Rock stars and drugs go together like…well…movie stars and
drugs. With wealth and celebrity status comes the temptation of illegal
drugs, and rock stars are especially notorious for their indulgences.
All too often, a talented musician’s addictions put a huge strain on
their relationships with loved ones. And while the lucky ones end up in
rehab, some rock legends O.D. at the peak of their careers.
Here are the seven most tragic rock overdoses of all time, and a speculation on where these rock stars would be today, had they lived.
7. Shannon Hoon
LIVED: 1967-1995, 28 Years Old
BAND: Blind Melon
How He Died
Shannon Hoon, lead singer of the 90’s band Blind Melon, died at the age of 28 from a drug overdose while on tour in 1995. Hoon, who had a history of drug use and was in rehab, joked on his 28th birthday that he escaped the Forever 27 Club, a group of musicians who tragically died at the age of 27, which includes the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain. Hoon expressed relief at passing this milestone only to die three weeks later.
Where Would He Be Today?
Considering that Blind Melon still tours (although they are presently in search of a permanent lead), Shannon Hoon would most likely still be with the band. One imagines that he would hit the stage tripping acid in a white dress, in the tradition of his Woodstock ’94 performance, while touring with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors. He would still be a great father to his daughter Nico Blue, and a compassionate man.
If Shannon Hoon had lived without cleaning up his act, however, he could have become a bad influence for his child. His interest in macabre topics, such as the Forever 27 Club, may have grown into a depressive focus that may have led him deeper into a spiral that could have ended with another OD.
6. Sid Vicious
LIVED: 1957-1979, 21 Years Old
BAND: Sex Pistols
How He Died
Bass player for the seminal punk band, Sex Pistols, John Simon Ritchie met his end after a heroin overdose at the young age of 21, shortly after the band broke up. He OD’d on pure heroin while awaiting trial for the fatal stabbing of Nancy Spungen, his longtime girlfriend, who was by many accounts, a controlling, violent, and destructive partner to Sid.
Where Would He Be Today?
He would probably be in jail if he had lived. He claimed his innocence in the alleged murder of Nancy Spungen, and reportedly, his claims ranged from, “I didn’t do it,” to “She fell on the knife,” to “Ok, I stabbed her, but I didn’t mean to murder her.” The latter is like Lee Harvey Oswald saying, “Sure I shot the president, but I didn’t mean to kill him.”
Even if he had been set free, it is doubtful he would still be a musician today, because according to almost everyone around him, he never really was.
Vicious was asked join the Sex Pistols because he was buddies with singer Johnny Rotten, and possessed the right “look” for the band—all this despite the fact he had never played bass in his life. Vicious was so bad that Pistols guitarist Steve Jones would secretly unplug Sid’s amp during performances.
Vicious died right at the height of his notoriety as poster-boy for the punk rock movement, exemplifying the sentiment made by Kurt Cobain that, ‘It’s better to burn out than fade away…because then nobody will know what a thoughtless and talentless hack you really are’ (paraphrased).
5. Michael Jackson
LIVED: 1958-2009, 50 Years Old
BAND: The Jackson Five, but Mostly Solo
How He Died
Evidence came to light after his death that Jackson was on a steady diet of prescription narcotics, which included propofol, lorazepam, and midazolam, which eventually led to his untimely demise.
Where Would He Be Today?
Not enough time has passed between Michael Jackson’s death and the present day to gain any real perspective, but one can assume he would continue his downward descent into creepiness, or have become a polite, old recluse. If he had lived, he could have made a comeback, producing more music and delight for the world.
The more likely scenario though, would be more creepy antics from the “King of Pop”. As Obi-Wan said of Darth Vader, “he has become more machine than man.” So, too, would Michael Jackson have become more plastic than man, until eventually the only glimpse one could get of him in his natural state would have to be far from open flames and windows.
4. Keith Moon
LIVED: 1946-1978, 32 Years Old
BAND: The Who
How He Died
Keith Moon, aka “Moon the Loon,” was well known for his onstage antics, as well as his off-stage debauchery. His propensity for consuming alcohol was legendary. Tragically, it was his decision to quit drinking that led to his downfall. He was given a prescription narcotic, clomethiazole, to ease his alcohol cravings, with instructions to take not more than three per day.
