Bob Marley:






Jimi HENDRIX:



George Harrison:



Freddie Mercury:

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Bob Marley: My mom grew up on his music in Jamaica and I grew up on him in turn as well. Although he died when I was 4, his music is one of liberation and life.

Jimi: He died 7 years before I was born, but listening to his music let me realize how much I admired his trail blazing spirit and artistry.

George Harrison: My favorite Beatle. His music was deep and his willingness to live life on terms closer to his heart made me admire the man and his music more.

Freddie Mercury: My favorite frontman from one of my favorite bands. I grew up on his music as well and his passion for his life and his art is dearly missed.

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and John Lennon. All were such senseless deaths and their music was life~blood for me.

Timmy84 said:

you know what, I was born when Marvin Gaye died...silly me...I was 1 1/2 years old though.

You know what, I had forgotten all about Selena, I do remember when she died, and even though I was only in the 5th or 6th grade when she died, I remember it saddened me a great deal, not because I was a fan of hers, (which I didn't become until I learned more about her, and then the movie "Selena" came out) but because she was young at the time...and she was so talented.

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Definitely my main man George. I remember in 2001 when I was going through a Beatles obsession. It only made my love for that band stronger. That night when I heard about the passing of the "quiet Beatle", I made it my duty to go down to Strawberry Fields in Central Park and celebrate with a vigil. And there were a whole lot of people there too. This man was a very important one in the history of Rock & Roll.

NWF said:

I remember it really didn't hit me until I watched "A Concert for George" and realized his passion for life and its meaning. Listening to "Beware of Darkness" and "Something" made the music resonate with me more.

JOE STRUMMER



I think 2002 was one of the worst years I've ever experienced in my life. I'll spare the details as to why, but one of them was the fact that I lost one of my music heroes. I'll never forget the impact The Clash and their music had on me in High School. To a certain degree they changed my life. They made me wanna drop my art school paintbrushes and pick up the guitar. Their ability to play whatever kind of music they wanted and still stay true to their passion and Punk ideology really resonated with my young mind.

The Clash were THIS close to a reunion when they were due to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame (which they were in 2003). But it was shattering to see that all bets were off when I heard the news on the radio on the morning of the 23rd of December. I had just seen him with his band, The Mescaleros, the previous year and it seemed like he was still out there ready to rock! And then when I heard about his unexpected reunion show with Mick Jones in late 2002, it seemed very likel that The Clash were ready to return and bring the Punk thunder. If it only would've been for the Hall of Fame ceremony it would've still been a joy to see.
[Edited 11/16/08 19:48pm]

Aaliyah and Left Eye's deaths shocked me then most. I expected them to be around for a long time

Kurt Cobain's death probably affected me the most. I'm a lifelong Seattleite, so I was already a fan and the day he died is still very vivid. As the details were coming out, there were several hours where we only knew that a body had been found at his home...it was creepy hoping it wasn't him, and knowing deep down, based on his history, that it was likely him.

I think Freddy Mercury's also affected me deeply. I didn't follow Queen's entire career - thought they were going the way of many 70's arena rockers...but I had a new optimism with their last 2 albums. It was surreal finding out one day about his condition, and losing him the next.

And Jeff Buckley. I know he only one album, but if you've heard it, you had to believe he had a career ahead of him. There's something especially sad about that.

lastdecember said:

That's exactly what it felt like.

I'm usually a bit sad when I hear of a famous person dying, especially if it was someone whose work I admired. But I was not prepared for how hard ol' George's death would hit me. I'd just woken up, and was still laying in bed actually, and got the text from my best friend telling me he'd died. I bawled like a little baby.


The following Friday, my sister, a few friends, and I had our very own Carlin vigil. We filled the living room at our house entirely with balloons (a tribute to his "balloon room in heaven" bit), gathered together all the DVD's, CD's, and vinyls we could find, and smoke some green in his memory.


I hope you found the balloon room, George.
[Edited 11/16/08 21:44pm]

Janis Joplin died years before I was born, but every time I listen to her music I feel a little sad that I will never, ever get the chance to hear it in person.

Ditto that for the Beatles. Somehow The Paul & Ringo Show just wouldn't cut it.

Elvis and Ronnie Van Zant

Both same year, both american rock and roll legends


[Edited 11/17/08 0:24am]

Ray Charles
Freddie Mercury
Bernie Mac
Isaac Hayes
James Brown
Syreeta Wright
Luther Vandross
Gerald Levert
Aaliyah
Pac
Biggie

I don't wanna place them in order but Ray Charles dying affected me a great deal. All of these deaths made me really sad even though I was pretty young when 'Pac (12 and 12 going on 13) and Biggie died I remember it.

Other I can't really name even though they make me sad (like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye) I wasn't around. It feels different.
[Edited 11/17/08 1:01am]

shesoffthewall said:

Hell yeah.

