Like this content? Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?sub_confirmation=1
Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSJlJnpP4FgdU0swKbnkNgJj
Become a Facts Verse member and get access to all videos that contain mature content. Use the link below to get access to even more videos, ad-free.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZpQgX1897wYDLtvzmgyIA/join\
Beloved Musicians Who Died Tragically
Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSJlJnpP4FgdU0swKbnkNgJj
Become a Facts Verse member and get access to all videos that contain mature content. Use the link below to get access to even more videos, ad-free.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZpQgX1897wYDLtvzmgyIA/join\
Beloved Musicians Who Died Tragically
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00:00The Bee Gees were one of the most influential pop groups of the 1960s and 1970s and even
00:00:04influenced much of the disco craze of the 1980s.
00:00:08Whether you were alive when the Bee Gees started or born years later, you probably have been
00:00:12caught trying to strut while Stayin' Alive was playing.
00:00:15Sadly, not all of the members of the Bee Gees are with us anymore, with Barry Gibb being
00:00:19the only surviving member.
00:00:20Let's look back on how each of the Bee Gees died and reflect on their incredible lives
00:00:25and careers.
00:00:26The Bee Gees Origins
00:00:28Hugh and Barbara Gibb gave birth to brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin in Douglas, the
00:00:33capital of the Isle of Man.
00:00:35Barry was born in 1946, while twins Maurice and Robin were born in 1949.
00:00:40They moved to Manchester, their father's hometown, in 1955.
00:00:44Their sister Leslie and youngest brother Andy were born in England.
00:00:47In 1958, the family emigrated to Australia, living in Redcliffe, Queensland.
00:00:51Here, the brothers began to perform to raise pocket money.
00:00:55They were eventually hired by Bill Goode to perform their songs at the Redcliffe Speedway
00:00:59Racetrack.
00:01:00The crowd would throw money at the Gibb brothers as they entertained them.
00:01:03They were later introduced to the radio host Bill Gates, who gave them the moniker The
00:01:07Bee Gees, which came from Bill Goode's surname and the brothers' surname.
00:01:11By the 1960s, the brothers began recording music professionally.
00:01:15The group's name was spelled out in the unique spelling that we know today.
00:01:18As their brother Andy grew up, he joined the group as a singer.
00:01:21The brothers could sing beautifully, and Maurice could also play a multitude of instruments.
00:01:25They soon became popular with hits like Wine and Women and Spicks and Specks, but their
00:01:29big break came in the late 1960s, when they returned to England and began creating a unique
00:01:34sound.
00:01:35Before we tell you more about how each of the Bee Gees died, be sure to give this video
00:01:38a like and subscribe to Facts Verse for more.
00:01:42Robin Gibb
00:01:43Robin Gibb was born on December 22, 1949.
00:01:46He had a beautiful vibrato voice, which he realized he could capitalize on from a young
00:01:50age.
00:01:51While still living on the Isle of Man, he once told a neighbor that he would form a
00:01:54band one day and become rich from his music.
00:01:57Robin was the lead singer of the Bee Gees and wrote many of the songs.
00:02:00He also wrote songs for other groups.
00:02:02Along with Barry and Maurice, he wrote Only One Woman for The Marbles.
00:02:06He also briefly focused on a solo career in 1969 and 1970.
00:02:10During this time, the Bee Gees faced setbacks as a group, but their comeback came in the
00:02:141970s, especially with the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever.
00:02:18With this album, he provided lead vocals for Stayin' Alive and How Deep Is Your Love,
00:02:22but he also co-wrote all of the original songs with his brothers.
00:02:25He began to collaborate more often with other artists in the 1980s.
00:02:29He co-wrote and co-produced Jimmy Ruffin's album Sunrise, which was released in 1980.
00:02:34He and Barry wrote much of Barbara Streisand's album Guilty, which was also released that
00:02:38year.
00:02:39In the 2000s, he released a solo album called Magnet.
00:02:42He sang the vocals for the theme song for the British comedy talk show The Dame Edna
00:02:46Treatment.
00:02:47One of the last projects that he worked on was a tribute to the victims of the Titanic.
00:02:51It was a musical that he wrote along with his song Robin John.
00:02:54Sadly, he couldn't attend the premiere due to health problems.
00:02:57He was suffering from pneumonia and eventually ended up in a coma.
00:03:00He died of kidney failure on May 20, 2012, at the age of 62.
00:03:05Maurice Gibb
00:03:06Maurice Gibb was born on December 22, 1949, around 30 minutes after his twin brother Robin.
00:03:12Maurice was a talented musician and songwriter.
00:03:15He played the guitar, bass, keyboard, and percussion for the Bee Gees.
00:03:18On their debut album, he served as the instrumentalist for Claustrophobia, one of their earliest
00:03:23hits.
00:03:24In the 1970s, he also began releasing solo work, while simultaneously creating some of
00:03:28the Bee Gees' biggest hits.
00:03:30He released a popular song called Railroad.
00:03:32He also recorded an album called The Loner, which still hasn't been released to date.
00:03:37In the 1980s, he recorded the song Miami, a musical score, which was the theme for a
00:03:41promotional film to promote tourism in Miami.
00:03:44He also composed the song Supernaturals, which was the theme song for the film.
00:03:48He had a reputation for being one of the nicest and friendliest people in the entertainment
00:03:52industry.
00:03:53His brother Robin often described him as being outgoing and gregarious.
00:03:57He enjoyed hanging out with A-list stars, including Sir Michael Caine, David Bowie,
00:04:01and The Beatles.
00:04:02He was also briefly married to singer Lulu.
00:04:04He was heavily influenced by rock and country musicians, ranging from The Beatles to The
00:04:08Everly Brothers.
00:04:09Maurice Gibb lived in Miami with his brothers during the latter part of their careers.
00:04:13Andy died on January 12, 2003, at the age of 53.
00:04:17He had suffered a cardiac arrest, which resulted from a twisted intestine.
00:04:22Andy Gibb
00:04:23While he wasn't officially part of the Bee Gees, the youngest brother, Andy, was also
00:04:27a talented singer and collaborated with his brothers on some of their songs.
00:04:30He also performed live with them before his untimely death.
00:04:34Andy began his career singing in Australia.
00:04:36His first solo record was Words and Music.
00:04:39This was a big hit, and he soon emigrated to the United States to continue his career.
00:04:43His first album, Flowing Rivers, was released in 1977.
00:04:47This became a huge hit, and he became one of the most popular solo artists in the USA,
00:04:52the UK, and Australia.
00:04:53But it was during this time that he also got addicted to drugs.
00:04:56His drug habit had become severe by the time that he was working on his second album.
00:05:00He'd miss performances and studio sessions.
00:05:03He also experienced financial difficulties.
00:05:05He luckily managed to kick his drug habit by attending rehab, but this wasn't enough
00:05:09to get him back to pursuing his musical career.
00:05:12Andy sadly died on March 10, 1988, five days after his 30th birthday, due to heart inflammation.
00:05:18While his career was short-lived, one must appreciate the incredible talent that he had.
00:05:23His elder brothers would often talk about Andy's brilliance, and they remembered him
00:05:26fondly while discussing his life and career in interviews.
00:05:30Hugh and Barbara Gibb
00:05:32Barbara Pass had performed as a dance band vocalist.
00:05:35She met drummer and bandleader Hugh Gibb in the early 1940s.
00:05:38They got married in 1944.
00:05:40Hugh led an orchestra but often struggled to find gigs.
00:05:43He also worked as a bread delivery man as his day job.
00:05:46This was a crucial service in the war and post-war years that brought joy to many families.
00:05:50He would primarily perform in the north of England, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.
00:05:54His sister suggested that they emigrate to Australia to find better opportunities.
00:05:58While Hugh didn't directly instruct his sons to pursue musical careers, he undoubtedly
00:06:03was an influence on them.
00:06:04Barbara's own musical background was also an influence on her sons.
00:06:08She encouraged them to sing and pursue music.
00:06:10She also helped them get their start with performing and meeting with record executives.
00:06:14Barbara also managed the Bee Gees during the early stage of their career.
00:06:18She eventually emigrated to Miami, where her sons also lived.
00:06:21She died in 2016 at the age of 95.
00:06:25Barry Gibb
00:06:26Barry is the surviving member of the Bee Gees.
00:06:28He continues to appear in interviews and documentaries to discuss his career and the Bee Gees.
00:06:33He misses his brothers and has said that he'd trade all their hits just to bring them back.
00:06:37The Bee Gees were a remarkable music group.
00:06:39We've sadly lost most of the members, but we're lucky they've left behind an incredible
00:06:43body of work.
