The Death of Rock: The Chronology

2020 - Present

Artists are listed alphabetically within year of demise.

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Key

Some entries have special notations prior to their names. They represent induction into one of the following Halls of Fame:
* denotes induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
# indicates induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
^ symbolizes induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.

2020

Erick Morillo
acute ketamine toxicity. He was 49. Morillo was a DJ and producer. He garnered international attention with the 1993 hit, "I Like to Move It", which he produced under the name Reel 2 Real.

Adam Schlesinger
coronavirus; age 52. Schlesinger was a singer/songwriter ("That Thing You Do!" from the film of the same name) and co-founder of Fountains of Wayne ("Stacy's Mom"). Based on his songwriting skills, he earned three Emmys and was nominated for a Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

2021

Joey Jordison
died in his sleep from transverse myelitis. He was 46. Jordison was a founder and former drummer for the metal outfit, Slipknot. The band only appeared publicly wearing grotesque masks and jumpsuits. Slipknot was nominated for seven Grammy Awards and a Video Music Award; the group took home a Grammy in 2006 for Best Metal Performance ("Before I Forget"). (Fellow Slipknot member, Paul Gray, died of a drug overdose in 2010.) "Wait and Bleed," "Psychosocial," "Duality"

Jeff LaBar
found dead in his apartment of undisclosed causes. LaBar was the guitarist for '80s hair metal band, Cinderella. He was 58. "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)," "Nobody's Fool"

Johnny Solinger
liver cancer. He was 55. Solinger was the lead singer for hair metal band, Skid Row, replacing original lead, Sebastian Bach, in 1999. Skid Row; "I Remember You," "18 and Life," "Monkey Business"

SOPHIE
(Sophie Xeon), fell three stories from a roof while trying to photograph the moon; she was 34. A trans woman, SOPHIE was a trans rights activist. She worked with Madonna to co-produce the single "Bitch, I'm Madonna" and collaborated with Charli XCX on the EP Vroom Vroom. SOPHIE's debut album Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides was awarded a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Her singles include "Bipp" and "Lemonade".

2022

Roderick "Pooh" Clark
Clark was paralyzed from the chest down after a vehicle rear-ended the group's car on I-95 in 1993. Clark died in 2022 of complications from an infection and pneumonia; he was 49. (Fellow group member, Tony Thompson, passed away at the age of 31. See 2007.) "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)," "I Can't Wait Another Minute"

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode: Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher.

*Andy "Fletch" Fletcher
"natural causes"; he was 60. Fletcher, keyboardist for synth-pop icons, Depeche Mode, co-founded the band in 1980 and remained with the group until his death in 2022. Depeche Mode was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. "People Are People," "Policy of Truth," "World in My Eyes," "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence"

Taylor Hawkins

Taylor Hawkins

*Taylor Hawkins
(Oliver Taylor Hawkins), was the drummer for Seattle-based Foo Fighters, having previously been the touring drummer for Alanis Morissette and Sass Jordan. Foo Fighters were touring South America when Hawkins was found dead in his hotel room in Bogota, Colombia on 25 March 2022. He died of multiple drug toxicity. At the time of his death, opioids, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and THC were found in his system. Hawkins was 50. Foo Fighters have won 15 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album four times. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. Read about Hawkins's involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. "This is a Call," "Big Me," "Everlong," "Learn to Fly," "Monkey Wrench"

Mark Lanegan
cause of death undisclosed; he was 57. Lanegan was the lead singer of the Seattle Grunge scene group, Screaming Trees, who gained notoriety when their song, "Nearly Lost You", appeared on the Singles movie soundtrack. Lanegan was also a member of Queens of the Stone Age and The Gutter Twins. (Screaming Trees bassist, Van Connor, would die of pneumonia in 2023 at the age of 55. Read about their involvement with the Shadows of Seattle.)

Tom Parker
complications from glioblastoma (brain tumor). He was 33. Parker was a member of The Wanted, a British-Irish boy band. "All Time Low," "Heart Vacancy," "Lightning"

Paul Ryder
reportedly ischaemic heart disease and diabetes (2022); he was 58. Ryder was the bassist for the British alternative group, the Happy Mondays. Their 1990 album, Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches, was certified platinum and featured the hit, "Step On".

