The Death of Rock: The Alphabetical Archive

E and F

Musicians are listed individually. Search by the artist's last name. Artists commonly referred to by a stage or street name (such as "The Big Bopper," Freddie Mercury, and Jam Master Jay) are listed under those names. Musicians who performed under a single name (like Aaliyah, Nico, and Selena) will be found under those single names. There are a few instances where two or more members of the same band perished in a single incident; you will find those artists listed under the group's name. (Examples are Banda Fugaz, The Bar-Kays, Chase, Passion Fruit, and The Reba McEntire Band.) One notable exception to this rule is Lynyrd Skynyrd. Members of Skynyrd are listed individually; although three perished in the 1977 plane crash, others have since died in unrelated incidents. (The three who died in the crash are grouped as "Lynyrd Skynyrd" on the Causes of Death and Chronology pages.)

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Key

E

Jerry Edmonton

(Jerry McCrohan), automobile crash (1993); he was 47. Drummer Edmonton, with bassist Rushton Moreve, (see 1981) was a co-founder of Steppenwolf. "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born to Be Wild"

Bernard Edwards

pneumonia; 1996. He was 43. Edwards was a member of disco icons, Chic. He also produced pop acts, including Sister Sledge ("We Are Family"), Diana Ross ("Upside Down"), and Power Station ("Some Like It Hot"), which featured fellow Chic member, Tony Thompson (see 2003), John and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, and Robert Palmer (see 2003). With Chic: "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," "Le Freak," "Good Times".

Mike Edwards

(later known as Swami Deva Pramada). Edwards was killed on a highway in Devon, England, in 2010, when a cylindrical bale of hay rolled down a hillside and collided with his van. He was 62. (Edwards's age would typically exclude him from The Archive, but I chose to include him because of the bizarre manner of his death.) Edwards played cello for Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and appeared on the albums, ELO II, On the Third Day, The Night The Light Went On (In Long Beach) and Eldorado. ELO: "The Dying Swan," "Don't Bring Me Down," "Evil Woman," "Strange Magic"

Richey Edwards

Richey Edwards

(Richard James Edwards, also known as Richey James and Richey Manic), disappeared in 1995; declared dead in 2008. Edwards was the lyricist and guitarist for Manic Street Preachers. He went missing and his car was eventually found near Severn Bridge (United Kingdom), a known suicide spot. Several of the band's songs mention suicide and Edwards was taking Prozac at the time of his disappearance. He was never found. Edwards was 27. "A Design for Life," "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next," "The Masses Against the Classes"

Tommy Edwards

cerebral aneurysm in 1969. He was 47. Edwards had the #22 hit song of the decade (1950s), with "All In The Game." ("Many a tear have to fall, but it's all in the game...")

El Duce

(Eldon Hoke), "death by misadventure" at the age of 39. El Duce was the drummer with The Mentors, but his notoriety stems from his claim that Courtney Love offered him 50 thousand dollars to kill her husband, grunge icon, Kurt Coabin (see 1994). In 1996, El Duce told his story to a film-maker and a polygraph test supposedly determined that he was telling the truth. A week after the interview, he was found dead by a railway track. Supposedly there was a high volume of alcohol in his blood and the authorities dubbed his a death by misadventure, but his friends suspect foul play.

The Mamas & The Papas: Denny Doherty (d. 2007), Cass Elliot (d. 1974), John Phillips (d. 2001), and Michelle Phillips.

*"Mama" Cass Elliott

(Ellen Naomi Cohen), heart attack while staying at Harry Nilsson's (see 1994) flat in 1974. (Keith Moon would die in this same apartment, in 1978.) She was 32. Elliot was a member of The Mamas and The Papas, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. John Phillips would pass away from heart failure in 2001 (age 65) and Denny Doherty after a brief illness in 2007 (age 66). Read about Cass's connection to the Curse of Harry Nilsson. "California Dreamin'," "Monday Monday," "I Saw Her Again Last Night," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Creque Alley"

Sims Ellison

self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ellison was the bass-player and co-founder of the hard rock band, Pariah. He was 28 at the time of his death in 1995. The SIMS Foundation was founded by Pariah's former manager, Wayne Nagle, which helps local (Atlanta) musicians who have mental health issues. "Nobody Listens"

