Jimi
Hendrix: Age 27
(b. Johnny Allen Hendrix, 27 November 1942, Seattle, Washington, d. 18 September 1970.
His father subsequently changed his son's name to James Marshall Hendrix).
More superlatives have been bestowed upon Hendrix than any other rock guitarist.
Enough said. On 18 September 1970, his girlfriend, Monika Danneman, became alarmed
when she was unable to rouse him from sleep. An ambulance was called, but Hendrix was
pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. The inquest recorded an open verdict,
with death caused by suffocation due to inhalation of vomit. Eric Burdon
claimed at the time to possess a suicide note, but this has never been confirmed.
Visitor's note: ~Can you please remove the
"suicide note" reference from your info on Jimi Hendrix. Eric Burdon's
speculation (and this is the nice way I want to describe this) is totally unnecessary. If
it came from Mitch Mitchell, Eddie Kramer, Billy Cox, (Not Mike Jeffrey) or anybody who
lived or worked with him, then I would be more tolerant of this opinion. ~ Kevin L. NewtonBon
Scott: Age 33
AC/DC
(b. Ronald Scott, 9 July 1946, Kirriemuir, Scotland, d. 20 February 1980).
Scott graduated from being AC/DC’s
chauffeur to becoming their vocalist.
HIGHWAY TO HELL in 1979 established them as international stars. This, the band's first
album with producer Mutt Lange, also proved to be their last with Bon Scott. On 20
February 1980, after a night of heavy drinking, he was left unconscious in a friend's car,
and was later found to be dead, having choked on his own vomit. The coroner
recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. Grave Site
Tommy Dorsey: Age 50
(b. 19 November 1905, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 26 November 1956).
In 1934 he and Jimmy formed the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, which became extremely popular.
Despite, or perhaps because of, their close relationship, the brothers frequently argued,
sometimes violently, and after one such disagreement in May 1935, Tommy walked out leaving
Jimmy to take over leadership of the orchestra. Tommy then took over the excellent
danceband led by Joe Haymes. Highly ambitious, Dorsey set about turning the band, which
was already a sound and well-disciplined unit, into the finest dance orchestra of the era.
And although Frank Sinatra had already begun to establish a reputation with Harry James,
it was his stint with Dorsey that made him into an international singing star.
Nevertheless, the '50s were difficult times and in 1953, he was happy to be reunited with
his brother, whose own outfit had folded. Tommy Dorsey gave Jimmy a featured spot and
renamed his band as the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. A heavy eater, Tommy Dorsey choked
to death in his
sleep. He had had a big dinner and was accustomed to using
pills to help him sleep in the many hotel
beds where he stayed.
John Bonham:Age 32
Led Zeppelin
(b. 31 May 1947, Birmingham, England, d. 25 September 1980).
This pivotal quartet was formed in October 1968. The four gelled immediately and
having completed outstanding commitments under the name 'New Yardbirds', became Led
Zeppelin following an off-the-cuff quip by the Who's Keith Moon, who remarked when rating
their prospects that they would probably go down like a lead zeppelin. After
releasing In Through The Out Door in 1979 two concerts at Britain's Knebworth
Festival were the prelude to a short European tour on which the group unveiled a
stripped-down act, inspired, in part, by the punk explosion. Rehearsals were then
undertaken for another US tour, but in September 1980, Bonham was found dead
following a lengthy drinking bout. On 4 December, Swan Song announced that the
group had officially retired. Link
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