4 DEAD IN ONE YEAR
FORTY YEARS ON, WE REMEMBER THESE MUSIC LEGENDS
In 1980, some of the world’s biggest – and most influential – music stars went off to play the great gig in the sky. That is, they passed away. The Beatles’ John Lennon, AC/DC’S Bon Scott, Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis were all very different musicians, but they are forever linked by the tragedy of their untimely deaths.
They left behind an incredible legacy of music which is to this day loved by millions throughout the world.
JOHN LENNON, DIED DECEMBER 8
By 1980, the Beatles were a distant memory for John, who had moved to New York with wife, Yoko Ono. In October that year, he celebrated his 40th birthday with Yoko and 5-year-old son, Sean, who shared his father’s birthday.
Yoko surprised them with a sky-written message: “Happy Birthday John & Sean − Love Yoko.”
But just two months later, the family was ripped apart when the ‘Imagine’ singer was gunned down in front of his apartment by obsessed fan Mark David Chapman, hours after John had autographed an album for him.
According to a transcript from Chapman’s parole hearing in 2018, the killer now feels remorse for his crime.
“Thirty years ago, I couldn’t say I felt shame and I know what shame is now,” Chapman said. “It’s where you cover your face, you don’t want to, you know, ask for anything.”
Chapman was denied parole but will again be up for parole in August this year.
BON SCOTT, DIED FEBRUARY 19
The legendary lead singer of AC/DC had a reputation for being a hard-drinking wild man with a knockabout charm, making him popular with the ladies.
AC/DC’S 1979 album, Highway to Hell had proved a huge hit for the Aussie band and the subsequent tour took them around the world before culminating in the UK.
Just three weeks after the tour finished, Bon was on a night out drinking with friends when he passed out in a car and later choked on his own vomit, aged 33.
“For us, it was like losing a member of your family,” guitarist Angus Young later said in an interview. “It’s very, very difficult to go through something like that. Not only is it your friend, it’s also somebody you’ve been working with all that time.”
JOHN BONHAM, DIED SEPTEMBER 25
Much like Bon, John ‘Bonzo’ Bonham, drummer for stadium-shaking rockers Led Zeppelin, had a penchant for alcohol that would ultimately lead to his death.
The band was rehearsing for what would have been their comeback tour in North America, staying at guitarist Jimmy Page’s house in the UK.
After downing vodka all day, Bonzo eventually passed out and never woke up. He was 32 when he died.
It was later reported Bonzo had consumed the equivalent of 40 shots of vodka over
12 hours before choking on his own vomit.
After his death, the band pulled the pin.
“He was definitely the greatest rock’n’roll drummer that ever lived,” guitarist Jimmy Page said.
IAN CURTIS, DIED MAY 18
Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s likely you would have heard of his post-punk group Joy Division’s most famous song, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Two weeks prior to what could have been a career-changing tour of the US, lead singer Ian hanged himself in his kitchen, aged 23.
At the time, Ian suffered from epilepsy and depression. Following his death, the remaining members of Joy Division formed New Order and had hits throughout the ’80s.