I saw his documentary "The Universe of Keith Haring" in theaters this spring and was just fascinated by how interesting and varied his life was. This year would've been his 50th birthday had he not succumbed to AIDS. I see his artwork on the street when I walk around parts of Lower Manhattan. He still breathes in the city.

Selena Aaliyah & Left-Eye Shocked Me Also Any Young Up And Coming Who Died Suddenly (No One Mentioned Jim Morrison)

missfee said:

Yes.. for me it was Selena. As a fan, I was just crushed, but then on another level, I just could not believe it. Just the circumstances of her death were unbelieveable to me.

To this day, I really "mourn" her, you know?

lascantas said:

Yeah. Its really hard to accept someone's death, when the circumstances were so strange as you said...and the only person alive who can tell the truth, won't. That's got to be heart breaking for her family.

As far as deaths that I was old enough to actually be around for to remember, I would have to say Aaliyah by far. I was beyond shocked when she died. I remember I was on vacation in Quebec at the time and my mom turned on the tv and all I heard was "...The Plane Crash That Killed Singer Aaliyah" and I just could not believe it. I had grown up listening to her music and it was just so unexpected. This is a girl was never in anything, no one ever had a bad thing to say about her, she was the last person I was expecting to hear that about. The way she died was tragic too and she was so young. I remember being upset about her death for the whole week and I remember I felt bad for the others who were on the plane with her as well, the whole thing was just so unbelievably sad. She had so much potential.

Other people's deaths that shocked me were Tupac, Selena, Barry White, Rick James, Biggie and Left Eye.
[Edited 11/17/08 22:15pm]

I remember all of the rumors going around that her director, Hype Williams, and choreographer, Fatima Robinson, were on the plane. Ofcourse, we later found out they weren't.

I gotta represent for Rick since he wasn't yet mentioned. But others that affected me are Biggie, Pac, Barry White, Luther Vandross, Isaac Hayes, Gerald Levert (its a Cleveland thang), Ray Charles, and Lefteye just to name the ones who's deaths affected me most in my lifetime.

Mara said:

I just saw the documentary at the LGBT film festival in Royal Oak this past Sunday. What a fascinating life.

I love how they pointed out the opposite effect that he had from Warhol.

And the live clip of Grace Jones painted up was priceless!

Russell Jones

without ol Dirty there can not be a Wu Tang clan,
the man was the Jimmy Hendrix, Rick James of Hip Hop.

O.D.B interupts the Grammys because he spent money on a suit and was dissapointed to lose.
http://www.youtube.com/wa...2-5GSjZvW8
[Edited 11/18/08 0:56am]

Tupac....I was just getting into him when he passed. Now I'm blessed to be a part of the last crew he started before he passed and am very close to his family and some of his associates. The impact he has had on me is very profound.

Kurt - I was certainly aware of Nirvana when Kurt passed, but as I was very young then it was a few years before I became a fan to the degree that I am know. I was fortunate enough to visit Aberdeen, Washington and leave a tribute to him under the Wishkah Bridge, as well as the house where he died. There's a tribute bench there too that I left a message on.

Johnny 'J' - Johnny only passed away a couple of months ago and it has been very difficult for me to comprehend. I knew him personally through my relationship with Tupac's family. If you don't know, Johnny was one of 'Pac's main producers and produced the bulk of the All Eyez On Me album and much more. Last time I saw him was back in 2006 when I interviewed him for a BBC documentary about 'Pac. He was the nicest guy you could ever meet and always went out of his way to be hospitable. I miss him dearly.

Roger Troutman - I come from a family of massive Zapp fans. I clearly remember cuts like 'More Bounce to The Ounce' and 'So Ruff So Tuff' playing in my cousins recording studio growing up. I was devastated when he passed.
[Edited 11/18/08 1:36am]

I am saddened when any talented artist dies, but those that actually affected me are:

John Lennon - first and always - I remember it like it was yesterday
Bob Marley - I heard it on the tv the same day and couldn't believe he was gone
Freddie Mercury - never saw it coming. I was so sad. He had "the voice".
Elvis - was amazed at what a huge impact he had on the world and how many people loved him
Mavin Gaye - couldn't believe his own father killed him.
Stevie Ray Vaughn - great guitarist.

I wouldn't say that it "affected" me in any way because he was a star and I didn't know him personally, but Rick James was the only one that made me feel sad when I heard he had died.

When I heard that Luther Vandross passed away, I was saddened but at the same time relieved that he didn't have to suffer anymore. Being a stroke survivor myself, I knew what he was going through.

meow85 said:

Cobain died in '94, not '93

J Dilla




James Brown
Rick James
Aaliyah
Biggie
Tupac
Cobain