In anticipation of Halloween, this morbid subject came up today at work. We also compiled stats on causes of death. Sounded like a thread candidate to me.
My first concert ever, back in 1982, had a two-fer:
Joe Strummer (The Clash) - heart attack
John Entwhistle (The Who) - drug overdose
Benjamin Orr (The Cars) - cancer
Hillel Slovik (Red Hot Chili Peppers) - drug overdose
Joey Ramone - cancer
Dee Dee Ramone - drug overdose
Johnny Ramone - cancer
Linda McCartney (OK, not exactly a rock star, but she was on stage with one, and was doing something music related) - cancer
From the first concert I saw (1969 or 70):
Duane Allman (motorcycle crash)
Berry Oakley (motorcycle crash)
From the second:
Allman and Oakley (I also saw the Allman Brothers after Duane died and Oakley was still alive)
Felix Pappalardi (Mountain) – shot by his wife
I’m with you on The Clash, The Ramones and The Who.
I really can’t think of anyone who died that I saw play live (although if you’re counting careers and not just bodies, add Maria McKee to the list.)
I’ll see your twofers and raise you a four-fer: I saw a four-act stadium show in 1976 with Jethro Tull headlining. All four bands on the bill included someone who is now dead: Jethro Tull (bassist John Glascock), Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower (singer/bassist James Dewar), and Starcastle (bassist Gary Strater).
Others I can think of:
Frank Zappa - saw him various times between 1973 and 1984.
Keith Moon and John Entwistle - first saw the Who in 1971, also in 1980 after Keith passed.
Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia & Brent Mydland) - 1989
John Denver - I saw him as the opening act for Blood Sweat & Tears in 1970.
B.J. Wilson (Procol Harum) - 1973
Erik Brann (Iron Butterfly) - 1969
I hardly ever go to rock concerts. But I saw the Beach Boys in a free concert following a Giants game at Candlestick Park, with Dennis (drowning) and Carl (cancer) Wilson.
I missed 4 concerts (for various reasons) with Joe Strummer that I was supposed to have attended (1 Clash, 1 when he sang for the Pogues, and 2 solo), which made his death sting all the more.
Saw The Replacements with Bob Stinson before he died.
The Who with Entwistle.
The Go-Betweens (Grant McLennan).
I’m sure there are others, but they’re slipping my mind at the moment.
Dunno whether Ray Charles would count as a rock star, but I had the pleasure of seeing Ray in concert in the early sixties. Lawzee, what a fine show that was! Beforehand, I didn’t much care for Ray Charles. I attended the concert to please a friend. Afterward, I was a huge fan.
I had a similar reaction to Roger Miller. I saw him perform in 1966, having been dragged to the concert by a friend. He was so great that I went out and bought all his albums the next day.
I saw the Grateful Dead while Jerry Garcia was still alive.
I saw Elliot Smith while Elliot Smith was still alive.
I never saw Rick Danko perform, but I saw him in a bar once sitting all by himself. A friend and I sat down and chatted with him for about an hour and a half.
Jerry Garcia (w/ the Grateful Dead)
Brent Mydland (the Dead)
Stevie Ray Vaughn (in the second last concert he performed before his fatal accident)
Kurt Cobain
Robert Buck (guitarist for 10,000 Maniacs)
Miles Davis (Okay, not really a “rock” start, but still…)
the B-52s (w/ original guitarist Ricky Wilson)