John Entwistle

*John Entwistle

heart attack (2002) brought on by cocaine use. He was 57. Virtuoso bassist for The Who, he died in his sleep, the day before the band's latest tour was to begin. The remaining members decided to proceed in tribute to the bassist. The Who (including drummer Keith Moon, see 1978) were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. "Baba O'Reilly," "Pinball Wizard," "Behind Blue Eyes"

Rust Epique

(Charles Lopez), massive heart attack in 2004. Epique was a member of Crazy Town when the group hit big with the 2001 single, "Butterfly." He left the band and later formed pre)Thing (that is not a typo). Epique was known for his hard-living, Rock & Roll lifestyle. He was 35 when he died. Three members of Crazy Town have died prematurely - Rust Epique, DJ AM (drug overdose, see 2009), and Shifty Shellshock (cause of death unknown, see 2024).

*Howie Epstein

(Norman Howard Epstein), heroin overdose in 2003 at the age of 47. Epstein was the bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The band (including Epstein) was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. (Tom Petty died from cardiac arrest due to an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2017. He was 66.) "Free Fallin'," "Learnin' to Fly," "I Won't Back Down," "Refugee"

Frank Esler-Smith

pneumonia (rumored to be AIDS-related); 1991. Esler-Smith was an arranger and keyboard player for the soft rock band Air Supply in the '70s and '80s. He was 42. "Lost in Love," "All Out of Love," "Every Woman in the World," "The One That You Love"

Donald "Ean" Evans

cancer, 2009. He was 48. Evans played bass with Cupid's Arrow, The Outlaws, and in 2001 he replaced Leon Wilkeson (who died of liver disease) in Lynyrd Skynyrd. For more on Lynyrd Skynyrd, visit the Skynyrd Tribute.

Badfinger: Mike Gibbins (d. 2005), Pete Ham (d. 1975), Tom Evans (d. 1983), & Joey Molland

Tom Evans

hanging (suicide); 1983. Member of Badfinger; he was 36. Pete Ham, Evans's friend and bandmate, hanged himself 8 years earlier. Harry Nilsson's (see 1994) cover of Badfinger's "Without You" reached #1. (Read about Badfinger's connection to the Curse of Harry Nilsson.) For the tragic story of a promising band that was on a fast path to greatness, but within a decade would be shattered, visit The Archive's Tribute to Badfinger. "Day After Day," "If You Want It (Come and Get It)," "No Matter What"

F

Falco

Falco

(Johann "Hans" Holzel), car collision in 1998. Austrian rock singer with several international hits in the 1980s, most notably, "Rock Me Amadeus." As he was pulling onto a highway in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, a passenger bus struck the side of his Mitsubishi Pajero. He sustained severe head injuries and died at Puerto Plata Hospial. Falco was 40. For additional information on Falco's career and details of his fatal accident, continue on to Falco's Tribute. "Vienna Calling," "Der Kommissar," "Jeanny"

*Pete Farndon

heroin overdose in 1983; he was 30. Farndon was the bassist for the Pretenders, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. (James Honeyman-Scott, guitarist for The Pretenders, would succumb to a cocaine overdose in 1982.) "Brass in Pocket," "Talk of the Town," "Message of Love." The Pretenders minus Farndon: "Back on the Chain Gang," "I'll Stand By You"

*Danny Federici

melanoma (2008); he was 58. He was a founding member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. It was Federici, along with original drummer Vini Lopez, who invited Springsteen to join. He released two solo albums and worked with other artists, including fellow E Street band member "Little" Steven Van Zandt and Gary U.S. Bonds. The E Street Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. "Dancing in the Dark," "You're Missing," "Hungry Heart," "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," "I'm On Fire"

Keith Ferguson

liver failure due to heroin use in 1997; he was 50. Ferguson was the bassist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds. He appeared on the albums Girls Go Wild, What’s the Word, Butt Rockin’, T-Bird Rhythm, and Thunderbirds Tacos Deluxe.