Moon, with characteristic lack of restraint, did not stop at three on an evening when his urge for a drink must have been particularly strong. The police determined there were 32 pills in his system, with the digestion of six sufficient to cause death; the other 26 of which were still un-dissolved when he died.
Where Would He Be Today?
Moon would still play with The Who at their special event shows and mini-tours, were he alive in 2010. In addition, what with Hollywood’s present mode of taking beloved childhood cartoons and turning them into big-budget live-action movies, Moon would star as Animal in a live-action version of The Muppets (a character that was reportedly based on Moon himself).
Upon seeing that movie (which would almost certainly suck), he would begin drinking again.
3. Janis Joplin
LIVED: 1943-1970, 27 Years Old
BAND: Big Brother, Kozmic Blues, and Full Tilt Boogie Band
How She Died
Janis Joplin died on October 4th, 1970 from a heroin overdose. Her body was discovered at her hotel after she failed to show up at the studio, where, ironically, she was scheduled to record the vocals for the song, “Buried Alive by the Blues.”
It is believed that Joplin had accidentally been given heroin which was much more potent than normal, as several of her dealer’s other customers also overdosed that week.
Where Would She Be Today?
Janis could have been an iconic performer, guest-starring on TV favorites like South Park and Saturday Night Live. If she had lived, Janis may have released more music, and reminded today’s youth of a time when kids fought for freedom with earnest desire for peace.
Being an iconic singer and voice of a generation, Joplin would almost certainly find a home as a resident performer in Las Vegas, where time stands still. Janis, Elton, and Bette would be able to be seen at the Palms dining on a vegan brunch while wearing matching muumuus. Aging tourists would weep with reverence, and so would the rest of us, albeit for different reasons.
2. Jim Morrison
LIVED: 1943-1971, 27 Years Old
BAND: The Doors
How He Died
Jim Morrison died on July 3rd, 1971 from a heroin overdose. It is widely assumed that he found his girlfriend Pamela Courson’s stash, snorted it believing it was cocaine, and subsequently OD’d.
Perhaps the most tragic part of the story was that Courson found him before he died, with blood running out of his nose, but he seemed to be okay, so she went to sleep. When she woke up, he was dead. She apparently ignored that unwritten law that states, “When you see someone with blood running down their face, you request immediate medical attention.”
Where Would He Be Today?
The Doors had broken up; Morrison was focusing on his spoken-word poetry just prior to his death. His American Prayer tome became a bestseller after his death. He may have written more poetry, and become an adjunct professor of musical history and poetry.
One can only imagine Jim Morrison as an aging scenester, hosting an open mic poetry slam at a Seattle’s Best Coffee in Tacoma, Washington, offering a free Café Americano to the most inspiring performance of the night. He may have reached middle age and become just a washed-out version of his former self. Or, Morrison could have become a convict, finally allowing the sorrow in his heart to lead him astray.
1. Jimi Hendrix
LIVED: 1942-1970, 27 Years Old
BAND: The Hendrix Experience, but Mostly Solo
How He Died
Hendrix choked on his own vomit after passing out from a mixture of alcohol and pills. His partner, Monika Dannemann, reportedly awoke the morning of September 18th, 1970, and found him unresponsive.
Dannemann claimed in her testimony that they returned to her lodgings the evening before, where Hendrix (unbeknownst to her) took nine of her prescribed vesparax sleeping pills. The normal medical dose was half a tablet, but Hendrix was unfamiliar with this very strong German brand. Others believe that Hendrix was murdered by his manager, Mike Jeffery, but these allegations have not been confirmed, nor seriously investigated.
Where Would He Be Today?
Being arguably the single greatest rock musician since the genre’s inception, it is almost certain that Hendrix would still have a career in music today. Whether he stayed clean and became a role model for struggling hipsters, or became dependent upon prescription drugs, Hendrix would have continued to be a living legend for musicians.
However, given the career paths of other great but aging rock musicians, his career would have become less and less relevant as time went on, from recording a pop duet with Elton John in the ‘80’s, to guest staring on a Toni Braxton album in the 90’s, to recording a crappy blues album with John Mayer in the early 2000’s, to finally being reduced to play the National Anthem on the guitar with his teeth before L.A. Clippers games.
CONCLUSION
Tragic overdoses cut short the lives of some of history’s best, enigmatic musicians—artists whose work inspired multiple generations, and will most likely continue to inspire future generations. Of course it is a tragedy that their lives were lost, but perhaps an even bigger tragedy is that we will never get to hear the work they would have accomplished had they lived. It serves as a lesson to all young kids hoping to be musicians, reminding them that nobody can release albums after they’re dead (except maybe Tupac).
