3 Rock Music Frontmen Who Died Too Young

The life of a rock musician can be a dangerous one. Sure, there is a lot of joy to be had in writing music, working with a band, touring the world, and getting your music on the radio. But there has also been a lot of tragedy when it comes to the history of rock music. It would seem the old scientific maxim applies to rock, too: What goes up must come down.

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That’s what we wanted to examine here. We wanted to highlight three singers who died far too soon. Three male classic rock vocalists who passed away well before their time. It happened too often, and it’s a sad, unfortunate result of the so-called rock lifestyle. Indeed, these are three classic rock frontmen who died too soon.

Jimi Hendrix

Renowned as the greatest rock guitarist of all time, the Seattle-born Jimi Hendrix could turn his instrument into a blaze, both literally and figuratively. Known for songs like “Foxy Lady” and “Purple Haze”, Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, in the Emerald City. He had a bright though brief career in the spotlight, becoming famous in the late 1960s with the rock revolution. Contemporaries with the likes of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, Hendrix was as important as any in the era. Sadly, he passed away at just 27 years old on September 18, 1970, from a suspected drug overdose.

Kurt Cobain

Speaking of iconic Seattle rockers, Kurt Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. A troubled yet talented youth, Cobain found music, songwriting, and the guitar at a young age, and he never let go. Eventually, he became the lead singer and songwriter for the grunge rock group Nirvana. Known for songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Lithium”, Nirvana became the biggest band in the world. Sadly, also at just 27 years old, Cobain committed suicide, dying on April 5, 1994. With his passing, many said, grunge music also died.

John Lennon

Born October 9, 1940, in the grey port town of Liverpool, England, John Lennon grew up to become one of the most famous songwriters and frontmen of all time. He was The Beatles’ co-lead singer and co-songwriter. Lennon penned tunes like “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” and “Strawberry Fields Forever”. When the band broke up, he went solo, and he also wrote music with his wife, Yoko Ono. His most famous solo tune is “Imagine”, a song that asks you to let go of all that causes you harm. Sadly, Lennon was shot and killed by a crazed fan in New York City on December 8, 1980.

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