00:06:45Gene Clark
00:06:46Gene Clark was one of the founding members of the Byrds and one of the lead singers and
00:06:50songwriters.
00:06:51He was born as Harold Eugene Clark on November 17, 1944, in Tipton, Missouri.
00:06:57He grew up in Kansas City and learned how to play guitar and harmonica at a young age.
00:07:02He was introduced to music by his father, and it wasn't long until he decided to pursue
00:07:06music as a career.
00:07:08He helped form the Byrds in 1964.
00:07:11Gene Clark was instrumental in creating some of their most famous songs, including I'll
00:07:15Feel a Whole Lot Better, Set You Free This Time, You Won't Have to Cry, and Eight Miles
00:07:20High among many others.
00:07:22He was lauded for his songwriting skills and is often credited as being a major factor
00:07:27behind the band's success.
00:07:29Unfortunately, this didn't always translate well with his fellow bandmates.
00:07:33At times, they resented him for earning extra money for his songwriting.
00:07:37He also hated touring at times as he disliked traveling, especially because he didn't like
00:07:42to fly.
00:07:43After a brief solo career, he returned to perform with the Byrds.
00:07:46He is perhaps one of the more underrated singer-songwriters of his generation and had a huge influence
00:07:52on rock music.
00:07:53In his later years, he began having troubles with his health, mostly due to substance abuse.
00:07:58He was diagnosed with throat cancer in early 1991 and died in May of that year due to a
00:08:03bleeding ulcer.
00:08:04This was a result of his alcoholism.
00:08:06He was 46 years old and died in Sherman Oaks, California.
00:08:10He is buried in his native town of Tipton, Missouri.
00:08:13Before we tell you more about the Byrds who have sadly died, be sure to give this video
00:08:16a like and subscribe to Facts Verse for more.
00:08:22Mike Clark
00:08:23Mike Clark was born on June 3, 1946, in New York City.
00:08:27When he was 19, he was performing as a jazz drummer for a variety of bands and touring
00:08:32the country.
00:08:34He soon came across David Crosby while hitchhiking around California.
00:08:37Upon meeting Crosby, he eventually met Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and Gene Clark, with
00:08:42whom he founded the Byrds.
00:08:43He played drums for the band until 1968.
00:08:47In 1985, he got into legal trouble with the remaining members of the band as he began
00:08:52performing under the band's name, despite having left it almost 20 years earlier.
00:08:56While he wasn't involved much in songwriting, he is credited with helping compose some of
00:09:00the band's most popular songs.
00:09:03These included Captain Soul, Artificial Energy, among others.
00:09:06He had a keen interest in country and western music and also performed with the Flying Burrito
00:09:11Brothers.
00:09:12He also performed with Firefall and Jerry Jeff Walker, but his work with the Byrds is
00:09:16what he is best known for.
00:09:17During his later years, Mike and his wife, Leigh, began writing songs together.
00:09:21He also took up oil painting as a hobby.
00:09:24He lived in Treasure Island, Florida during his final years.
00:09:27He passed away in 1993 at the age of 47 due to liver failure, a result of heavy drinking.
00:09:35Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly was born on March 25, 1943, in
00:09:39Los Angeles.
00:09:40He began studying the drums as a teen and played in his school's band.
00:09:44He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years and lived for a year in Japan.
00:09:48When he returned to the U.S., he decided to pursue a career as a drummer.
00:09:52Throughout the 1960s, he played drums with a variety of different bands, focusing mainly
00:09:56on folk rock.
00:09:57He was the drummer of the band The Rising Suns.
00:10:00When they released music and were signed to a record label, they didn't manage to succeed
00:10:04as a band and soon broke up.
00:10:06Much of their music remained unreleased until the 1990s.
00:10:09In the late 1960s, while working at a men's clothing store, he was contacted by his cousin,
00:10:14Chris Hillman, who was playing bass for the band The Byrds.
00:10:17He played drums for the band, but sadly didn't last long with them.
00:10:20He was soon replaced by Clarence White and then went his own way.
00:10:24He later joined the band Fever Tree for their album For Sale.
00:10:27He played the drums for the band Gas, Food, and Lodging.
00:10:30In the later years of his career, he served as a session drummer for a variety of artists
00:10:34including Phil Oakes, John Fahey, and Michael Cohen.
00:10:37He died of natural causes on April 6, 2002, at the age of 59.
00:10:45Graham Parsons
00:10:46Ingram Cecil Connor III, known professionally as Graham Parsons, was born November 5, 1946,
00:10:53in Winter Haven, Florida.
00:10:54He became interested in folk rock music during his teens and began playing the guitar, piano,
00:10:59and also singing and writing songs.
00:11:01By 1968, he met The Byrds members and soon became a member himself.
00:11:06He first served as a jazz pianist for the band and then switched over to playing the
00:11:10guitar and singing.
00:11:11While he contributed to a lot of the band's songs, he was never considered a full member
00:11:15of The Byrds.
00:11:17As a result, his stint with them was short-lived and he soon found work elsewhere.
00:11:21He and Chris Hillman formed the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969 and he performed with them
00:11:26for about a year.
00:11:27He then pursued a solo career.
00:11:29His death came too quickly and was shocking for the music industry.
00:11:32He was wandering throughout Joshua Tree National Park, a place that he was fascinated with.
00:11:37Sadly, during this time, he was doing a lot of drugs.
00:11:40He was found dead in his room at the inn at Joshua Tree National Park.
00:11:44He had overdosed on morphine.
00:11:45He spent his last few days consuming an excess of barbiturates and alcohol.
00:11:50Graham Parsons was only 26 when he died.
00:11:55Clarence White
00:11:56Clarence Joseph LeBlanc was born on June 7, 1944, in Lewiston, Maine.
00:12:01He remains best known for his performances as a guitarist and singer for the bluegrass
00:12:05band The Kentucky Colonels as well as The Byrds.
00:12:08He was also a notable session musician.
00:12:10In July of 1968, The Byrds singer and guitarist Graham Parsons left the band.
00:12:15Clarence stepped in to replace him.
00:12:16He became a full member of the band and was instrumental in helping them appeal to country
00:12:21music fans.
00:12:22Clarence later suggested that Kevin Kelly should be replaced with his friend Gene Parsons.
00:12:26Clarence and Gene later became known as the inventors of the B-Bender accessory.
00:12:31This accessory helps the guitar player bend the B-string to imitate the tone of a pedal
00:12:35steel guitar.
00:12:36Clarence performed live gigs with The Byrds and was involved in the production of some
00:12:40of their most successful albums.
00:12:42He sadly died on July 15, 1973, after being hit by a drunk driver while he was loading
00:12:48materials into his car.
00:12:49He was only 29 years old.
00:12:53Skip Batten
00:12:55Clyde Skip Batten was born on February 18, 1934, in Gallipolis, Ohio.
00:13:00He is remembered as a versatile and prolific singer-songwriter, bassist, and live performer
00:13:05for a variety of bands, including The Flying Burrito Brothers, The New Riders of the Purple
00:13:10Sage, and The Byrds.
00:13:12In the early 1960s, he worked as an actor and landed a few bit parts in independent
00:13:16films and TV shows.
00:13:17By the mid-1960s, he formed a folk rock group, Evergreen Blue Shoes, and released an album
00:13:22with them, but the band soon broke up.
00:13:24He was the bassist for The Byrds from 1970 to 1973, and this was his most successful
00:13:29period as a musician.
00:13:31He recorded three albums with the band and toured with them as well.
00:13:34He continued to perform as a session musician as well as with other bands in the early 1990s.
00:13:39He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the 1990s and had to give up his career
00:13:43as a result.
00:13:44He died in 2003 due to complications from the disease.
00:13:47He was 69.
00:13:48Denny Doherty
00:13:49Denny Doherty led a life that was both musically rich and personally complex.
00:13:54Born on November 29, 1940, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Doherty's passion for music manifested
00:13:59early.
00:14:00He began his musical journey with the Halifax-based band The Hepsters before moving on to The
00:14:05Colonials, which later became The Halifax Three.
00:14:09But it was in the 1960s that his career took a significant turn.
00:14:12After the delusion of The Halifax Three, Doherty joined The New Journeymen, a folk trio that
00:14:17included John Phillips and Michelle Phillips.
00:14:19This collaboration was the catalyst for the formation of The Mamas and The Papas.
00:14:24Adding Cass Elliott to the lineup, the group quickly rose to fame with their harmonious
00:14:28sound and memorable hits.
00:14:30But beyond the music, the dynamics within the group were often tumultuous.
00:14:34Romantic entanglements, personal tensions, and substance abuse issues led to the group's
00:14:39eventual disbandment in 1968.
