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The Death of Rock: The Alphabetical Archive

N and O

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

N

*Joey Negroni

cerebral brain hemorrhage (1978). Negroni was the baritone in the vocal group, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. He had a brain tumor that was discovered too late and he died of cerebral hemorrhaging. He was 38. Within ten years, three members of the group would be dead: Negroni, Frankie Lymon (see 1968) and Sherman Garnes (see 1977). Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" "I Want You to Be My Girl," "Who Can Explain?"

Alex Nelson

automobile accident in 2004. He was 41. Nelson was guitarist for '80s hair band, Lizzy Borden. "Me Against The World," "American Metal," "Master Of Disguise"

*George Nelson

fatally gagged during an asthma attack in 1959. He was 33. Nelson was a vocalist for The Orioles ("the first R&B vocal group") and was involved in the auto accident that claimed the life of Orioles' guitarist Tommy Gaither (see 1950). The Orioles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an "Early Influence" in 1995. "Its Too Soon to Know," "Tell Me So," "Crying in the Chapel"

*Nate Nelson

heart attack; 1984. Nelson, a member of the doo-wop singing group, The Flamingos, died on his 52nd birthday. The Flamingos were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. "I Only Have Eyes for You," "Golden Teardrops," "Ill Be Home"

Rick Nelson

*Rick Nelson

(Eric Hilliard Nelson), plane crash in 1985; he was 45. Son of TV's "Ozzie and Harriet" and father of Matthew and Gunnar (of the early Nineties band, Nelson). Nelson's plane, which was previously owned by fellow rocker Jerry Lee Lewis, made an emergency landing after the pilot detected smoke in the cockpit. All survived the landing, but the craft then burst into flames, killing Nelson, his fiancee, and his band (the pilot and co-pilot survived). The cause was cited as faulty heater wiring. Read the National Transportation Safety Board Report, with photos of the crash site/wreckage. Also read about Nelson's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. Nelson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. "Travelin' Man," "Hello Mary Lou," "Poor Little Fool," "Lonesome Town"

Nico

Nico

(Christa Paffgen), cerebral hemorrhage in 1988, in Spain. Occasional singer with the Velvet Underground and an actress, she was 49. Nico was not included with the Velvets for their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1996. "All Tomorrow's Parties," "I'll Be Your Mirror"

Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson

(Harry Edward Nelson III), heart disease; 1994. Nilsson was 52. Singer, songwriter, and John Lennon's (see 1980) drinking buddy; both "Mama" Cass Elliot (see 1974) and Keith Moon (see 1978) died while staying at his apartment. Read about the Curse of Nilsson. Badfinger's "Without You," "Everybodys Talkin'," "Coconut"

Jerry Nolan

health complications stemming from drug use in 1992; he was 46. Nolan replaced drummer Bill Murcia (see 1972) in the glam-punk outfit The New York Dolls and later joined The Heartbreakers. Vocalist Johnny Thunders (also an alum of both bands) succumbed to drug use the previous year. (Nolan, Murcia, and Thunders were three of four former New York Dolls to die prematurely. The fourth was Arthur "Killer" Kane in 2004.) "You Cant Put Your Arms Around Money" (with The Heartbreakers), "Personality Crisis," "Frankenstein" (with The New York Dolls)

Klaus Nomi

Klaus Nomi

(Klaus Sperber), AIDS (1983); he was 39. Nomi was an eclectic performance artist, who often combined opera, disco and rock. His theatrical presentations involved stage effects, flamboyant costumes and outrageous make-up. Prior to his career as a performer, Nomi supported himself as a pastry chef, supposedly working at the World Trade Center. Albums include: Klaus Nomi, Simple Man, and Encore.

Nervous Norvus

(James Drake), cirrhosis of the liver in 1968. He was 56. Norvus reached #8 with the 1956 novelty tune, "Transfusion."

Bradley Nowell

heroin overdose in 1996. Singer for Sublime, he was 28. "What I Got"

O

The Allman Brothers Band circa 1970: Jai Johanny Johanson

("Jaimoe"), Berry Oakley (d. 1972), Duane Allman (d. 1971),

Butch Trucks (d. 2017), Gregg Allman (d. 2017), and

Dickey Betts (d. 2024).

