From sudden disappearances to extremely mysterious origins, plenty of musicians in the last century have been the subject of musical unsolved mysteries. Let’s take a look at just four of the weirdest mysteries that still don’t yield concrete answers today.
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1. Randy Fitzsimmons
If you’re a fan of the Swedish garage rock band The Hives, you’re probably already familiar with Randy Fitzsimmons. Or, rather, you’re familiar with the mystery surrounding that very name. According to legend, The Hives were put together by a faceless figure known as Randy Fitzsimmons, who sent letters to each band member asking them to form the band. He would be credited with much of their songwriting.
Some fans dug deep and found that the pseudonym was connected to The Hives guitarist Niklas Almqvist, but other fans believe that connection is simply a cover for something much more mysterious and weird.
Our thoughts? Randy doesn’t exist and is simply a very creative blend of music and storytelling for fans to enjoy.
2. Richey Edwards
Musical unsolved mysteries are often sad, and the story of Richey Edwards is no different. Known as an important member of the band Manic Street Preachers, Edwards famously went missing in February of 1995. His car, abandoned, was found near a bridge in England known for hosting a number of suicides.
Edwards was never found, and he was officially declared dead in 2008. However, there have been numerous alleged sightings of Edwards around the Asian continent.
3. Sonny Boy Williamson I
Some musical unsolved mysteries involve suspected conspiracies. Blues icon Sonny Boy Williamson died at the age of 34 in 1948, following a performance in Chicago. The death of the “Shake That Boogie” hitmaker was quite bizarre and his murder remains unsolved.
The police report filed after his death indicated that he was robbed and assaulted. However, his contemporary William Arnold (Billy Boy) claimed that Williamson won a ton of cash after gambling that night, which led to a fight that resulted in his death. Some believe that the police were covering up the crimes of the real assailants.
4. Jim Sullivan
While traveling to Nashville in 1975, singer/songwriter Jim Sullivan checked into a motel in Santa Rosa and disappeared from the face of the earth. Not only was his death mysterious, but Sullivan himself was a bit of an enigma. His debut record U.F.O. has led some people to believe that alien abduction was at the heart of his disappearance. Sadly, his case has never been solved, despite extensive search efforts.
Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images for John Varvatos
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