00:14:42Doherty's relationship with Mama Cass in particular was a subject of much speculation and was
00:14:47known to have its ups and downs.
00:14:49Post The Mamas and The Papas, Doherty pursued a solo career, releasing a few albums, though
00:14:54none matched the success he experienced with the group.
00:14:57He also ventured into acting and even hosted a variety show in Canada.
00:15:01In the 1990s, he co-wrote and starred in a theater production called Dream a Little Dream,
00:15:06which recounted the story of The Mamas and The Papas.
00:15:09Doherty passed away on January 19, 2007.
00:15:12Despite the personal challenges and often volatile dynamics of the group, his contribution
00:15:17to the music world is undeniable.
00:15:19Cass Elliott
00:15:20Cass Elliott, commonly known as Mama Cass, was one of the most distinctive voices of
00:15:25the 1960s, both as a member of The Mamas and The Papas and as a solo artist.
00:15:29Born Ellen Naomi Cohen on September 19, 1941, in Baltimore, Cass grew up in a family deeply
00:15:36rooted in culture and music.
00:15:38Her father was a small business owner and her mother a trained singer.
00:15:41The environment instilled in her a love for music early on.
00:15:44They moved to Alexandria, Virginia during her teenage years.
00:15:48She attended George Washington High School, where she was actively involved in music and
00:15:52drama.
00:15:53It was during these formative years that she began to seriously consider a career in entertainment.
00:15:57Her first foray into music began in the early 1960s.
00:16:01She formed a folk trio with Tim Rose and John Brown called The Triumvirate.
00:16:05But it was when they replaced Brown with James Hendricks that they renamed themselves
00:16:09The Big Three.
00:16:10While they enjoyed moderate success and made TV appearances, they're best remembered
00:16:14for their rendition of Young Girls Lament.
00:16:17After the group disbanded, Cass briefly joined a group called The Mugwumps, which had members
00:16:21who later formed parts of the famed groups The Love and Spoonful and The Mamas and The
00:16:25Papas.
00:16:26Her true breakthrough came when she joined forces with John Phillips, Michelle Phillips,
00:16:30and Denny Doherty to form The Mamas and The Papas.
00:16:33Cass' powerful, contralto voice became one of the defining elements of the group's sound.
00:16:38Her time with this iconic folk-pop group in the 1960s solidified her place in music history.
00:16:44Their hits like California Dreamin', Monday Monday, and Dedicated to the One I Love are
00:16:48classics, with Cass' voice being central.
00:16:51After they disbanded, she embarked on a solo career.
00:16:54Her rendition of Dream a Little Dream of Me became an instant hit, peaking at number twelve
00:16:59on the Billboard Hot 100.
00:17:01Over the next few years, she released multiple albums and singles, some of which, like Make
00:17:05Your Own Kind of Music, became staples of her repertoire.
00:17:09She also guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and even had her own specials
00:17:13showcasing her versatile talent.
00:17:15Cass Elliot died on July 29, 1974, in London at the age of 32.
00:17:21She was on a sold-out solo tour in England and had just completed a successful two-week
00:17:26run at the London Palladium.
00:17:27The initial speculation and a widely-spread rumor claimed that she choked to death on
00:17:32a sandwich, a falsehood perpetuated by the media.
00:17:35However, the official cause of death, as determined by the coroner, was heart failure.
00:17:39The post-mortem found that she had not choked on food, and her heart showed signs of damage
00:17:44consistent with myocardial infarction.
00:17:46Despite this clarification, the sandwich myth persisted in popular culture for years, often
00:17:52overshadowing her significant musical achievements.
00:17:55John Phillips John Phillips, best known as the chief songwriter
00:17:59and one of the lead singers of the Mamas and the Papas, led a life that was artistically
00:18:03rich, but fraught with personal challenges.
00:18:05His legacy is cemented in the annals of rock history, but his personal journey was riddled
00:18:10with highs and lows.
00:18:11Born on August 30, 1935, in Parris Island, South Carolina, John Edmund Andrew Phillips
00:18:17showed an inclination towards music early on.
00:18:20He was initially part of a few minor groups, but eventually formed the Journeymen, a folk
00:18:24trio in the early 1960s.
00:18:26While the group achieved modest success, it was the formation of the Mamas and the Papas
00:18:30that marked a turning point in his career.
00:18:33John was often considered the driving force behind the group, providing much of their
00:18:37creative direction.
00:18:38After the group disbanded, he embarked on various projects.
00:18:41He released his solo album, John Phillips, John the Wolf King of L.A., in 1970, which,
00:18:47though not a commercial success, has since gained a cult following.
00:18:51In the late 1970s, he also collaborated with Rolling Stones member Keith Richards on the
00:18:55soundtrack for the film The Man Who Fell to Earth.
00:18:58His life was marred by substance abuse issues.
00:19:00His struggles with drugs and alcohol were well-documented and affected both his personal
00:19:05relationships and his professional trajectory.
00:19:08His relationship with his children, especially Mackenzie Phillips, was complex and at times
00:19:12controversial, with Mackenzie later revealing allegations of a troubled and inappropriate
00:19:17relationship with her father.
00:19:19John Phillips passed away on March 18, 2001, from heart failure.
00:19:23Michelle Phillips
00:19:24Michelle Phillips, born Holly Michelle Gilliam on June 4, 1944, in Long Beach, California,
00:19:31had a multifaceted career spanning several decades.
00:19:34Her musical journey began in earnest when she co-founded the Mamas and the Papas with
00:19:38her then-husband, John.
00:19:40Her musical journey began in earnest when she co-founded the Mamas and the Papas with
00:19:44John, Denny, and Cass in the mid-1960s.
00:19:47With her clear, melodic voice, she contributed to the group's harmonious sound.
00:19:51She also co-wrote some of the band's songs with John Phillips.
00:19:55After the disillusionment of the band, she transitioned into acting.
00:19:58She appeared in a variety of films and television shows over the years.
00:20:02Some of her notable roles include appearances in films such as Dillinger, where she earned
00:20:06a Golden Globe nomination, Valentino, and The California Kid.
00:20:11On the television front, Michelle had roles in popular series such as Knott's Landing
00:20:15and Beverly Hills 90210.
00:20:17Her personal life was as eventful as her career.
00:20:20She was married to John Phillips from 1962 to 1970.
00:20:24Their union produced a daughter, Chyna Phillips, who later became a member of the musical group
00:20:28Wilson Phillips.
00:20:29Michelle had subsequent marriages to actor Dennis Hopper, a brief eight-day marriage
00:20:34in 1970, radio executive Robert Birch, and plastic surgeon Stephen Zaks.
00:20:39Throughout the ups and downs of her career and personal life, Michelle Phillips has remained
00:20:44a resilient figure in the entertainment industry.
00:20:48Paul Cantner As a founding member of the band, guitarist
00:20:51and singer Paul Cantner helped fine-tune Jefferson Airplane's trailblazing sound.
00:20:57After the band was regrouped into Jefferson Starship, he continued his role as a member
00:21:01of this new group.
00:21:03Cantner was born on March 17, 1941.
00:21:06Jefferson Airplane was formed in 1965 after Paul met bandmate Marty Balin.
00:21:11He ended up eventually becoming the leader of the band and was instrumental in leading
00:21:15it through its immensely successful period during the late 1960s.
00:21:19In 1970, while still a member of Jefferson Airplane, Cantner and a handful of other Bay
00:21:23Area musicians recorded an album called Blows Against the Empire, which was the first time
00:21:29the name Jefferson Starship was used.
00:21:31Cantner continued to perform and record with Jefferson Starship until 1984, when band members
00:21:37went their own ways.
00:21:38He later reformed Starship in 1992 and performed with the group until his death.
00:21:44Cantner passed away on January 28, 2016, at the age of 74.
00:21:48Several days before his death, he suffered a heart attack, which led to him experiencing
00:21:52multiple organ failure and septic shock.
00:21:55The combination of these three things ultimately brought about his death.
00:21:59By sheer coincidence, he died the very same day as one of Jefferson Airplane's lesser-known
00:22:03co-founders, Signe Tolly Anderson.
00:22:06Cantner was the longest continuous band member of Jefferson Airplane and Starship.
00:22:10He spent 19 years with the initial run of Airplane and Starship and another 24 years
00:22:15with the Jefferson Starship Revival Band.
00:22:18Mickey Hart of The Grateful Dead stated shortly after his death that Cantner was the backbone
00:22:23of Jefferson Airplane, and he deserved just as much credit as Grace Slick.
00:22:29Signe Tolly Anderson
00:22:32Signe, the original singer of Jefferson Airplane, passed away on the same day as Paul Cantner.