Here are the seven most tragic rock overdoses of all time, and a speculation on where these rock stars would be today, had they lived.
7. Shannon Hoon
LIVED: 1967-1995, 28 Years Old
BAND: Blind Melon
How He Died
Shannon Hoon, lead singer of the 90’s band Blind Melon, died at the age of 28 from a drug overdose while on tour in 1995. Hoon, who had a history of drug use and was in rehab, joked on his 28th birthday that he escaped the Forever 27 Club, a group of musicians who tragically died at the age of 27, which includes the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain. Hoon expressed relief at passing this milestone only to die three weeks later.
Where Would He Be Today?
Considering that Blind Melon still tours (although they are presently in search of a permanent lead), Shannon Hoon would most likely still be with the band. One imagines that he would hit the stage tripping acid in a white dress, in the tradition of his Woodstock ’94 performance, while touring with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors. He would still be a great father to his daughter Nico Blue, and a compassionate man.
If Shannon Hoon had lived without cleaning up his act, however, he could have become a bad influence for his child. His interest in macabre topics, such as the Forever 27 Club, may have grown into a depressive focus that may have led him deeper into a spiral that could have ended with another OD.
6. Sid Vicious
LIVED: 1957-1979, 21 Years Old
BAND: Sex Pistols
How He Died
Bass player for the seminal punk band, Sex Pistols, John Simon Ritchie met his end after a heroin overdose at the young age of 21, shortly after the band broke up. He OD’d on pure heroin while awaiting trial for the fatal stabbing of Nancy Spungen, his longtime girlfriend, who was by many accounts, a controlling, violent, and destructive partner to Sid.
Where Would He Be Today?
He would probably be in jail if he had lived. He claimed his innocence in the alleged murder of Nancy Spungen, and reportedly, his claims ranged from, “I didn’t do it,” to “She fell on the knife,” to “Ok, I stabbed her, but I didn’t mean to murder her.” The latter is like Lee Harvey Oswald saying, “Sure I shot the president, but I didn’t mean to kill him.”
Even if he had been set free, it is doubtful he would still be a musician today, because according to almost everyone around him, he never really was.
Vicious was asked join the Sex Pistols because he was buddies with singer Johnny Rotten, and possessed the right “look” for the band—all this despite the fact he had never played bass in his life. Vicious was so bad that Pistols guitarist Steve Jones would secretly unplug Sid’s amp during performances.
Vicious died right at the height of his notoriety as poster-boy for the punk rock movement, exemplifying the sentiment made by Kurt Cobain that, ‘It’s better to burn out than fade away…because then nobody will know what a thoughtless and talentless hack you really are’ (paraphrased).
5. Michael Jackson
LIVED: 1958-2009, 50 Years Old
BAND: The Jackson Five, but Mostly Solo
How He Died
Evidence came to light after his death that Jackson was on a steady diet of prescription narcotics, which included propofol, lorazepam, and midazolam, which eventually led to his untimely demise.
Where Would He Be Today?
Not enough time has passed between Michael Jackson’s death and the present day to gain any real perspective, but one can assume he would continue his downward descent into creepiness, or have become a polite, old recluse. If he had lived, he could have made a comeback, producing more music and delight for the world.
The more likely scenario though, would be more creepy antics from the “King of Pop”. As Obi-Wan said of Darth Vader, “he has become more machine than man.” So, too, would Michael Jackson have become more plastic than man, until eventually the only glimpse one could get of him in his natural state would have to be far from open flames and windows.
4. Keith Moon
LIVED: 1946-1978, 32 Years Old
BAND: The Who
How He Died
Keith Moon, aka “Moon the Loon,” was well known for his onstage antics, as well as his off-stage debauchery. His propensity for consuming alcohol was legendary. Tragically, it was his decision to quit drinking that led to his downfall. He was given a prescription narcotic, clomethiazole, to ease his alcohol cravings, with instructions to take not more than three per day.
Moon, with characteristic lack of restraint, did not stop at three on an evening when his urge for a drink must have been particularly strong. The police determined there were 32 pills in his system, with the digestion of six sufficient to cause death; the other 26 of which were still un-dissolved when he died.
Where Would He Be Today?
