ROCK 'n' ROLL HEAVEN
 
ORIGINS | AUSSIE ROCK | HEAVEN
 
     

"If you believe in forever,
Then life is just a one-night stand.
If there's a rock and roll heaven,
Well you know they've got a hell of a band."

  • Buddy Holly (born 7 February 1936, died 3 February 1959 in a plane crash, aged 22)
  • Richie Valens (born 13 August 1941, died 3 February 1959 in a plane crash, aged 17)
  • Eddie Cochran (born 3 October 1936, died 17 April 1960 in a car crash, aged 23)
  • Johnny Horton (born 3 April 1925, died 5 November 1960 in a car crash, aged 35)
  • Sam Cooke (born 22 January 1933, died 11 December 1964 by accidental shooting, aged 31)
  • Otis Redding (born 9 September 1941, died 10 December 1967 in a plane crash, aged 26)
  • Frankie Lyman (born 1942, died 28 February 1968 from a heroin overdose, aged 25)
  • Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones) (born 28 February 1942, drowned 3 July 1969, aged 27)
  • Jimi Hendrix (born 27 November 1942, died 18 September 1970 by suffocation, aged 27)
  • Janis Joplin (born 18 January 1943, died 4 October 1970 of a heroin overdose, aged 27)
  • Jim Morrison (The Doors) (born 8 December 1943, died 3 July 1971 of heart failure, aged 27)
  • Gene Vincent (born 11 February 1935, died 12 October 1971 of heart failure, aged 36)
  • Clyde McPhatter (The Drifters) (born 1932 or 33, died 13 June 1972 of a heart attack, aged 39)
  • Bobby Darin ( born 14 May 1936, died 1973 during heart surgery, aged 37)
  • Cass Elliott (The Mamas & Papas) (born 1942, died 1974 of a heart attack, aged 32)
  • Florence Ballard (The Supremes) (born 39 June 1943, died  22 February 1976 from an overdose of medicinal drugs and alcohol, aged 32)
  • Elvis Presley (born 8 January 1935, died 16 August 1977 from an overdose of medicinal drugs, aged 42)
  • Keith Moon (The Who) (born 23 August 1946, died from a prescription drug overdose on 7 September 1978, aged 32)
  • Johnny O'Keefe (born 19 January 1935, died 6 October 1978 of a heart attack, aged 43)
  • Bob Marley (born 6 February 1945, died 11 May 1980 of cancer, aged 35)
  • John Lennon (The Beatles) (born 9 October 1940, murdered 8 December 1980 by shooting, aged 40)
  • Bill Haley (born 6 July 1927, died 9 February 1981 of a brain tumour, aged 53)
  • Marty Robbins (born 26 December 1925, died 8 December 1982 of heart disease, age 56)
  • Marvyn Gaye (born 2 April 1939, shot by his father 1 April 1984, aged 44)
  • Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys) (born 4 December 1944, died December 1983 by drowning, aged 38)
  • Ricky Nelson (born 8 May 1940, died 31 January 1985 in a plane crash, aged 44)
  • Brook Benton (born 1931, died from spinal meningitis in 1988, aged 57)
  • Roy Orbison (born 23 April 1936, died 6 December 1988 of a heart attack, aged 52)
  • Del Shannon (born 30 December 1934, shot himself on 8 February 1990, aged 55)
  • Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys) (born 21 December 1946, died 6 February 1998 of lung cancer, aged 51)
  • George Harrison (The Beatles) (born 25 February 1943, died 30 November 2001 of cancer, aged 58)
  • Waylon Jennings (Buddy Holly's Crickets) (born 16 June 1937, died 13 February 2002 from diabetes-related health problem, aged 64) 
  • Maurice Gibb (The Bee Gees) (born 22 December 1949, died 12 January 2003 after suffering a heart attack during surgery, aged 53)
  • Johnny Cash (born 26 February 1932, died 12 September 2003 from complications arising from diabetes, aged 71)
  • Ray Charles (born 23 September 1930, died 10 June 2004 from liver disease, aged 73)

This is not, by any means, a complete list.
It includes only major stars of the Menzies era who have died.
Sadly, stars of later years have kept up the "tradition" of dying too young.

 

The Menzies Era Rock Heaven
 

 

    

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