00:22:37She was born on September 15, 1941, in Seattle.
00:22:41Before co-founding the band, Anderson sang in a band with three male musicians whom she
00:22:46had met in high school.
00:22:47That group, which was known as Three Guys and a Gal, ended up performing at a campaign
00:22:51function for John F. Kennedy in 1959.
00:22:54After marrying one of the merry pranksters, Jerry Anderson, Anderson helped form Jefferson
00:22:59Airplane with Marty Balin and Paul Cantner, and ended up being the primary vocalist on
00:23:04the first album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, in 1966.
00:23:08Anderson was distrustful of their first manager, Matthew Katz, and flat-out refused to sign
00:23:13a contract with him unless it provided her with an escape clause that would free her
00:23:17from him if she chose to leave the band.
00:23:20In July of 1966, after realizing that bringing her then-newborn child and husband on the
00:23:25road wasn't really feasible, she informed her bandmates that she was leaving the band.
00:23:30They managed to convince her to stay with the group until October so that they could
00:23:34find a suitable replacement.
00:23:35That's when they signed on Grace Slick after Sherry Snow of the folk rock group Blackborn
00:23:40and Snow declined their offer.
00:23:42After leaving the band, Anderson moved to Oregon, where she continued to sing for nine
00:23:46years with the group Carl Smith and the Natural Gas Company.
00:23:49After being diagnosed with cancer in the mid-1970s, she managed to make a full recovery.
00:23:54In the 1990s, Anderson battled several more health issues.
00:23:57Notably, she broke her neck and had bypass surgery.
00:24:00At the age of 74, Anderson died from complications of COPD in her home in Beaverton, Oregon.
00:24:06If you're enjoying this video so far, be sure to hit the like button to show your support!
00:24:09And don't forget to subscribe to Facts Verse if you haven't already.
00:24:12And stick around for more about Jefferson Airplane and Starship!
00:24:18Marty Balin Born Martin Jarell Buchwald in Cincinnati,
00:24:22Ohio, on January 30, 1942, he was one of the co-founders and lead singers and songwriters
00:24:28of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.
00:24:31As a child, Buchwald was diagnosed with autism.
00:24:34After his family moved to the Bay Area, he changed his name to Marty Balin in 1962.
00:24:40After leading a folk quartet called the Town Criers, Balin co-founded Jefferson Airplane
00:24:44in 1965.
00:24:46He served as a co-vocalist and lead songwriter from 1966 to 1971 when he left the band following
00:24:53their 1970 tour.
00:24:55He then broke off all communication with the rest of his bandmates.
00:24:58In 1993, he revealed that the reason for this primarily was because of feelings like he
00:25:03and the rest of the band members were moving in different directions.
00:25:07He was into things like yoga, health food, and natural living, while the band was doing
00:25:11a lot of drugs and partying heavily.
00:25:13He hated cocaine and felt it adversely affected the music they were making and performing,
00:25:18so he had few regrets when he left.
00:25:20Balin later joined Kantner's Jefferson Starship in 1975 after penning the power ballad Caroline
00:25:26for the group's 1974 Dragonfly.
00:25:30After three years of touring with the group, he abruptly left in 1978 after Grace Slick's
00:25:35departure.
00:25:36Balin remained active in the music industry for the remainder of his life, frequently
00:25:39collaborating with some of his old bandmates on their various projects.
00:25:43He passed away at his home in Tampa on September 27, 2018, at the age of 76.
00:25:51Skip Spence Born on April 18, 1946, Spence began his musical
00:25:57career as a guitarist with the Quicksilver Messenger Service before joining Jefferson
00:26:01Airplane as the band's first drummer in 1965.
00:26:05After leaving in 1966, he co-founded the band Moby Grape.
00:26:10As that band's guitarist, he performed until 1969 before putting out one solo album, Ore.
00:26:16After that, he withdrew from the music industry as he fell into drug addiction and mental
00:26:20illness.
00:26:21Spence died just two days before his 53rd birthday on April 16, 1999.
00:26:29Spencer Dryden Best known for being the drummer for Jefferson
00:26:33Airplane and later the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dryden was born on April 7, 1938, in
00:26:40New York.
00:26:41After Skip Spence left Jefferson Airplane in 1966, Dryden was recruited to replace him.
00:26:46Alongside bassist Jack Cassidy, Dryden helped create a phenomenal rhythm section for the
00:26:50group.
00:26:51Dryden's affinity for free-form improv jamming can be heard in Jefferson Airplane tracks
00:26:56like Bare Melt and Thing.
00:26:58Dryden quit Jefferson Airplane in 1970 after the band's infamous violent experiences at
00:27:04the Altamont Festival, in which Marty Balin was knocked out by a member of the Hells Angels
00:27:09and an audience member named Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death.
00:27:13When he left, he was quoted as saying that the vibes were no longer what they used to
00:27:16be.
00:27:17From 1970 to 1977, Dryden played drums with the New Riders of the Purple Sage.
00:27:22He later played with Bay Area supergroup, the Dinosaurs, before retiring in 1995.
00:27:28He passed away from colon cancer on January 11, 2005.
00:27:35Joey Covington Born on June 27, 1945, Covington's new
00:27:40began when he was 10.
00:27:41After playing with a variety of different bands that got a chance to open for acts like
00:27:45the Rolling Stones, the Shangri-Las, and Lou Christie, to name a few, Covington was called
00:27:50in to replace Spencer Dryden for Jefferson Airplane's 1969 album Volunteers.
00:27:56After leaving the group in 1972 to pursue a solo career, he briefly reunited with Starship
00:28:02to record their 1976 single, With Your Love.
00:28:05He later toured as a member of the San Francisco All-Stars in the 80s and 90s.
00:28:10Covington died in a car accident in Palm Springs, California on June 4, 2013, when his vehicle
00:28:16slammed into a retaining wall at high speeds.
00:28:19He was 67.
00:28:22Papa John Creech Skilled in many different genres, Creech
00:28:25was a violinist best known for his years with Jefferson Airplane.
00:28:29He was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on May 28, 1917.
00:28:34After forming a group called the Chocolate Music Bars in 1930, Creech relocated to L.A.
00:28:39in the 40s and began playing at cocktail lounges throughout California for the next two decades.
00:28:44In 1970, Joey Covington introduced Creech to the members of Jefferson Airplane.
00:28:50Nicknamed Papa by the comparatively younger members, Creech performed with the band until
00:28:54its disbandment in 1972.
00:28:57He also played with Hot Tuna.
00:28:59Creech died of natural causes at the age of 76 on February 22, 1994.
00:29:04Of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, the most notable members still alive are lead
00:29:09guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Cassidy, and lead vocalist Grace Slick, although several
00:29:14other musicians who played with these two bands over the years are still around as well.
00:29:19The Accident That Cost Him His Eye
00:29:21On November 19, 1954, Sammy Davis Jr. was nearly killed in a horrific automobile accident
00:29:27in San Bernardino, California.
00:29:29At the time of the crash, he was making his way back from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
00:29:34A year prior, Sammy had struck up a friendship with Jewish entertainer Annie Cantor, who
00:29:38had gifted him a mezuzah.
00:29:40Instead of hanging it by his door, as is the tradition, Davis wore it around his neck like
00:29:44a necklace for good luck.
00:29:46The only occasion that he forgot to wear it was the night of his accident.
00:29:49The wreck occurred at a junction point along US Route 66 when a driver who missed their
00:29:54exit backed up her vehicle in Davis's lane.
00:29:57Sammy was unable to slow down quickly enough to avoid hitting the car and subsequently
00:30:01lost his left eye when his face hit the bullet-shaped horn button of his Cadillac.
00:30:06Sammy's close friend and fellow actor Jeff Chandler was quoted as saying that he would
00:30:09gladly give Davis one of his own eyes if he could keep him from going blind.
00:30:13Fortunately, Davis recovered from his injuries despite the fact that there was no saving
00:30:17his eye.
00:30:18For six months after the accident, he had to wear an eye patch.
00:30:20He is seen wearing it on the cover of his debut album.
00:30:23He also was seen wearing it when he appeared on the CBS game show What's My Line later
00:30:28that year.
00:30:29He was later fitted with a glass eye, which he wore for the remainder of his life.
00:30:32While in the hospital, Eddie Cantor described to Sammy the striking similarities between
00:30:36the Jewish people's historical struggles to that of black cultures.
00:30:40Davis had been born into a Christian household.
00:30:42His mother was Catholic, and his father was a Baptist.
00:30:45He began studying Judaism and Jewish history several years after the accident and converted
00:30:50to the faith in 1961.