Frederick Waite, Jr.
undisclosed medical causes (2022); he was 55. Frederick was receiving treatment for schizophrenia at a mental health facility in England, after being sectioned under Britain's mental health act. He died suddenly, found in his bed with his hands on his chest. Frederick was a member of the '80s one-hit wonders, Musical Youth. (Frederick's brother and fellow bandmate, Patrick Waite, passed away at the age of 23. See 1993.) "Pass the Dutchie"

2023

Paul Cattermole
found dead in his home of "natural causes". He was 46. Cattermole was a member of the pop group, S Club 7. "Never Had A Dream Come True," "Bring It All Back," "Don't Stop Movin'"

Van Connor
bassist for grunge band, Screaming Trees. In 2021, after emergency stomach surgery, Connor fell into a coma. He then contracted COVID-19, exacerbating his health issues. In 2023, he died of pneumonia. He was 55. (Lead singer of Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan, passed away in 2022 at the age of 57. The cause of death was not disclosed. Read about their involvement with the Shadows of Seattle.) Screaming Trees reached their peak of popularity when their single, "Nearly Lost You", appeared on the Singles movie soundtrack.

Brian Gillis
cause of death not disclosed; he was 47. Gillis was a founding member of '90s boy band, LFO (short for Lyte Funkie Ones). Two other members of the group, Rich Cronin (see 2010) and Devin Lima (see 2018) also died at a young age. "Summer Girls," "Girl On TV"

Jeremiah Green
cancer; he was 45. Green was a founding member and the drummer for Modest Mouse, famous for their 2004 hit, "Float On".

Steve Harwell
liver failure brought on by alcoholism; he was 56. Harwell was the lead singer and a founding member of Smash Mouth, who had hits in the late 1990s, with "Can't Get Enough of You Baby", "Walkin' on the Sun" and "All Star".

Steve Mackey
died after an undisclosed illness; he was 56. Mackey was the bassist for the British group, Pulp. He joined in 1989, appearing on hits such as "Common People," "Disco 2000," and "Lipgloss".

Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O'Connor
"natural causes"; no specifics given. She was 56. O'Connor shot to fame with her single, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince, see 2016) and courted controversy with her crusades against numerous issues including racism, child abuse, and organized religion. (In 1992, she infamously tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live stating, "Fight the real enemy.") It is reported that O'Connor was despondent after the suicide of her 17-year-old son, Shane, in January of 2022. She struggled with depression and was hospitalized. O'Connor was nominated for numerous awards and won several, including a Grammy Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and a Billboard Music Award.

Andy Rourke
pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. Rourke was the bassist for The Smiths and he played with lead singer, Morrissey, on his solo projects. Rourke formed the group, Freebass, in 2005. The Smiths: "How Soon Is Now?", "What Difference Does It Make?", "Sheila Take a Bow"

Johnny "Blackie Onassis" Rowan
cause of death not disclosed; he was 57. Rowan was the drummer for '90s alternative group, Urge Overkill. The band's biggest hit was a cover of Neil Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon", which was featured in the film, Pulp Fiction. Other singles include "Sister Havana" and "Positive Bleeding".

Teresa Taylor
lung disease; she was 60. Taylor (also known as Teresa Nervosa) was the drummer for '90s alternative band, Butthole Surfers. The group achieved some commercial success with their hit, "Pepper."

Vivian Trimble
cancer; she was 59. Trimble was the keyboardist and backup vocalist for Luscious Jackson. The group, which enjoyed success during the 1990s, performed at Lollapalooza and Lilith Fair. After departing from Luscious Jackson, Trimble formed Dusty Trails. Luscious Jackson: "Naked Eye," "Hey, Cowboy," "Citysong"

2024

Charlie Colin
reportedly fell in the shower while house-sitting in Brussels. He was 57. Colin was a co-founder and the bassist for Train, who scored hits with "Meet Virginia" and "Drops of Jupiter". Colin had left the band prior to the group's next hit, "Hey Soul Sister".

Liam Payne
fall from a third-floor hotel window. He was 31. Payne was a member of popular boy band, One Direction. While staying in a hotel in Buenos Aires, a staff member called about a guest who was "overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol" and whom they feared was "at risk". Initial reports suggest Payne was having a substance-fueled episode. Alcohol, prescription drugs and other yet-to-be-identified substances were found in his hotel room, which was in a state of disarray. "What Makes You Beautiful," "Live While We're Young," "Best Song Ever"

Shifty Shellshock
(Seth Binzer), accidental overdose of prescription and street drugs. He was 49. Shellshock was the lead singer of Crazy Town, who scored a #1 hit with 2001's "Butterfly". He very publicly battled drug addiction, appearing on Celebrity Rehab 1 and 2 and Sober House 1 and 2. Three members of Crazy Town have died prematurely - Shellshock, Rust Epique (heart attack, see 2004) and DJ AM (drug overdose, see 2009).