Steve Ferguson

cancer (2009); he was 60. Ferguson was the guitarist and founder of NRBQ. He organized the first incarnation of the band (which stands for New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) in 1967 and remained with the group until 1970. He briefly returned in 1974, and participated in a 35th anniversary concert in 2004. Albums: NRBQ, Boppin' the Blues

Doug Fieger

(Douglas Lars Fieger), cancer in 2010; he was 57. Fieger was the lead singer of The Knack, popular for their 1979 hit, "My Sharona" which experienced renewed popularity when it was prominently featured in the 1994 movie, Reality Bites. "Good Girls Don't," "Rocket O'Love"

One version of T. Rex: Bill Legend, Mickey Finn (d. 2003), singer Marc Bolan (d. 1977), and Steve Currie (d. 1980).

*Mickey Finn

(Michael Norman Finn), liver and kidney disease; 2003. He was 55. Finn joined T-Rex, where he replaced Steve Peregrin Took (see 1980) on bongos and "looked superb," according to singer Marc Bolan (see 1977). T-Rex seems to have fallen apart after Bolan's death. In addition to Finn and Took, fellow T-Rex members Steve Currie (see 1981) and "Dino" Dines (see 2004) also passed away prematurely. T-Rex was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. "Get It On (Bang A Gong)," "Hot Love," "Telegram Sam," "Metal Guru"

Rob Fisher

died following surgery for bowel cancer in 1999. He was 42. Fisher, keyboardist and songwriter, was a member of Naked Eyes and later, Climie Fisher. Naked Eyes: "Always Something There to Remind Me," "Promises, Promises." Climie Fisher: "Rise to the Occasion," "Love Changes (Everything)".

Charles Fizer

shot by the National Guard during the 1965 Watts Riots. He was 24. Fizer was a member of the vocal quartet, The Olympics. Friday, the 13th of August, marked the third day of rioting in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. President Lyndon B. Johnson had sent in the National Guard to quell the hostilities. Thirty-four people would be killed and over 1,000 injured before the violence ceased. Fizer was on his way to rehearsal on the 13th when he was struck and killed by a National Guard bullet. Also killed was the sister of Melvin King, who had replaced Fizer in The Olympics for a year while Fizer served a jail sentence for drug possession. King, devastated by the loss of his sister, played only one more show with the group. He was replaced by Mack Starr, who was killed in a motorcylce accident (see 1981). "Western Movies" (which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100), "(Baby) Hully Gully," "Big Boy Pete," "Good Lovin'"

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"

Keith Flint

Keith Flint

suicide by hanging in 2019. Flint was 49. He was the lead singer of the dance/electronic/punk band, Prodigy. "Firestarter," "Breathe," "Smack My Bitch Up"

Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg

prostate cancer at age 56 (2007). Fogelberg epitomized the mellow singer/songwriters that dominated AM radio in the late '70s and early '80s. His hits include, "Same Old Lang Syne," "Leader of the Band," and the wedding standard, "Longer."

*Tom Fogerty

AIDS; 1990. Member of Creedence Clearwater Revival and brother to songwriter/musician John Fogerty. Tom had back surgery and received a blood transfusion that had not been tested for HIV. He developed AIDS and died when he contracted tuberculosis. He was 48. CCR were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. "Fortunate Son," "Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary," "Run Through the Jungle," "Down on the Corner," "Born on the Bayou"

Zac Foley

(Zachary Sebastian Rex James Foley), collapsed (2002) after combining ecstasy, crack cocaine, morphine and barbiturates along with vodka and beer. Member of the early-'90s one-hit wonders, EMF (Epson Mad Funkers?). He was 31. "Unbelievable"

For Squirrels

car accident (1995) that killed founder/lead singer, Jack Vigliatura IV, and founder/bassist Bill White. Vigliatura was 21; White was 23. The group was possibly on the brink of great success; their alternative radio hit, "Mighty K.C.", (a tribute to Kurt Cobain) had been released just 3 months prior to the accident. The band was returning home after a perfomance, traveling on Interstate 95 near Savannah, when their vehicle blew a tire and their van overturned. Tour manager, Tim Bender (age 23), was also killed.