00:30:52The accident marked a pivotal turning point in not just his spiritual worldview but also
00:30:56his career.
00:30:57Shortly after losing his eye and narrowly avoiding death, Davis was transformed from
00:31:01a well-known entertainer to a national celebrity.
00:31:04Before we tell you more, be sure to give this video a like and subscribe to Facts Verse
00:31:08if you haven't already.
00:31:10The Rat Pack Was Originally Called The Klan, But Sammy Cried Foul
00:31:14In 1959, Sammy became a member of the notorious Rat Pack, which was led by his close friend
00:31:19and fellow entertainer, Frank Sinatra.
00:31:21The ragtag crew of entertainers included the likes of Joey Bishop, Dean Martin, and John
00:31:26F. Kennedy's brother-in-law, Peter Lawford.
00:31:28Sinatra initially referred to the gathering as the Klan, but Davis was staunchly opposed
00:31:33to this title for obvious and understandable reasons.
00:31:36It was too reminiscent to the racist organization, the Ku Klux Klan.
00:31:39Sinatra then renamed the group The Summit, but that didn't stick for very long either.
00:31:44After a long evening of poker that extended into the early morning hours, the men were
00:31:48left drunken and disheveled.
00:31:50As the story goes, actress Angie Dickinson approached the group and stated that they
00:31:53looked like a pack of rats.
00:31:55The nickname quickly caught on, and from then onward, they were known as The Rat Pack.
00:31:59This story may be a bit apocryphal, however, as the earlier group that was led by Humphrey
00:32:03Bogart and his wife, Lauren Bacall, who also called themselves The Rat Pack, earned that
00:32:08designation after Bacall made a similar remark about them resembling a pack of rats.
00:32:14Sammy's Tragic Marriages To Kim Novak And LeRae White
00:32:17In 1957, Sammy began dating white actress Kim Novak.
00:32:21By most accounts, Davis was deeply in love with her, and she apparently shared those
00:32:25sentiments.
00:32:26It was the first time that he loved someone enough to marry them.
00:32:29After the rumors started going around that Davis planned on marrying Novak, racist white
00:32:33people who opposed interracial marriage were incensed.
00:32:36One particularly racist individual who took issue with Sammy marrying Kim was Novak's
00:32:41boss, Harry Cohn.
00:32:42Harry was the head of Columbia Pictures, the studio that Novak was under contract with.
00:32:47He thought that Novak's marriage to a black man would hurt the studio's profits.
00:32:50It didn't seem to matter that Davis was incredibly famous, respected, and loved by
00:32:54many.
00:32:55Cohn ended up hiring the mob to threaten Sammy.
00:32:57Reportedly, the mobsters claimed that they would blind him in his remaining good eye
00:33:01and break his legs if he didn't marry a black woman in the next 48 hours.
00:33:05Davis was understandably spooked by these threats and subsequently gave in to his harassers'
00:33:10demands.
00:33:11To protect himself from the violence, Davis married a black dancer named LeRae White.
00:33:15Everyone around him knew that the marriage was a sham, and the only reason that he had
00:33:18agreed to go through with it was because of the threats.
00:33:21Sammy agreed to pay White off with a large lump sum under the condition that their marriage
00:33:25would be dissolved within the year.
00:33:27But even though they went through with a traditional wedding, it's known that he drank too much
00:33:31at the reception.
00:33:32It's also said that he attempted to strangle White en route to their wedding suite.
00:33:36Later that evening, he was found holding a gun to his head, threatening to take his life.
00:33:40Sammy and LeRae's marriage was understandably short-lived, and they were no longer married
00:33:44by 1959.
00:33:45This was clearly one of the low points of his life.
00:33:48He Died of Throat Cancer
00:33:49In August of 1989, Davis developed a disconcerting tickle in the back of his throat and lost
00:33:55the ability to taste food.
00:33:56His doctors quickly discovered that he had a cancerous tumor in his throat.
00:34:00He had been a heavy smoker for the majority of his adult life.
00:34:03Reportedly, he smoked four packs of cigarettes a day.
00:34:06When he was informed that laryngectomy surgery provided him with the best chance of survival,
00:34:10He told his doctors that he would rather hold onto his voice and face the cancer head-on
00:34:14rather than have part of his throat removed.
00:34:16So instead of immediately going under the knife, he opted to be treated with a combination
00:34:20of radiation therapy and chemo.
00:34:23Later on, however, after his cancer reoccurred, he had to have his larynx removed.
00:34:27He was released from the hospital in March of 1990, but just two months later, he died
00:34:31from complications of his throat cancer on May 16, 1990, at the age of 64.
00:34:36He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
00:34:40Two days after his death, the bright neon lights of the Vegas Strip went dark for ten
00:34:44minutes in his honor.
00:34:46His fortune was eclipsed by his debts.
00:34:48In his will, Davis left the majority of his estate to his widow, Altovis Davis.
00:34:53It's estimated that his estate was worth $4 million, but unfortunately, Davis had owed
00:34:57the IRS more than $5 million, which after penalties and interest ballooned to more than
00:35:02$7 million.
00:35:03Since Altovis had co-signed his tax returns, she became liable for his debt.
00:35:07To cover the massive bill, she was left with no other choice but to auction off his personal
00:35:11possessions and real estate holdings.
00:35:13A few of Davis' friends in the industry, including Steve Allen, Ed Asner, Jane Meadows,
00:35:18Joey Bishop, and Quincy Jones, arranged a fundraising concert at the famous Sands Hotel
00:35:22in Las Vegas to help ease that burden.
00:35:25In 1997, Altovis reached a settlement deal with the IRS.
00:35:29After her death in 2009, their son Manny became the sole executor of Sammy's estates and was
00:35:35made the majority rights holder of his intellectual property.
00:35:55The day the music died, those words from Don McLean's classic song, American Pie, refer
00:36:01to the tragic 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens,
00:36:07and J.P. the Big Bopper Richardson.
00:36:10The loss of those rising stars was devastating for the music world.
00:36:14Sadly, many other influential bands over the years have faced a similar fate, having to
00:36:19cope with the untimely death of a key member.
00:36:23In this video, we'll be taking a somber look back at 11 beloved bands forced to either
00:36:28break up or drastically change chorus after losing an integral part of their group.
00:36:34From classic rock pioneers to grunge trailblazers to metal luminaries, these artists made an
00:36:40inexpungable impact but had their time cut short.
00:36:43While their music endures, it's hard not to wonder what might have been had tragedy not
00:36:48struck.
00:36:49Join us as we pay tribute to these beloved bands that broke up because a member died.
00:36:53Led Zeppelin.
00:36:58Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin became one of the most influential and successful
00:37:12rock bands in history.
00:37:13With Robert Plant's powerful vocals, Jimmy Page's groundbreaking guitar work, John Paul
00:37:19Jones' diverse instrumentation, and John Bonham's thunderous drumming, their unique alchemy
00:37:24redefined rock music in the 1970s.
00:37:27Over just 12 years, Zeppelin released eight studio albums filled with enduring classics
00:37:33like Stairway to Heaven, Kashmir, Whole Lotta Love, and Immigrant Song.
00:37:39Their albums topped the charts globally as the band sold out arenas and stadiums with
00:37:44their epic live shows.
00:37:46Zeppelin reached the pinnacle of rock stardom.
00:37:53Sadly, it all came crashing down on September 25th, 1980.
00:37:58After a day of heavy drinking, drummer John Bonham was found unresponsive by bandmate
00:38:03John Paul Jones.
00:38:04Bonham had asphyxiated in his sleep at the age of 32.
00:38:08The loss devastated the band and the music world.
00:38:12Considered by many the greatest rock drummer of all time, Bonham's power, speed, distinctive
00:38:17sound, and innovative rhythms were the engine that propelled Zeppelin.
00:38:21Plant, Page, and Jones concluded they could not continue as Led Zeppelin without their
00:38:27irreplaceable drummer.
00:38:28They issued a statement in December 1980 that,
00:38:31"...we wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we
00:38:35have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and
00:38:41our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were."
00:38:46It was the end of an era.
00:38:47The surviving members have occasionally reunited for special one-off live performances with
00:38:53drummers like Phil Collins and Bonham's son Jason filling in.
00:38:58Page and Plant recorded and toured as a duo in the 1990s, but they have resisted a full-fledged
00:39:04Led Zeppelin reunion without Bonham.
00:39:06His death brought a premature end to the band, leaving fans left pondering what heights they
00:39:10may have reached if tragedy had not struck.
00:39:13But Zeppelin's legacy as the quintessential hard rock band has only grown in the decades
00:39:18since, cementing their place in music history.
00:39:22Nirvana.
