# Which dead rock stars have you seen in concert? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870 "2006-10-25T18:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/1 "2006-10-25T18:36:19Z")
…while they were still alive, obviously. 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 ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/2 "2006-10-25T18:49:05Z")
Randy Rhoads - plane crash. John Entwhistle - overdose. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/3 "2006-10-25T18:54:23Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/4 "2006-10-25T19:16:16Z")
Two-fer from my very first concert: - Keith Moon (drugs and alcohol as in EVERY drug and alcoholic substance) - John Entwhistle (drugs) From the 2nd time I got to see Keith and John play: - Jerry Garcia (not being grateful enough ? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/5 "2006-10-25T19:23:44Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/6 "2006-10-25T19:26:06Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/7 "2006-10-25T19:30:11Z")
Bon Scott comes to mind, not really sure who all else I’ve seen that’s died. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/8 "2006-10-25T19:34:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/9 "2006-10-25T19:43:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/10 "2006-10-25T19:49:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/11 "2006-10-25T19:53:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/12 "2006-10-25T19:55:44Z")
Wow, no Keith Richards jokes yet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/13 "2006-10-25T19:56:54Z")
Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/14 "2006-10-25T20:01:03Z")
Freddie Mercury (Queen) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/15 "2006-10-25T20:01:58Z")
“Dimebag” Darrell Abbott (Pantera/Damageplan) ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/16 "2006-10-25T20:01:59Z")
☹ Mama Cass ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/17 "2006-10-25T20:02:06Z")
Forgot: Cozy Powell (Emerson, Lake and Powell) ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/18 "2006-10-25T20:11:26Z")
Paul McCartney. He was dead for awhile, right? No, seriously, I did see him with the late, lovely Linda, twice. I saw The Tubes, with Vince Welnick, who died recently. Also, The Mamas & The Papas with John Philips. And Canadian BB Gabor, who had already established a place in Cancon music history when he committed suicide. I’ve seen Brian “Too Loud” McLeod as a member of Chilliwack. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/19 "2006-10-25T20:18:23Z")
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) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870/20 "2006-10-25T20:27:01Z")
John Lennon and George Harrison Jim Morrison Frank Zappa Chris Wood - Traffic Tim Buckley Keith Moon Warren Zevon Rick Nelson Folkies: Phil Ochs John Fahey Dave Van Ronk Merle Watson Vassar Clemens Licorice McKechnie Man, this depressing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-dead-rock-stars-have-you-seen-in-concert/377870.md?page=2)