Who is/was the most tragic figure in music history??

[colin617]

Syd Barrett
John Lennon
Kurt Cobain
Jeff Buckley
Elliott Smith

I can't pick just one.

[abergdahl]

Guitar Players that led life that was troubled and could be seen as tragic were Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan...

[StompBoxBlues]

You know...tragic figures aren't tragic figures just because they died, even too young.

I think some are missing the point.

It's why I picked Pastorius. He lived in a hell, brought us great music, died tragically (stupidly, unnecesarily)
and had a very hard time of it.

There are some other great ones mentioned here, but too many of the "because he died young" variety.

Just my opinion...of course.

[arthur rotfeld]

Some others to consider:

Jaco--certainly tragic. He did lots of great work, but I think there would have been amazing things to come.

Michael Hedges.

[Alister]

In "music history'?

Well, then, Beethoven w/his deafness.

[tapeworm]

Skip James. Hottest blues artist of his time, only to have the majority of his songs stolen by a record producer after paying him a few hundred and promising him royalties he would never see. He then disappeared for decades only to return in the 60's and play the American music festival where most had never heard him and others thought he was dead already. Died alone and unknown for the most part until Cream covered I'm So Glad and gave him the proceeds to pay for his hopsital bills.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Lynyrd Skynyrd

At the top of their game and their plane goes down. That really sucked! The reformed band was never the same.

[arthur rotfeld]

Originally Posted by Alister

In "music history'?

Well, then, Beethoven w/his deafness.

He went as far as considering suicide, but his work never suffered and he developed greatly throughout his later life. As a listener, we'd never really know.

[mindstorm]

John Lennon
Dimebag Darrell
Jaco Pastorius

To me, these were all tragic deaths in the music industry. But as for the most tragic figure, it probably is Michael Jackson.

[StompBoxBlues]

Originally Posted by tapeworm

Skip James. Hottest blues artist of his time, only to have the majority of his songs stolen by a record producer after paying him a few hundred and promising him royalties he would never see. He then disappeared for decades only to return in the 60's and play the American music festival where most had never heard him and others thought he was dead already. Died alone and unknown for the most part until Cream covered I'm So Glad and gave him the proceeds to pay for his hopsital bills.

Good one!

Blind Willie Johnson also. He's one of my favorite (and I mean of all time) slide players, on things like "Dark was the Night", and "God Don't Never Change"...I've tried to even just get near that slide..can't touch it.

I heard he died also alone, on a pallet somewhere...shame. His recording was one of the ones sent out to space...

[bjjp2]

Man, so many candidates.

I have to say:

1. Lennon
2. Hendrix
3. Buddy Holly

[mbargav]

Milli Vanilli hands down.

[Hwoltage]

Jaco Pastorius.

[JPF]

I can only add to the list Duane Allman and Berry Oakley

[Washburnmemphis]

Originally Posted by StompBoxBlues

You know...tragic figures aren't tragic figures just because they died, even too young.

I think some are missing the point.

It's why I picked Pastorius. He lived in a hell, brought us great music, died tragically (stupidly, unnecesarily)
and had a very hard time of it.

There are some other great ones mentioned here, but too many of the "because he died young" variety.

Just my opinion...of course.

Agreed, I wouldn't consider Lennon or even Hendrix to be tragic figures. They both definetly died due to tragic and senseless events (Hendrix we may never know all the details).

IMHO a tragic figure is someone who while alive in spite of their success or obvious talent they seem destined for an early death, usually as a result of their actions or personal demons.

For example, I wouldn't consider Clifford Brown (sorry Rumblur he's not a guitar player) to be a tragic figure, though he died way too young. My picks would be Jaco Pastorious, Mike Bloomfield and Mike Starr.