00:39:23"...energy comes out of the outlets into our amplifiers and the energy comes out of us
00:39:30and it goes into the audience and they bounce it back and we just play catch with some vibes."
00:39:37In just a few short years, Nirvana exploded from the Seattle underground to completely
00:39:42upend the pop music landscape.
00:39:44Fronted by Kurt Cobain with Chris Novoselic on bass and Dave Grohl on drums, the trio's
00:39:50seismic shift of the mainstream towards alternative rock changed the industry and culture.
00:39:55Their 1989 debut, Bleach, provided the first rumblings, but it was 1991's Nevermind that
00:40:01triggered a full-blown musical earthquake.
00:40:04Propelled by the massive hit, Smells Like Teen Spirit, the album knocked Michael Jackson's
00:40:09Dangerous off the top of the charts.
00:40:11Grunge was suddenly the dominant youth culture force.
00:40:14Cobain was anointed the reluctant voice of a generation.
00:40:18But as Nirvana's fame grew, so did Cobain's struggles with addiction and depression.
00:40:23Still, the band recorded the stellar follow-up in utero and maintained a grueling touring
00:40:29schedule.
00:40:30However, Cobain's mental health and drug issues worsened.
00:40:34On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his Seattle home, the victim of a self-inflicted
00:40:40gunshot.
00:40:41He was 27 years old.
00:40:42The tragedy sent mournful shockwaves through the music world.
00:40:46Novoselic and Grohl were utterly devastated by the loss of their friend and bandmate.
00:40:51With Cobain gone, they quickly decided to disband Nirvana.
00:40:54No one could fathom the band continuing without its lead creative force and tortured soul.
00:41:00Grohl briefly considered quitting music altogether.
00:41:03Ultimately, he recorded a batch of solo songs, playing most of the instruments himself.
00:41:08This became the debut album of his new band Foo Fighters, which allowed Grohl to step
00:41:13out as a frontman and develop his own musical identity.
00:41:17Novoselic collaborated with various artists over the years, but largely focused on political
00:41:22and social activism in his home state of Washington.
00:41:25He and Grohl have reunited on rare occasions for Nirvana material, with guest vocalists
00:41:31filling in for Cobain, most notably at the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
00:41:36in 2014.
00:41:37Nirvana's cultural impact and influence far outstripped their brief time together.
00:41:42Besides turning alternative rock into the mainstream, they paved the way for countless
00:41:46artists to bare their souls and exercise demons through cathartic raw music.
00:41:52Cobain became an icon of the 1990s whose life was cut tragically short.
00:41:57His loss brought a sudden end to Nirvana, but their legacy remains immense and undeniable.
00:42:03The Doors
00:42:04Sweet substitute.
00:42:05Sweet substitute.
00:42:06How's that for a shit-eating grin?
00:42:12The Doors are one of the most mythologized bands in rock history, thanks in large part
00:42:16to the mystique surrounding their magnetic frontman Jim Morrison.
00:42:20Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, the quartet fused rock, blues, jazz, and psychedelia into
00:42:26an intoxicating brew on classic songs like Light My Fire, Break On Through, To The Other
00:42:32Side.
00:42:33Oh, I Love You, and Riders On The Storm.
00:42:37Morrison's deep baritone voice, poetic lyrics, and shamanistic stage presence, along with
00:42:41the band's atmospheric sound, made them darlings of the late 60s counterculture.
00:42:47But Morrison's rebellious spirit and wild offstage antics made him a magnet for controversy
00:42:52and trouble with the law.
00:42:54While appealing multiple indecent exposure and profanity charges from a notorious 1969
00:43:00Miami concert, Morrison decamped to Paris in early 1971 for a sabbatical with his girlfriend
00:43:07Pamela Corson.
00:43:08Then, on July 3, 1971, the shocking news came that Morrison had been found dead in the bathtub
00:43:16of his Paris apartment, apparently of heart failure at the age of 27.
00:43:21The circumstances surrounding his passing remain shrouded in mystery and conjecture
00:43:25to this day, adding to the legend.
00:43:28Devastated by the loss of their lead singer and lyricist, the three surviving Doors initially
00:43:33attempted to soldier on.
00:43:35Keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger assumed vocal duties on the subsequent
00:43:41albums Other Voices and Full Circle, but the magic was gone.
00:43:46Drummer John Densmore proposed they search for a new frontman, but Manzarek declined.
00:43:51So in 1973, the Doors quietly disbanded, closing the book on the influential band.
00:43:57The band's legacy and Morrison's legend only grew after his death, spurred on by the use
00:44:03of their songs in major films, the best-selling Morrison biography No One Here Gets Out Alive,
00:44:09and the Val Kilmer-starring biopic The Doors.
00:44:12Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore occasionally reunited over the years for special live performances
00:44:19with guest vocalists filling Morrison's big shoes.
00:44:22But the Doors story essentially ended when Morrison's life did on that fateful night
00:44:26in Paris.
00:44:27Morrison's self-destructive poet-rock god archetype set the mold for countless imitators
00:44:32to follow.
00:44:33While his life was cut short, his impact and influence endures through the music he made
00:44:38in his brief but bright flame of a career.
00:44:41Soundgarden...
00:44:42The band that we are is the only band we can be with the members that we have, and what
00:44:47we create is something that isn't necessarily going to be exactly like anything else.
00:44:52I think any band can do that if the people rely on themselves for inspiration and rely
00:44:59on each other as influence.
00:45:00Soundgarden were key members of the Seattle grunge scene that took the music world by
00:45:04storm in the early 90s.
00:45:06Along with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, they fused heavy metal and punk-influenced
00:45:12alternative rock into a powerful new sound.
00:45:16Fronted by Chris Cornell's incredible vocal range, they scored hits like Black Hole Sun,
00:45:21Spoonman, and Outshined, finding critical and commercial success with albums like Bad
00:45:27Motor Finger and Super Unknown.
00:45:29The band split in 1997 amid internal tensions, with Cornell pursuing solo work and the supergroup
00:45:36Audioslave, but 2010 saw a well-received Soundgarden reunion and the album King Animal.
00:45:43They hit the road and began work on new material, fully back in action.
00:45:47Then tragedy struck in May 2017.
00:45:51Hours after a Detroit show, Cornell was found dead in his hotel room, having taken his own
00:45:57life.
00:45:58Toxicology reports showed prescription drugs in his system.
00:46:01The devastating loss of their leader at age 52 left the band reeling.
00:46:06As guitarist Kim Thayil explained to reporters at the time, Soundgarden could not continue
00:46:11without Cornell's crucial voice and presence.
00:46:14The singular sound he helped create was impossible to replicate.
00:46:18Thayil said the band concluded the best way to honor Cornell was to maintain their legacy,
00:46:24not attempt to replace him.
00:46:26While not ruling out possible one-off tribute performances, Soundgarden essentially ended
00:46:31as an active band with Cornell's death.
00:46:33His irreplaceable talents were far too integral to their identity.
00:46:37The music world lost a powerful, unique voice and performer.
00:46:43I grew up in Bellevue.
00:46:44I was a Bellevue brat.
00:46:45Had all the nice luxuries and toys that a kid ever needed.
00:46:51Changed my hair and my clothes, turned into a rock guy.
00:46:55One of the pioneers of the Seattle grunge scene that exploded in the early 90s, Alice
00:47:00in Chains released a string of hugely successful and influential albums like Facelift, Dirt,
00:47:06and Alice in Chains.
00:47:08Their dark, sludgy, yet melodic sound, powered by the vocals of lead singer Lane Staley and
00:47:13guitarist-vocalist Jerry Cantrell, earned them comparisons to metal acts like Metallica,
00:47:19while still appealing to alternative rock fans.
00:47:22But as their star rose, Staley sank deeper into heroin addiction, causing tension within
00:47:28the band.
00:47:29While never officially breaking up, Alice in Chains largely went on hiatus after 1996
00:47:35as Staley became more reclusive amidst his drug issues.
00:47:38His final performance with the band was a 1996 reunion show recorded for MTV Unplugged.
00:47:45Sadly, after years of battling addiction, Staley was found dead of an overdose in his
00:47:50Seattle apartment in April 2002.
00:47:53The 34-year-old singer's passing devastated his bandmates, family, friends, and fans.
00:47:59Alice in Chains had lost their iconic lead singer and lyricist.
00:48:03The band essentially broke up for a few years after Staley's death as the surviving members
00:48:08mourned and pursued other projects.
00:48:11In 2005, they regrouped for a Tsunami Benefit concert with guest singers like Maynard James
00:48:17Keenan and Ann Wilson filling in for Staley.