Rhett Forrester

shot to death in 1994; he was 37. Forrester was the lead singer for Riot. The group appeared with acts such as Rainbow, The Scorpions, and Kiss. Forrester was shot to death in Atlanta when he refused to surrender his car during a car-jacking. He was inducted into Atlanta's Hard Rock Cafe in 1996. Albums with Riot: Restless Breed, Riot Live (EP), and Born in America

Claude Francois

Claude Francois

"Clo Clo", electrocution; 1978. Considered the French Elvis, several female fans committed suicide upon news of his death. After finishing a shower, Francois noticed that the light bulb in the socket hanging above him was burned out. With his feet still in the water, he reached up to change the bulb and was instantly electrocuted. He was 39. "Belles, Belles, Belles"

The Temptations, 1964-68: David Ruffin (d. 1991), Paul Williams (d. 1973), Eddie Kendricks (d. 1992), Melvin Franklin (d. 1995), & Otis Williams (clockwise from bottom left).

*Melvin Franklin

seizure in 1995. Franklin (uncle of Rick James, see 2004) was a founding member of the Temptations. He was 52 at the time of his death. Fellow Temptations also included in The Archive: Paul Williams (suicide, 1973), Elbridge Bryant (cirrhosis of the liver, 1975), David Ruffin (cocaine overdose in 1991), and Eddie Kendricks (cancer, 1992). The Temptations were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"

James Freud

(Colin McGlinchey), suicide (method undisclosed) in 2010. Freud, age 51, was the frontman for the Australian band, The Models. He was found dead in his home by family members; he had been struggling with drugs and alcohol for years. Just the week prior to Freud's death, The Models were inducted into the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Hall of Fame. Freud did not attend the ceremony, privately revealing that he could not be around alcohol. The Models had two huge hit singles in Australia: "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" and "Barbados." Freud also scored several solo hits and published two memoirs.

Jerry Fuchs

(Gerhardt Fuchs), fell down an elevator shaft in 2009. He was 34. Fuchs was a drummer with Maserati, LCD Soundsystem, !!! (pronounced "chk chk chk"), Turing Machine, MSTRKRFT, and The Juan MacLean. He was also "house drummer" for the record label DFA. While at a benefit party in Brooklyn, Fuchs became stuck on a freight elevator between the fourth and fifth floors. He attempted to jump to the fourth floor, but his jacket got caught.

Bobby Fuller

Bobby Fuller

(Robert Gaston Fuller), murdered in 1966. Leader of the Bobby Fuller Four. Their biggest hit, "I Fought the Law," was penned by Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly's Crickets. (Read about Fuller's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly.) Fuller's body was found in his car at his house. He had been severely beaten, one of his right fingers was broken, and he was drenched in gasoline. Friends stated that Fuller had recently been harassed by local mobsters, possibly in connection with a woman. But the police judged his death a suicide. His death certificate states the causes of demise as asphyxia and inhalation of gasoline, ruled as an "accident." Fuller was 23. Vist The Archive's Tribute to Bobby Fuller. "I Fought the Law," "Love's Made a Fool of You," "Never to Be Forgotten"

Mike Furber

suicide in 1973. Furber was the singer and co-founder of the Bowery Boys, a group popular primarily in Australia. After the disintegration of the band and his inability to get a solo career off the ground, he hanged himself in a garage. He was 24. "That's When the Happiness Began," "Just a Poor Boy"

Pauly Fuemana

died after a brief illness in 2010; he was 40. Fuemana was the lead singer of the New Zealand group, OMC (Otara Millionaires Club). The duo was best known for their international hit, "How Bizarre" (1996). The song was named Single of the Year at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards, and reached number one in the U.S. (Billboard's Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks), Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

Gene Vincent (d. 1971), Joe Brown, Billy Fury (d. 1983), and Eddie Cochran (d. 1960).

Billy Fury

(Ronald Wycherley), heart attack (1983). Fury survived rheumatic fever as a child, but it left him with a weakened heart, which eventually gave out when he was 42. He enjoyed massive success in Great Britain during the 1960s. "Halfway To Paradise," "Last Night Was Made For Love," "It's Only Make Believe"