There was a great scene in the movie “The Commitments” where the young members of a soul band in Dublin discussed the untimely deaths of famous rock stars, at one point debating on who had actually died by choking on their own vomit.

Unfortunately there has been a great number of tragic figures in the music industry, not only because of how they died but because they were great talents snuffed out at such an early age.

There is of course the “27” club, or rather curse, so named on account of the coincidence that some of the most famous rock stars perished at exactly that age … Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Curt Cobain … apparently by drug overdose/suicide.

Rock Stars are also infamous for the number of tragic deaths having occurred as a result of choking on their own vomit, one of the most famous being John Bonham the drummer for Led Zeppelin. He, like many others, simply drank himself to death one night, purportedly with around 30 – 40 shots of vodka as he passed out on his back and vomited in his sleep, never waking up. And even though society has many tragic figures from all walks of life who meet similar fates, it is these Artists who we idolize and whose downfall we witness that captures our imagination and sorrow as they fall victim to the same dark recesses of the soul which ironically also led to their inspiration and success.

Although the most famous ones are legendary as symbolizing the excesses of Rock Stardom, to live fast and die young, there are also the lesser known musical icons whose passing is perhaps even more tragic … in some cases certainly more disturbing. A couple of musical artists I revered and respected will be truly missed by many who connected with their songs and the genuine way in which they sang from the soul … a place they dared go because they had to.

Elliot Smith, a singer-songwriter whose dark introspective songs won him critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination, released five solo albums that received widespread acclaim from rock critics but garnered only modest commercial success. “Miss Misery,” recorded for Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting,” was nominated for an Oscar in 1998.
He committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest in 2003 at the age of 34.

Jeff Buckley, considered by critics to be one of the most promising artists of his generation after the release of his 1994 debut album Grace, had a small but devout following. His strange but brilliant fusion of rock, jazz, and pop was highlighted by soaring vocals with range that appeared unequalled. He was meant for great things …

He drowned in the Wolf River, a tributary of the Mississipi River, in Memphis, Tennessee on May 29, 1997 at the age of 31. It is speculated that Buckley may have committed suicide because according to a witness he simply waded out into the river wearing heavy boots, submerged and never surfaced. It was confirmed that Jeff had not taken any illegal drugs before his swim and a drug overdose was ruled out as the cause of death. It was also reported that the night before his death Jeff admitted to several loved ones that he suffered from Bipolar disorder.

There are of course many more to be remembered, too many … some to be idolized by hoisting a drink with a celebratory yell up to the sky, and others with a more sombre tribute, a tearful farewell to a soul whose darkness was a double-edged sword …

* Originally posted by Jeff Burns on TheBurnsyBlog.com, March 21st, 2006