Topic: Musicians who committed suicide (Read 35179 times)

TheMooseOfDeath · « **on:** 20 Aug 2009, 17:07 »

It's a very morbid subject, I know, but I just finished the book A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby (which is about suicide), and it got me thinking about a number of musicians who have killed themselves. This being a very music-savvy forum, I figured this would be one of the best places to ask for suggestions of musicians who have committed suicide and what their body of work was like (perhaps a little critical summary as well) so I could check them out.

So far these musicians whose music I've heard include:
Nick Drake
Elliott Smith
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Phil Ochs
Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
Doug Hopkins (Gin Blossoms)
Bradley E. Delp (Boston)

So...any suggestions?

Tehz · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 17:51 »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Popular_musicians_who_committed_suicide

hell yeah

KharBevNor · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 17:52 »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jazz_musicians_who_committed_suicide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Conductors_who_committed_suicide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Classical_musicians_who_committed_suicide

Tehz · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 17:53 »

and also Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin) from Mayhem

IronOxide · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 18:04 »

The absolutely stellar Vietnam-era singer-songwriter Phil Ochs committed suicide after a long bout with bipolar disorder and alcoholism.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 18:37 »

Phil Ochs is in the first post.

Somnium, Finntroll's old guitarist, may have killed himself, or he may have just been so drunk he fell off a bridge. The latter is the official story.

Jon Nodtveidt from Dissection shot himself at the climax of some sort of bizarre Satanic rite.

TheMooseOfDeath · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 19:07 »

I actually went through all the names on that wiki page (from the first reply) to get a good idea of whose music to look up, though it was tough getting a good idea of the quality of their body of work, considering I was just skimming through them. Two of the most interesting ones (to me) were Dede Fortin, who committed hara-kiri

and Yukiko Okada, who was a J-pop idol in the 80s, killed herself at age 18. Crazy stuff, man.

Phil Ochs is such an amazing musician. I don't agree with his politics, but everyone on the political spectrum could definitely appreciate his passion and sharp writing. He doesn't get nearly enough recognition.

JD · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 19:22 »

Richey Edwards from Maniac Street Preachers, went off and disappeared in 1993. Presumed dead since 2008

Does that count as suicide?

Inlander · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 20:13 »

Yes seeing as how the accepted wisdom is that he almost certainly killed himself.

EDIT: Oh man, I'd totally forgotten that J. J. Johnson shot himself 'cause he had cancer. Now I'm bummed.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 20:17 »

Anton Maiden

Hat · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 20:20 »

: ((((((( RIP Anton

Scarychips · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 23:21 »

Quote from: TheMooseOfDeath on 20 Aug 2009, 19:07

I actually went through all the names on that wiki page (from the first reply) to get a good idea of whose music to look up, though it was tough getting a good idea of the quality of their body of work, considering I was just skimming through them. Two of the most interesting ones (to me) were Dede Fortin, who committed kara-kiri and Yukiko Okada, who was a J-pop idol in the 80s and killed herself at age 18. Crazy stuff, man.

Phil Ochs is such an amazing musician. I don't agree with his politics, but everyone on the political spectrum could definitely appreciate his passion and sharp writing. He doesn't get nearly enough recognition.

Yes yes, André "Dédé" Fortin was part of the most influential party/ska band in Quebec.They tackled political and social issues by using metaphors that all Québécois could understand (see their song called "Passe Moé La Puck" where they use hockey as a way to explain that people living on the streets just needed someone to get them back on their feet). They were also pretty involved in the video clip medium as you could probably see in the earlier mentionned "Passe Moé La Puck" and most notably "Julie" . While their earlier albums were bright-sounding. Their last one before Dédé killed himself was pretty dark. It wasn't downright "suicidal", it tackled more personnal issues like drugs ("Tassez-vous de d'là") and depression ("Le répondeur"). It also didn't help that the 1995 referendum was lost by Québécois independantists.

Be My Head · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Aug 2009, 23:23 »

Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Aug 2009, 17:52

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jazz_musicians_who_committed_suicide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Conductors_who_committed_suicide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Classical_musicians_who_committed_suicide

Notice how there is considerably less Jazz and Classical musicians/conductors who have offed themselves in contrast with popular music artists.

