10 Classic Rock Artists That Died Too Soon
2. John Lennon - The Beatles
It's virtually impossible to overstate the impact that the Beatles' music has had on pop culture at large. From their fashion sense to their groundbreaking songs, the band signaled the shift in artistic direction that made the 60's a landmark period for music in general. Amid all of the band members, no musician was more eccentric than John Lennon.
Originally starting out as the rock and roll heart of the group, Lennon quickly started to embrace his artistry and began advocating for peace after meeting artist and eventual wife Yoko Ono. Though the Beatles' breakup had left some raw nerves, things seemed to be looking up at the tail end of the 70's.
After a few lost years of drug abuse, Lennon reinvented himself as a family man, raising his young son Sean in the heart of New York City. Along with his new domestic life, Lennon seemed to be on the cusp of a comeback, with his new album Double Fantasy rocketing up the charts. However, upon arriving back at his apartment, Lennon was gunned down by a psychotic fan and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Aside from his artistry, December 8th, 1980 marks the death of one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century.