Too Many Too Soon

Enough already. Enough of our favorite artists dying. Enough of paying tribute to music industry legends every week. It sucks and I’m over it. Since the first week of December 2015, the music business has lost Scott Weiland (12/3/15), Lemmy Kilmister (12/28/15), David Bowie (1/10/16), and now Glenn Frey (1/18/16). Although Natalie Cole (12/31/15) was not part of the rock and roll genre, I’m mentioning her passing here because she was great.

So are we done yet? Are we finished losing this much talent so quickly? I hope so. Here is a disheartening rap sheet from the last six weeks:

Scott Weiland:

• Died on December 3, 2015 of cardiac arrest at age 48.
• Bands included STP, Velvet Revolver, and The Wildabouts.
• STP won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1994 for “Plush.”
• Velvet Revolver won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for “Slither.”

Lemmy Kilmister:

• Passed away on December 28, 2015 at age 70 – four days after his 70th birthday.
• Bands included Motorhead, Hawkwind, and The Head Cat
• In 2004, Motorhead won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance for their cover of Metallica’s “Whiplash.”
• Motörhead is ranked number 26 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

David Bowie:

• Died of liver cancer on January 10, 2016 – two days after his 69^th birthday.
• Released his 28^th and final album, Blackstar, on his birthday (and two days before his death) via his ISO Records label.
• Throughout his career, which spanned five decades, Bowie’s impact on music was unparalleled as he was the first to change his image, sound, and approach over and over again. During his time in the music business, he sold an estimated 140 million records worldwide.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
• Bowie was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

Glenn Frey:

• According to The Eagles’ website, the cause of death was complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia. He died today at the age of 67.
• Founding member of The Eagles who sang lead vocals and played guitar, piano, and keyboards.
• Hits include “Take It Easy,” “Tequila Sunrise,” “Already Gone,” “Heartache Tonight,” and “Lyin’ Eyes,” among many others.
• Frey enjoyed a successful solo career that yielded hits such as “The One You Love,” “Smuggler’s Blues,” and “The Heat Is On.”
• As a member of The Eagles, Frey won six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards. In 1998, which was the first year they were nominated, The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits album is still number six on the list of best-selling albums of all time.

Here’s hoping that this is the last post I write, at least for a little while, about artists passing away who were responsible for shaping rock music.