the list, but they need Freddy Mercury!!!!!!

164. Dark -
The list is for 10 tragic MUSIC icon deaths..the last time I checked Edgar Allan Poe was a writer/poet.

165. Yahoo! Music User -
frank sinatra?????

166. jasw -
AWWW YEA YALL FORGOT LEFT EYE, TUPAC, BIGGIE, BOB MARLEY, MARVIN GAYE, AALYIAH, YALL FORGETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE

167. stevenc -
On the Christ comment...Were you around to know whom did what????
Everyone els ...we're talking about music icons leaving too early....no one else!!!

168. Amber -
R.I.P Michael Jackson!!!! I love u and miss u!!!!!!
( can't believe your gone)

169. Soledad C -
Yes, PEOPLE READ THE TITLE "MUSIC ICONS" I loved Aaliyah, but the list would have to be longer than that for her to be included. They all died too fast, "gone to soon"RIP MJ you were one of my biggest idols~ I will pay my respects on Friday..I live 10 mins from the Encino property~

170. Sheena G -
I agree... Aaliyah needs to be on this list too.............

171. Renee -
Elvis was and is the king of rock.Michael was and is the king of pop.RIP Michael you will be missed.

172. Bre -
ummmmmmmm where in the fraken world in Aaliyah!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! come on u can t pass here

173. jake -
what about dimebag darrel!?!?!?
he was an important metal icon and was shot in the head on stage wile his bro watched isnt that tragic!?!?!?
or randy rhodes in a plane crash that was horrible!!!!
so where do they belong!?!?
or eric carr!?!?! from heart cancer
or maybe robert plants sin who died at age 5, that cancelled half of a tour!!!

174. NaomiM -
R.I.P TUPAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

175. Michael -
May they all R.I.P.

176. SPE -
The list is good haters !!!

177. Yahoo! Music User -
wat about michael

178. Yahoo! Music User -
i am so sad michael jaskon died! he was the king of music michael king

179. Elizabeth -
What about Keith Moon and John Edilweiss from The Who?

180. Brian -
Being almost 50 years old, I have had the opportunity to hear all of these artists (with the exception of Buddy Holly) sing their songs while they were alive. Without a doubt, they were all (some of you younger posters would do well to consult a dictionary for the definition of the phrase) music icons.As for the contents of this list, the only change that makes any sense at all is to replace Kurt Cobain (as he only marginally fits the definition of icon) with Stevie Ray Vaughan.
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