Joey Ramone

popular name: Ric Ocasek

date_of_death: September 15, 2019

age: 75

cause_of_death: Hypertensive heart and coronary artery disease

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Musician, primary vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and frontman for the American new wave band The Cars, Ric Ocasek led the Cars to huge international success from 1978 until 1988. The Cars reached their highest UK chart position, No 3, with My Best Friend’s Girl in November 1978 and enjoyed hits with Just What I Needed, Let the Good Times Roll, You Might Think, Let’s Go and, best and biggest of all, the aching ballad Drive (sung by the late Benjamin Orr). In addition to his work with The Cars, Ocasek recorded seven solo albums, and his song "Emotion in Motion" was a top 20 hit in the United States in 1986. Ocasek also worked as a record producer for artists such as Motion City Soundtrack, Suicide, Bad Brains, Weezer, Nada Surf, Guided by Voices, and No Doubt. In 2018, Ocasek was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Cars.

popular name: Randy Rhoads

date_of_death: March 19, 1982

age: 25

cause_of_death: Blunt force trauma (airplane crash)

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Randy Rhoads was an American guitarist and co-founder and original guitarist of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot. When Quiet Riot continued to struggle with marginal success, the young musician tried out for Ozzy and became the guitarist and co-songwriter for Ozzy Osbourne's first two solo albums - Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981). His life was cut short in a stupid and completely avoidable plane crash as the second tour of the group was just getting started. Rhoads was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He also placed 36th on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists. He placed fourth on Guitar World Magazine's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists and 26th in Guitar World's 50 Fastest Guitarists list.

popular name: Jim Morrison

date_of_death: July 3, 1971

age: 27

cause_of_death: Heart failure due to chronic alcohol abuse (disputed)

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Jim Morrison was a legendary American singer, songwriter and poet, and best known for being the lead singer for the popular rock band The Doors. Morrison is regarded by music critics and fans as one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock history. He was known for his wild personality, distinctive voice, and erratic performances. Of course the Doors were never part of the peace and free love movement exemplified by the Jefferson Airplane or Donavon. They really didn't fit the mold of acid rock, electric folk music or that of the Grateful Dead. And they certainly wouldn't be confused with the pop stylings of the Beatles. No the Doors were an anomaly in the world of sixties rock. Raw and powerful, dark and explosive, Jim Morrison's Dionysian lyrics and vocal energy were not an act and Jim Morrison was no rock star. Jim Morrison is now and will always be remembered as The Lizard King. Sadly at age 27, he was found dead in his bathtub by his girlfriend Pamela Courson. It was official listed as heart failure, but no autopsy was performed. It is suspected that his death might have been the result of an accidental heroin overdose. He was laid to rest at Cimetière du Père Lachaise in Paris France.