10 Most Heartbreaking Tragedies In Rock Music
Rock's Most Painful Wounds.
For a style of music that is all about having fun, the world of rock music is not for the faint of heart. Despite looking like a 24 hour party on the surface, there are many dangerous back alleys of the genre that everyone tries their best to steer clear of. In the end though, you're always bound to run into some casualties.
Since the dawn of rock and roll, there have been tons of instances where rock got too real than many were probably hoping for. From the in-concert mishaps to the heart-wrenching tales behind the scenes, many bands have had to weather some of the most horrible tragedies that many wouldn't wish upon their worst enemy. While anything as harsh as this could force people out of the music business, the silver lining is when these acts find it in themselves to pick up the pieces and move past their devastating losses.
Even though we may move on with our lives, these are the awful moments in rock history that left a gaping wound in their respective bands. Whether it be because of death or just a tragic accident, these heinous activities are enough to shake most listeners to their core.
10. Jeff Buckley's Drowning
The rock and roll genre is certainly no stranger to the rockstar burnout. Ever since the first wildman set foot on a stage, there have also been plenty of rock stars who danced a little too close to the fire, from the wild times of Little Richard to the long slow burnout of Elvis Presley. Whereas most fans expect our rockstars to meet their end with drugs and alcohol, Jeff Buckley's passing was a tremendous loss that should never have happened.
Up until the late '90s, Buckley seemed like a star in the making about to explode, with his debut Grace gifting us songs like Lilac Wine and the definitive version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. While working on his follow-up, Buckley went out one night with a group of friends and decided to take a swim in the Wolf River Harbour, all while singing Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin as he floated downstream.
Once his friends went to meet him on the other side, Buckley was nowhere to be found, only to surface a few days later after having drowned in the river. With no singer to speak of, Buckley's last record was eventually released posthumously as Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk. Though he may not have been with us for long, Jeff Buckley is one case of the musical eccentric that, despite not leaving much, has crafted one of the most spotless legacies in rock history.