I know correlation /=/ causation...but, just sayin'.

TheMooseOfDeath · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 00:27 »

Thanks for the background, Scarychips! Certainly sounds like music I'd check out (I have "Julie" playing on YouTube as I type this), though now I really wish I could understand French

But yeah...hara-kiri...........HARDCORE

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 00:31 »

Quote from: Tehz on 20 Aug 2009, 17:53

and also Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin) from Mayhem

Yeah, but let's face it ... Nomen Est Omen.

Scarier is that the people who found him took pictures and saved bits and pieces of his skull to turn into pendants.

Jed · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 00:35 »

I was actually surprised to find Petri Walli of Kingston Wall from that first wikipedia list. Kingston Wall made absolutelu fantastic acid-rock/progressive stuff.

It is also argued a lot that Petri was high on acid when he jumped from the Töölö church-roof, although that is not the official story.

Kingston Wall - We Cannot Move

variable_star · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 12:54 »

Quote from: E. Spaceman on 20 Aug 2009, 20:17

Anton Maiden

Man, it's been awhile, but I remember that guy! No idea he killed himself, though. Interesting.

Durin · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 15:21 »

God I remember when I was in 7th and 8th grade I was beyond convinced that Kurt Cobain was murdered.

I feel awful for derailing this but the topic brought Nick Drake to mind. I was recently reccomended to check him out and was curious as to where I should start.

Be My Head · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 15:42 »

I just remembered someone...

Steve MacDonald, one of the drummers for Gorguts, committed suicide. Shame really, because he was incredibly talented.

spoon_of_grimbo · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 17:32 »

jon lee, the drummer from feeder (not sure if they're big in the states, but they're a really good UK pop-rock band), hung himself in 2002.

you could argue jeff buckley's death was kinda a suicide. having read up on the guy, and the events in his life at the time of his death (and what he had to say about them), i'd venture he probably knew that swimming in wolf river would more than likely result in drowning when he went in...

Mr. Doctor · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 17:38 »

Quote from: BeoPuppy on 21 Aug 2009, 00:31

Quote from: Tehz on 20 Aug 2009, 17:53
and also Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin) from Mayhem

Yeah, but let's face it ... Nomen Est Omen.

Scarier is that the people who found him took pictures and saved bits and pieces of his skull to turn into pendants.

I really dislike Dead. I fail to see how he went so famous for just a live album and a couple of songs.
On the other hand, we have Jon Nödtveidt and that's indeed a dude from the metal spectrum that I will miss.

Touch Me Im Sick · « **Reply #21 on:** 21 Aug 2009, 21:13 »

Quote from: Durin on 21 Aug 2009, 15:21

God I remember when I was in 7th and 8th grade I was beyond convinced that Kurt Cobain was murdered.

I feel awful for derailing this but the topic brought Nick Drake to mind. I was recently reccomended to check him out and was curious as to where I should start.

Start off with Bryter Layter.

TheMooseOfDeath · « **Reply #22 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 16:30 »

Quote from: Touch Me Im Sick on 21 Aug 2009, 21:13

Quote from: Durin on 21 Aug 2009, 15:21
God I remember when I was in 7th and 8th grade I was beyond convinced that Kurt Cobain was murdered.

I feel awful for derailing this but the topic brought Nick Drake to mind. I was recently reccomended to check him out and was curious as to where I should start.

Start off with Bryter Layter.

He has a very small discography (just three full albums, to my understanding), so I think it would be feasible to just pick up all of this stuff if you have the chance.

Mr. Doctor · « **Reply #23 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 16:58 »

Quote from: Jeans on 22 Aug 2009, 16:36

because it's the best album.

Hehehe... Everytime I recommend albums of a certain band, I always recommend the second or the third best. Because if they listen to the best one first, the others will sound kinda weak for the listeners

Zingoleb · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 17:31 »

~~Scott Stapp~~

So close!

Ffffffffff

Touch Me Im Sick · « **Reply #25 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 18:39 »

Quote from: Jeans on 22 Aug 2009, 16:36

Quote from: Touch Me Im Sick on 21 Aug 2009, 21:13
Start off with Bryter Layter.