00:48:20The experience proved cathartic and inspired them to explore carrying on.
00:48:25Eventually, the band connected with William Duvall, who had been a member of Cantrell's
00:48:29solo band.
00:48:30Duvall's versatile vocals were a natural fit.
00:48:34In a sensitive situation, he managed to evoke Staley's spirit while still making the songs
00:48:39his own.
00:48:40With Duvall in place, Alice in Chains made a full return, releasing new albums and touring
00:48:45regularly.
00:48:46The band made it clear that Duvall was not a replacement for Staley and that no one could
00:48:51fill those shoes.
00:48:52Instead, he was a new chapter for Alice in Chains that allowed Cantrell, drummer Sean
00:48:57Kinney and bassist Mike Inez to continue making music together.
00:49:02They view their work with Duvall as a way to honor Staley and keep his memory alive.
00:49:07By soldiering on after tragedy, Alice in Chains have enjoyed a second wind as a band that
00:49:13many acts who lost key members did not.
00:49:16Cantrell stepped up as the primary songwriter and lead vocalist in the wake of Staley's
00:49:21passing.
00:49:22While they'll never really be the same band without him, Alice in Chains' story now has
00:49:27a poignant yet productive coda.
00:49:29Van Halen
00:49:43Van Halen, led by guitar icon Eddie Van Halen, are true hard rock titans.
00:49:49By combining Eddie's pyrotechnic fretwork with David Lee Roth's flamboyant showmanship,
00:49:54they brought heavy metal into the pop mainstream in the late 1970s and 80s.
00:49:58Blockbuster albums like their self-titled 1978 debut, 1984, and 5150 spawned enduring
00:50:07hits like Runnin' with the Devil, Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher, and Why Can't This Be Love.
00:50:13The band weathered lead singer changes over the decades, with Sammy Hager replacing Roth
00:50:18in 1985 for a successful era before departing himself in the mid-1990s.
00:50:24An infamous brief reunion with Roth in 1996 produced several new songs, but old tensions
00:50:31quickly resurfaced.
00:50:32The volatile Roth came and went multiple times as the band tried out other singers, including
00:50:37a one-album stint by Gary Cherone of Xtreme.
00:50:40In 2006, Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen replaced original bassist Michael Anthony, joining
00:50:47his uncle Alex Van Halen on drums.
00:50:50This lineup, with Roth back on board, would prove to be Van Halen's last.
00:50:54Eddie had long struggled with alcoholism and other health issues.
00:50:58In 2000, he was diagnosed with oral cancer and had part of his tongue removed.
00:51:04Further health scares and substance abuse battles plagued him over the next two decades
00:51:08of periodic activity and inactivity with Van Halen.
00:51:12Then, after a long battle that had recently spread to his brain, Eddie succumbed to cancer
00:51:17on October 6, 2020, at age 65.
00:51:21The loss of one of Rock's most innovative and influential guitarists reverberated across
00:51:26the music community.
00:51:27Following his passing, countless artists paid tribute and shared stories of his massive
00:51:32impact.
00:51:33Wolfgang confirmed the band died with his father, writing on social media that,
00:51:37I can't believe I'm having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen,
00:51:42has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning.
00:51:46He was the best father I could ever ask for.
00:51:49Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift.
00:51:53While the Van Halen brothers were the only constants throughout the band's 40-plus year
00:51:57career, Eddie was undoubtedly its driving creative force.
00:52:02With his singular guitar playing, songwriting, and larger-than-life presence gone, it's
00:52:07impossible to imagine Van Halen continuing in any form.
00:52:11The band's story will forever be synonymous with Eddie's.
00:52:14Pantera
00:52:27Pantera, hailing from the Texas metal underground, became one of the most influential and successful
00:52:33heavy metal bands of the 1990s.
00:52:35Their distinctive sound was defined by the powerful rhythm section of drummer Vinnie
00:52:39Paul and his brother, bassist Rex Brown, alongside the blistering guitar work of dimebag Daryl
00:52:45Abbott and the intense vocals of Phil Anselmo.
00:52:48With this lineup, Pantera pushed the boundaries of heavy metal, bringing a new level of intensity
00:52:54and technicality to the genre.
00:52:56Albums like Cowboys from Hell, 1990, Vulgar Display of Power, 1992, and Far Beyond Driven,
00:53:041994.
00:53:05Not only solidified Pantera's place in metal history, but also helped define the groove
00:53:10metal subgenre.
00:53:11Hit songs like Walk, Cemetery Gates, and I'm Broken remain metal classics and showcase
00:53:17the band's ability to combine raw aggression with memorable hooks.
00:53:21Despite their success, tensions within the band began to mount, largely due to Anselmo's
00:53:27ongoing substance abuse issues and involvement in side projects.
00:53:31These tensions came to a head in 2001, resulting in Pantera going on an indefinite hiatus.
00:53:37Tragedy struck on December 8, 2004, when dimebag Daryl was brutally murdered on stage during
00:53:44a performance with his new band, Damage Plan, at a club in Columbus, Ohio.
00:53:49A deranged fan named Nathan Gale, a former Marine, stormed the stage and shot Daryl multiple
00:53:56times, killing him along with a fan, a club employee, and a security guard before being
00:54:01shot dead by a police officer.
00:54:04Dimebag Daryl was only 38 years old at the time of his death.
00:54:07The metal community was left reeling by the senseless killing of one of its most beloved
00:54:12and talented guitarists.
00:54:14Known for his incredible skills, as well as his fun-loving and generous personality, dimebag
00:54:19Daryl was a universally respected figure among fans and fellow musicians alike.
00:54:24Vinnie Paul, who had an incredibly close bond with his brother, was understandably
00:54:29hit hard by the tragedy.
00:54:30He maintained that Pantera could not and would not continue without dimebag, stating,
00:54:36"...it's not right for us to go on without Dime.
00:54:38I don't want to cheapen or tarnish the legacy of his greatness."
00:54:41And Selmo and Brown shared this sentiment, acknowledging that the Abbott brothers were
00:54:46integral to Pantera's sound and identity.
00:54:49In the years following Dimebag's death, Anselmo and Brown eventually reconciled and
00:54:55began performing Pantera songs live with guest guitarists like Zach Wild.
00:55:00The absence of the Abbott brothers was keenly felt, and fans naturally hoped for some form
00:55:05of a Pantera reunion.
00:55:07Surprisingly, in 2022, Anselmo and Brown announced a Pantera tribute tour with Zach
00:55:13Wild and Anthrax drummer Charlie Bonante filling in for Dimebag Daryl and Vinnie Paul,
00:55:19respectively.
00:55:20While not an official reunion of the original lineup, the tour provided an opportunity for
00:55:25the surviving members to celebrate Pantera's music and legacy.
00:55:29Joy Division
00:55:30That was Ian's first suicide note, and the strangest thing in the world, or the two strangest
00:55:38things in the world that I think are the fact that Debbie let us see the first, but wouldn't
00:55:44let you see the second.
00:55:45Joy Division emerged from the post-punk scene of late-1970s Manchester, England, with a
00:55:51dark atmospheric sound that would prove hugely influential on alternative and indie rock
00:55:57in the decades to come.
00:55:59Formed in 1976 by singer Ian Curtis, guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, and drummer
00:56:06Stephen Morris, the band released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 to critical
00:56:13acclaim.
00:56:14Songs like She's Lost Control and Day of the Lords grappled with themes of alienation and
00:56:18despair, powered by Curtis' haunting baritone and anguished lyrics.
00:56:37But even as Joy Division's star began to rise, Curtis was struggling with personal
00:56:43demons.
00:56:45He suffered from epilepsy and depression, and the rigors of touring exacerbated his
00:56:49condition.
00:56:50In May 1980, on the eve of the band's first North American tour, Curtis died by suicide
00:56:56at age 23.
00:56:57The news sent shockwaves through the music world and left the remaining members reeling.
00:57:02Sumner, Hook, and Morris had already decided that if any member left, they would carry
00:57:07on under a different name.
00:57:09In the wake of Curtis' death, they regrouped as New Order, pioneering a groundbreaking
00:57:15fusion of post-punk and electronic dance music.
00:57:18But Curtis' death forever altered the course of Joy Division's story, leaving fans once
00:57:23again to wonder what might have been had he lived.
00:57:27Stone Temple Pilot
00:57:28Well, if I was in a zombie apocalypse, I wouldn't be playing music because I would attract zombies.
00:57:34And I'd have to use my katana sword.
00:57:39But if I was on a desert island and it was one of my albums that I had to choose from,
00:57:46I would choose time and music.
00:57:49Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most successful rock bands to emerge from the 90s alternative
00:57:54scene.
