10 Tragic Deaths That Rocked The Music Industry

10. Buddy Holly

At the end of the '50s, most of the rock and rollers were still finding their sea legs. Even though Chuck Berry and Little Richard were paving the way with an influence from blues and R&B, Buddy Holly was another true original, with wire-rimmed glasses singing about typical teenage angst like on Peggy Sue. Just when it looked like he was about to hit his stride though, one snowy night brought things to a halt.

After a fantastic performance with radio host the Big Bopper and Richie Valens, Holly took a gamble and decided to fly to the next gig, despite the snowstorm that was approaching. Though his backing band braved the stormy conditions in their van, Holly was not so lucky, with the plane crashing in a field before they could make it to the next gig.

Since both Valens and the Big Bopper were also on that plane, people have immortalized this as the Day The Music Died, with almost an entire generation of rock icons dying at the exact same time. Buddy Holly has certainly not been forgotten though, being one of the main inspirations for John Lennon and Paul McCartney as well as being remembered in the storyline of Don McLean's American Pie and namechecked in the song Buddy Holly by Weezer. Holly's time may have been short, but it sometimes comes down to what you do with the time you have here.