*Berry Oakley

(Raymond Berry Oakley), motorcycle accident in 1972; he was 24. Oakley played bass in the Allman Brothers Band, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. His motorcycle accident eerily mirrored that of Duane Allman a year before, and occurred only a few blocks away. Oakley refused medical treatment at the scene of the accident and later died from a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage. Oakley was replaced by Lamar Williams (see 1983), who was then replaced by Allen Woody (see 2000). "Ramblin Man," "Midnight Rider," "Melissa"

Phil Ochs

hanging. Ochs was an anti-establishment folk singer, who used his songs to protest against the Vietnam War and to campaign for civil, student, and labor rights. The FBI maintained a file on the singer nearly 500 pages long. In 1973, he was assaulted and almost killed. During the attack he was strangled which permanently damaged his vocal chords. Plagued by bipolar disorder and an alternate, drunken personality (John Butler Train), he hanged himself at the age of 36 in 1976. In 2009, the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance awarded Ochs the Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Award. Read about Ochs's involvement in the Curse of Buddy Holly. "I Aint Marchin," "Draft Dodger Rag," "There But For Fortune"

Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O'Connor

"natural causes" in 2023; 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.

Brian O'Hara

singer and guitarist with the Fourmost, a group that shared a manager with the Beatles. The Fourmost had hits with songs written by John Lennon (see 1980) and Paul McCartney, including "Hello Little Girl" and "I'm In Love." OHara was found hanging at his home in 1999. He was 58.

Johnny O'Keefe

Johnny O'Keefe

heart attack caused by an accidental overdose of prescription medication in 1978. He was 43. O'Keefe was the Australian King of Rock & Roll, and the first Australian to chart (with the hit, "I'm The Wild One"). He opened for Bill Haley (see 1981) and later appeared on the Lee Gordon Tour in 1958 with Paul Anka and Buddy Holly (see 1959). In 1998, O'Keefe was honored on an Australian postage stamp. Read about O'Keefe's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. "Shout," "She's My Baby," "It's Too Late," "Im Counting On You," "Move Baby Move," "She Wears My Ring"

Criss Oliva

struck head-on by a drunk driver in 1993; Oliva was 30. Oliva was the guitarist for the metal outfit, Savatage. The driver who was responsible for the accident was eventually convicted of DUI manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison (he served 18 months), and ten years' probation. "Hall of the Mountain King," "Prelude to Madness," "Price You Pay"

Oliver

(William Oliver Swafford), cancer (2000). He was 54. "Good Morning, Starshine" from the rock musical, "Hair." "Jean," "Sunday Mornin"

Mark Daniel Olson

reports suggest his death was bodily wear-and-tear due to chronic alcohol consumption. Olson played keyboards from 1971 until 1984 for rock/soul group, Rare Earth. He died in 1991 at the age of 41. Fellow members John Persh succumbed to a staph infection (1974) and Eddie Guzman died of complications from diabetes (1993). "I Just Want to Celebrate," "Hey, Big Brother," and covers of The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "Get Ready"

Roy Orbison

*Roy Orbison

heart attack in 1988; he was 52. Orbison was a legendary, Grammy-winning musician whose career spanned three decades. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1989, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. "Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," "Crying," "Leah," "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)," "You Got It"

Dolores O'Riordan

Dolores O'Riordan

drowned in the bath while intoxicated (2018). Toxicology tests found she had more than four times the legal alcohol limit for driving. She was 46. O'Riordan was the lead singer for the Irish rock/pop band, The Cranberries. "Zombie," "Linger," "Dreams" "Ode to My Family"

*Benjamin Orr

(Benjamin Orzechowski), pancreatic cancer (2000); he was 53. Orr was the bassist and a vocalist for The Cars. He sang lead on several Cars' hits, including "Just What I Needed," "Drive," and "Candy-O." The Cars were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Jesus Adolfo Rayos Otanos

murdered in 2011. Otanos was the clarinetist for the Mexican group, Hermanos Baldenegro. Three men pulled up next to the band's tour bus in Nogales, Mexico and requested that the group play a song. When the lead singer refused, one of the men pulled out a gun and fired into the bus. Otanos, who was sleeping, was shot twice, in the right leg and ankle. He later died at the hospital from heart failure. He was 30.