00:57:55With the charismatic frontman Scott Weiland's dynamic vocals and the DeLeo Brothers' muscular
00:58:00riffs, they scored hits like Plush, Interstate Love Song, Big Empty, Vaseline, and Sour Girl
00:58:07while selling over 40 million records worldwide.
00:58:10But Weiland's longtime battle with addiction put the band through the wringer.
00:58:15His drug use led to arrests, canceled tours, and extended hiatuses when he would attempt
00:58:20to get clean.
00:58:21STP first split in 2003.
00:58:24When Weiland left to join Velvet Revolver with several former members of Guns N' Roses,
00:58:29they reunited in 2008, only to break up again in 2013, finally firing Weiland and replacing
00:58:36him with Linkin Park's Chester Bennington.
00:58:38The Bennington era produced a well-received EP but was short-lived as he amicably departed
00:58:44in 2015 to focus on Linkin Park.
00:58:47Later that year, in December 2015, Weiland was found dead on his tour bus from an accidental
00:58:54drug overdose while on the road with his band, The Wildabouts.
00:58:57He was 48.
00:58:58STP took time to process the loss.
00:59:01While Weiland hadn't been in the band for several years, his distinctive voice was crucial
00:59:06to their biggest hits.
00:59:07The remaining members auditioned new singers to fill the role, wanting someone who could
00:59:11bring fresh energy while still honoring Weiland's legacy.
00:59:15In 2017, STP announced that former X Factor contestant Jeff Gutt had joined as their new
00:59:21lead vocalist.
00:59:22Jeff Gutt and the band clicked during his audition, where he impressed the DeLeos and
00:59:26drummer Eric Kretz with his take on Plush.
00:59:29Gutt has since recorded two albums with STP, 2018's Self-Titled Effort and 2020's Perdita.
00:59:36By moving forward with a new singer rather than folding the band altogether after Weiland's
00:59:41death, STP have managed to enjoy a productive second chapter in their career.
00:59:46Gutt has put his own spin on the classic material while meshing with the band during the songwriting
00:59:51process, and they've made a point to pay tribute to Weiland in concert.
00:59:55The specter of Weiland will always loom large over STP, given the massive impact he had
01:00:01on their original run.
01:00:02His inimitable talents and demons were both integral to the heights of their success and
01:00:07the depths of their struggles.
01:00:09And sadly, his story ended far too soon.
01:00:11But by carrying on, STP can keep his memory alive while still making new music on their
01:00:17own terms.
01:00:18The cranberries.
01:00:19You've become a little bit of a sex symbol, Fergal.
01:00:22Fergal, Fergal is actually.
01:00:25No, Dolores, you have really.
01:00:28Fergal already was one, but you've become one now, and I mean, you're kind of a star.
01:00:32I've always been one, an introvert sex symbol.
01:00:36The Cranberries were one of the most prominent rock bands to emerge from Ireland in the 1990s.
01:00:41Driven by singer Dolores O'Riordan's powerful and distinctive voice, the group found massive
01:00:47international success with hits like Linger, Dreams and Zombie.
01:00:51O'Riordan's keening vocals and vulnerable yet raw lyrics made her a compelling frontwoman.
01:00:57She was the band's primary songwriter, penning introspective and politically charged songs
01:01:02that touched on everything from romance to the troubles in Northern Ireland.
01:01:06The combination of O'Riordan's voice and presence with guitarist Noel Hogan's shimmering textures
01:01:12and catchy riffs proved potent.
01:01:14The Cranberries' rise was meteoric.
01:01:16Their 1993 debut album, Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
01:01:21And 1994 follow-up, No Need to Argue, sold millions of copies worldwide, making them
01:01:27global stars.
01:01:29O'Riordan's influencing of her Irish heritage and Catholic upbringing into an alternative
01:01:33rock sound gave them a unique style.
01:01:36But the whirlwind of success took a toll.
01:01:38Burnt out from constant touring and pressures, the band went on hiatus in 2003.
01:01:44O'Riordan embarked on a solo career to mixed results.
01:01:47The Cranberries eventually reunited in 2009, steadily touring and releasing new music for
01:01:52the next several years.
01:01:54Rock.
01:01:55Well she was still recording music to this day and was recording this week in London
01:01:58when she died in what police are calling an unexplained death.
01:02:02Then tragedy struck in January 2018.
01:02:05O'Riordan was found unresponsive in the bathtub of her London hotel room and could not be
01:02:10revived.
01:02:11She was 46.
01:02:12An inquest later ruled her death an accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication, revealing
01:02:17her long battle with mental health and substance abuse.
01:02:21O'Riordan's sudden passing devastated her family, friends, fans, and bandmates.
01:02:26The remaining Cranberries were in the middle of recording a new album, In The End, when
01:02:31she died.
01:02:32After much consideration, they decided to complete the album using demos O'Riordan
01:02:37had already recorded for posthumous release as a tribute to her.
01:02:41However, Hogan and the rhythm section of brothers Mike and Noel Hogan realized that the Cranberries
01:02:46could not continue without O'Riordan's voice and presence.
01:02:50In a statement announcing the band's end, Hogan called O'Riordan the band's heart and
01:02:55soul and an extraordinary talent.
01:02:58Indeed, O'Riordan was irreplaceable.
01:03:01Her vocal style and lyrical point of view defined the Cranberries' sound and gave them
01:03:06a distinct identity among the many alt-rock acts that emerged in the 90s.
01:03:10It's impossible to imagine them existing without her contributions.
01:03:14The decision to disband was undoubtedly difficult, but showed great respect for O'Riordan's legacy
01:03:20and artistic impact.
01:03:21By not attempting to replace her, they ensured the Cranberries' story has a definitive final
01:03:27chapter.
01:03:28And In The End serves as a bittersweet farewell that closes the book on one of Ireland's most
01:03:33successful musical exports.
01:03:35The band's music endures, and O'Riordan's influence continues to surface in new generations
01:03:41of artists.
01:03:42But her tragic death at far too young an age robbed the music world of a singular vocal
01:03:47talent and lyricist.
01:03:48The Cranberries belonged to a specific time and place, in large part because of the powerful,
01:03:54unforgettable stamp she left on their body of work.
01:03:57The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
01:04:06I suppose she won't have to drink anymore in her life.
01:04:12The Jimi Hendrix Experience was a groundbreaking rock band that released just three studio
01:04:17albums during Hendrix's lifetime from 1967 to 1970.
01:04:22But those recordings had a seismic impact, establishing Hendrix as a counter-cultural
01:04:27icon and the most innovative guitarist of his generation.
01:04:32Formed in London in 1966, the power trio of Hendrix, drummer Mitch Mitchell, and bassist
01:04:38Noel Redding was the perfect vehicle for his unprecedented fusion of blues, rock, psychedelia,
01:04:45and R&B.
01:04:46Are You Experienced, Axis, Bold as Love, and Electric, Ladyland expanded the boundaries
01:04:52of rock and what the electric guitar could do.
01:04:55Hendrix delivered legendary performances at Monterey Pop and Woodstock, cementing his
01:04:59status as rock's reigning guitar god.
01:05:02However, the pressures of fame and touring took a toll.
01:05:06Hendrix split with Redding in 1969, eager to expand his musical vision beyond the limitations
01:05:12of the trio format.
01:05:13He spent much of 1970 recording with a rotating cast of musicians, including Mitchell and
01:05:19bassist Billy Cox.
01:05:21Tragically, Hendrix died in September 1970 at age 27 from complications related to a
01:05:27barbiturate overdose.
01:05:28The suddenness of his death, coming as he was working on a wealth of new material, was
01:05:33a crushing blow.
01:05:34It marked the definitive end of the experience, which could not have continued without the
01:05:38supernova talent at its center.
01:05:41In just a few short years, Hendrix pushed rock forward by light years.
01:05:45No mere guitar hero, he was an artist with an ever-expanding vision of music's future.
01:05:51The fact that so many guitarists still seem to be catching up to his late 60s.
01:05:56Innovations is a testament to his enduring impact.
01:05:59The depth of Hendrix's loss is incalculable, leaving fans to forever wonder what boundaries
01:06:05he would have broken had he lived.
01:06:07The Jimi Hendrix experience could only have existed with him at the helm.
01:06:12While his tragic death at 27 deprived the world of a generational visionary, the seismic
01:06:17ripples of his short but incredible legacy are still felt strongly to this day.
01:06:22Now it's time to hear from you.
01:06:24What other bands had their legacies cut short by the loss of a key member?
01:06:29Which of these stories resonated with you the most, and why?
01:06:32Let us know in the comments.
01:06:34And as always, thanks for watching!