Moon would still play with The Who at their special event shows and mini-tours, were he alive in 2010. In addition, what with Hollywood’s present mode of taking beloved childhood cartoons and turning them into big-budget live-action movies, Moon would star as Animal in a live-action version of The Muppets (a character that was reportedly based on Moon himself).
Upon seeing that movie (which would almost certainly suck), he would begin drinking again.
3. Janis Joplin
LIVED: 1943-1970, 27 Years Old
BAND: Big Brother, Kozmic Blues, and Full Tilt Boogie Band
How She Died
Janis Joplin died on October 4th, 1970 from a heroin overdose. Her body was discovered at her hotel after she failed to show up at the studio, where, ironically, she was scheduled to record the vocals for the song, “Buried Alive by the Blues.”
It is believed that Joplin had accidentally been given heroin which was much more potent than normal, as several of her dealer’s other customers also overdosed that week.
Where Would She Be Today?
Janis could have been an iconic performer, guest-starring on TV favorites like South Park and Saturday Night Live. If she had lived, Janis may have released more music, and reminded today’s youth of a time when kids fought for freedom with earnest desire for peace.
Being an iconic singer and voice of a generation, Joplin would almost certainly find a home as a resident performer in Las Vegas, where time stands still. Janis, Elton, and Bette would be able to be seen at the Palms dining on a vegan brunch while wearing matching muumuus. Aging tourists would weep with reverence, and so would the rest of us, albeit for different reasons.
2. Jim Morrison
LIVED: 1943-1971, 27 Years Old
BAND: The Doors
How He Died
Jim Morrison died on July 3rd, 1971 from a heroin overdose. It is widely assumed that he found his girlfriend Pamela Courson’s stash, snorted it believing it was cocaine, and subsequently OD’d.
Perhaps the most tragic part of the story was that Courson found him before he died, with blood running out of his nose, but he seemed to be okay, so she went to sleep. When she woke up, he was dead. She apparently ignored that unwritten law that states, “When you see someone with blood running down their face, you request immediate medical attention.”
Where Would He Be Today?
The Doors had broken up; Morrison was focusing on his spoken-word poetry just prior to his death. His American Prayer tome became a bestseller after his death. He may have written more poetry, and become an adjunct professor of musical history and poetry.
One can only imagine Jim Morrison as an aging scenester, hosting an open mic poetry slam at a Seattle’s Best Coffee in Tacoma, Washington, offering a free Café Americano to the most inspiring performance of the night. He may have reached middle age and become just a washed-out version of his former self. Or, Morrison could have become a convict, finally allowing the sorrow in his heart to lead him astray.
1. Jimi Hendrix
LIVED: 1942-1970, 27 Years Old
BAND: The Hendrix Experience, but Mostly Solo
How He Died
Hendrix choked on his own vomit after passing out from a mixture of alcohol and pills. His partner, Monika Dannemann, reportedly awoke the morning of September 18th, 1970, and found him unresponsive.
Dannemann claimed in her testimony that they returned to her lodgings the evening before, where Hendrix (unbeknownst to her) took nine of her prescribed vesparax sleeping pills. The normal medical dose was half a tablet, but Hendrix was unfamiliar with this very strong German brand. Others believe that Hendrix was murdered by his manager, Mike Jeffery, but these allegations have not been confirmed, nor seriously investigated.
Where Would He Be Today?
Being arguably the single greatest rock musician since the genre’s inception, it is almost certain that Hendrix would still have a career in music today. Whether he stayed clean and became a role model for struggling hipsters, or became dependent upon prescription drugs, Hendrix would have continued to be a living legend for musicians.
However, given the career paths of other great but aging rock musicians, his career would have become less and less relevant as time went on, from recording a pop duet with Elton John in the ‘80’s, to guest staring on a Toni Braxton album in the 90’s, to recording a crappy blues album with John Mayer in the early 2000’s, to finally being reduced to play the National Anthem on the guitar with his teeth before L.A. Clippers games.
CONCLUSION
Tragic overdoses cut short the lives of some of history’s best, enigmatic musicians—artists whose work inspired multiple generations, and will most likely continue to inspire future generations. Of course it is a tragedy that their lives were lost, but perhaps an even bigger tragedy is that we will never get to hear the work they would have accomplished had they lived. It serves as a lesson to all young kids hoping to be musicians, reminding them that nobody can release albums after they’re dead (except maybe Tupac).
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