No. Five Leaves Left, goddamnit, because it's the best album.

I can up it (or any of his other albums) to MF if anyone wants me to?

Maybe it's his best (I say Pink Moon all the way), but I think Bryter Layter is his most accessible personally.

Johnny C · « **Reply #26 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 20:56 »

I think "musicians who SHOULD HAVE committed suicide" would be a much more interesting topic, wouldn't it?

sean · « **Reply #27 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 20:57 »

what about chad kroger?

Johnny C · « **Reply #28 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 21:16 »

See? Alright. There we go.

Let's keep this moving, people.

Touch Me Im Sick · « **Reply #29 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 21:34 »

Fred Durst

Johnny C · « **Reply #30 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 21:52 »

Doing okay, but we're looking at easy targets right now.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #31 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 22:01 »

Mick Jagger

And every member of Anal Pudding

Johnny C · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 22:13 »

Okay! Mick Jagger, presumably for peaking in the 70s ("Dancing In The Street" music video and role in Freejack opposite Emilio Estevez notwithstanding). Now we're getting somewhere.

JD · « **Reply #33 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 23:10 »

All of Attack Attack!

Scarychips · « **Reply #34 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 23:15 »

No you see, there's a difference between people who should commit suicide and poeple who shouldn't be born in the first place.

JD · « **Reply #35 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 23:16 »

pish posh, same thing

Scarychips · « **Reply #36 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 23:17 »

As long as they don't reproduce, we're fine, I guess.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #37 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 23:40 »

Also Gene Simmons. He should actually choke to death on his own tongue.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #38 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 06:47 »

Hey guys remember that time Bono immolated himself live on television in order to bring attention to the plight of the third world?

Sox · « **Reply #39 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 07:43 »

And then Bob Geldof grieved so hard his heart exploded? Yeah man, good times.
Remember when Dylan's bus crashed into the Stones' bus?

TheMooseOfDeath · « **Reply #40 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 10:11 »

Not even Mick Jagger can kill Mick Jagger. The same applies for Keith Richards.

But perhaps...they can only die by each other's hands?

I am almost certain that day would be the final event of RAGNAROK

Merrick · « **Reply #41 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 10:38 »

Quote from: spoon_of_grimbo on 21 Aug 2009, 17:32

jon lee, the drummer from feeder (not sure if they're big in the states, but they're a really good UK pop-rock band), hung himself in 2002.

Godammit, I forgot about him.

I really like Feeder.

Der Golem · « **Reply #42 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 12:10 »

I don't remember his name, but the guitarist from The Angelic Process injured his arm so that he could no longer play guitar, and committed suicide shortly after.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #43 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 19:53 »

Quote from: TheMooseOfDeath on 23 Aug 2009, 10:11

Not even Mick Jagger can kill Mick Jagger. The same applies for Keith Richards.

I like Keith Richards. Something about him utterly fascinates me. (Not his music, but the man himself)

TheMooseOfDeath · « **Reply #44 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 20:25 »

If Wayne's World 2 has taught me anything, it's that Keith Richards cannot be killed by conventional weapons

Bastardous Bassist · « **Reply #45 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 20:28 »

Back onto the actual subject, isn't it kind of rumored that Tchaikovsky committed suicide?

JD · « **Reply #46 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 22:26 »

Also man how did I forget Nikki Sixx

Hat · « **Reply #47 on:** 23 Aug 2009, 23:06 »

Quote from: Zombiedude on 23 Aug 2009, 22:26

Also man how did I forget Nikki Sixx

hahahah yeah I know more like Nikki SUXX am I correct?

No seriously though, get out, Motley Crue are great.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #48 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 01:50 »

Ohhh funny! You say that Mötley Crüe is good when they are not!

You funny guy! Ohhhhhh!!!

Hat · « **Reply #49 on:** 24 Aug 2009, 04:36 »

What is your problem and why do you have to have it in such a grating and unfunny manner?

Actually I know what your problem is, your problem is that you don't like Motley Crue, this is not a particularly uncommon problem! What I am asking you to do is maybe have this problem in a way that doesn't make you sound like an idiot.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Musicians who committed suicide (Read 35179 times)

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