The punk musicians who are dead and how they died.
PUNK GENERATION
they keep on dying young.
Bob Stinson (Replacements) Guitarist for one of the most popular Minneapolis "garage" bands of the 1980, Bob Stinson, who was kicked out of the Replacements sometime in 1987, succumbed to a heroin overdose on February 15, 1995. He was 35.
Dwayne Goettel (Skinny Puppy) One of the only bands that could seriously make my ears feel like they were going to bleed, Skinny Puppy is definitely one of the coolest dark/gothic/industrial bands from the 80s and 90s.
Dwayne Goetell joined them in 1985 and was the pivotal in their musical direction. He died of a heroin overdose. DOD: 8/23/1995 Epic Soundtracks (Swell Maps) Post-punk rocker Epic Soundtracks died on November 22, 1997, presumably the victim of a suicide. DOB: 3/23/59
G.G. Allin Probably one of the crudest, foulest punks of them all, G.G. Allin sang for a variety of punk bands such as: the Jabbers, the Scumfucs, Antiseen, & Murder Junkies. He died of a heroine overdose after playing his final show totally naked and attacking innocent bystanders. DOB: 8/29/56 DOD: 6/28/93 heroin overdose
Ian Curtis (Joy Division) Just barely an artist of the 80s (well, five months into the 80s) his music would be influential to countless bands throughout the 80s and 90s. He was the victim of suicide, by hanging. DOB: 7/15/56 DOD: 5/18/80
Ian Dury (Ian Dury and the Blockheads) In 1970 he formed Kilburn and the High Roads, which was characterise by Dury's wry, gravel-voiced vocals. The group struggled, but the formation of Ian Dury and the Blockheads in 1977 helped him, at 35, taste success. Dury and the Blockheads were signed to independent Stiff Records, and toured with Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. The group joined those bands in the so-called New Wave, a gentler, more thoughtful offshoot of punk. DOD March 27, 2000 aged 57 from cancer
Joe Strummer of THE CLASH died 22 December 2002 Broomfield, Somerset, England, UK. Joe Strummer, the leader of legendary Seventies punk band The Clash, has died of a suspected heart attack aged 50. A spokesman for Strummer, real name John Graham Mellor, said the singer died at home in Broomfield, Somerset.
Jeffrey Lee Pierce (The Gun Club) Although he had finally beat his addiction to heroin, Jeffrey Lee Pierce died of a brain haemorrhage, common amongst long-time heroin users. He was 38. DOD: 12/6/96
Johnny Thunders This legendary performer began in the New York Dolls and later went on to front his own band Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers. Johnny Thunders is the rock 'n' roll Dean Martin of heroin says Richard Hell (Television). He died in New Orleans, the victim of some bad heroin. DOB: 7/15/52 DOD: 4/23/91
Matthew Ashman Born in 1962, Matthew was one of the first line-ups of Adam & The Ants, until Malcolm McLaren coaxed his away to become the guitarist for a band he was putting together behind nubile fourteen year old Annabella Lwin. They were called Bow Wow Wow. He died on November 21, 1995 due to complications from diabetes.
Pete DeFreites (Echo & The Bunnymen drummer) One of the founding members (and drummer) for Echo & the Bunnymen, Pete De Freitas died in a motorcycle accident in 1989.
Ricky Wilson (B-52s) Guitarist and founder of New Wave funniest bands, Ricky Wilson was reported to have died from a heart attack, but it was later released he had died from AIDS. His bandmates, which include his sister Cindy, have been long-time supporters in the fight against AIDS. DOB: 3/3/53 DOD: 10/12/85
Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols) Drugs (heroin overdose). Died Feb 2, 1979. Born May 10, 1957.
Steve Gilprin (Mi Sex) Steve Gilprin died in January of 1991, the victim of a fatal car accident, his band Mi Sex was one of very few successful New Zealand acts. He was 41.
Stiv Bators One of my favourite bands, Lords of the New Church, was Stiv Bators project after the demise of The Dead Boys. Stiv's story is particularly tragic. While leaving the studio one night, he was struck by a car. He walked away from the accident, but died in his apartment in Paris that night in his sleep.
DOB: 22 October 1949 DOD: 3rd June 1990 .Tracey Pew (Birthday Party) Without question, one of the most influential bands of the Post-Punk 80s is The Birthday Party. Along with Nick Cave, Tracey Pews was one of the founding members. He shook off his mortal coil in November of 1986 due to an epileptic seizure.
Wendy O'Williams (Plasmatics) One of punks, loudest, most most shocking bands was The Plasmatics. The "explosive's" of their stage show was the result of the dynamo known as Wendy O'Williams, who often appeared on stage wearing nothing but shorts, boots and a chainsaw. She committed suicide on April 6, 1998.