100 '80s Musicians Who Passed Away (1980-2021)

100 musicians who were successful during the 1980s and have passed away:
1. Colonel Abrams
2. Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
3. Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls)
4. Melanie Appleby (Mel & Kim)
5. Izora Armstead (Weather Girls)
6. Nick Ashford (Ashford & Simpson)
7. Marty Balin
8. Ronald Bell (Kool and the Gang)
9. David Bowie
10. Laura Branigan
11. Loalwa Braz (Kaoma)
12. Pete Burns (Dead or Alive)
13. Cliff Burton (Metallica)
14. Steve Clark (Def Leppard)
15. Joe Cocker
16. Natalie Cole
17. Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
18. Paul Davis
19. Brad Delp (Boston)
20. Jim Diamond (Ph.D.)
21. Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot)
22. Edem Ephraim & Dennis Fuller (London Boys)
23. Falco
24. Bobby Farrell (Boney M)
25. Rob Fisher (Naked Eyes, Climie Fisher)
26. Dan Fogelberg
27. Aretha Franklin
28. Fergie Frederiksen (Toto, Survivor)
29. Marie Fredriksson (Roxette)
30. Glenn Frey
31. France Gall
32. Marvin Gaye
33. J. Geils (The J. Geils Band)
34. Andy Gibb
35. Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees)
36. Robin Gibb (Bee Gees)
37. Boon Gould (Level 42)
38. Greg Ham (Men at Work)
39. George Harrison
40. Dan Hartman
41. Felix Haug (Double)
42. Ofra Haza
43. Jeff Healey (The Jeff Healey Band)
44. Paul Hester (Split Enz, Crowded House)
45. Brian Hibbard (Flying Pickets)
46. Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil)
47. Mark Hollis (Talk Talk)
48. Whitney Houston
49. Michael Hutchence (INXS)
50. James Ingram
51. Michael Jackson
52. Rick James
53. Jimi Jamison (Survivor)
54. Mory Kanté
55. Jani Lane (Warrant)
56. Rose Laurens
57. John Lennon
58. Tony Lewis (The Outfield)
59. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
60. Kirsty MacColl
61. Kevin MacMichael (Cutting Crew)
62. Benny Mardones
63. Teena Marie
64. Bob Marley (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
65. Jimmy McShane (Baltimora)
66. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
67. George Michael (Wham!)
68. Jason Mizell (= Jam Master Jay) (Run-D.M.C.)
69. Eddie Money
70. Gary Moore
71. Ric Ocasek (The Cars)
72. Roy Orbison
73. Benjamin Orr (The Cars)
74. Robert Palmer
75. Neil Peart (Rush)
76. Tom Petty (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
77. Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli)
78. June Pointer (Pointer Sisters)
79. Prince
80. Eddie Rabbitt
81. Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon)
82. Kenny Rogers
83. Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk)
84. Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything)
85. Jim Steinman
86. Jermaine Stewart
87. Steve Strange (Visage)
88. Joe Strummer (The Clash)
89. Donna Summer
90. Patrick Swayze
91. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
92. Luther Vandross
93. Colin Vearncombe (Black)
94. Groover Washington Jr.
95. John Wetton (Asia)
96. Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
97. Bill Withers
98. Cecil Womack (Womack & Womack)
99. Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project)
100. Paul Young (Mike and the Mechanics)

[somerandomguy_music]

The cause of death for each artist:
1. Colonel Abrams - diabetes
2. Stuart Adamson (Big Country) - suicide
3. Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls) - breast cancer
4. Melanie Appleby (Mel & Kim) - pneumonia following cancer treatment
5. Izora Armstead (Weather Girls) - heart failure
6. Nick Ashford (Ashford & Simpson) - throat cancer
7. Marty Balin - cause of death not disclosed
8. Ronald Bell (Kool and the Gang) - cause of death not disclosed
9. David Bowie - liver cancer
10. Laura Branigan - cerebral aneurysm
11. Loalwa Braz (Kaoma) - murdered by one of her employees
12. Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) - cardiac arrest
13. Cliff Burton (Metallica) - traffic accident
14. Steve Clark (Def Leppard) - respiratory failure caused by alcohol and prescription drugs
15. Joe Cocker - lung cancer
16. Natalie Cole - congestive heart failure
17. Ian Curtis (Joy Division) - suicide
18. Paul Davis - heart attack
19. Brad Delp (Boston) - suicide
20. Jim Diamond (Ph.D.) - pulmonary edema
21. Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot) - drug overdose
22. Edem Ephraim & Dennis Fuller (London Boys) - car accident
23. Falco - car accident
24. Bobby Farrell (Boney M) - heart failure
25. Rob Fisher (Naked Eyes, Climie Fisher) - following bowel surgery for cancer
26. Dan Fogelberg - prostate cancer
27. Aretha Franklin - pancreatic cancer
28. Fergie Frederiksen (Toto, Survivor) - liver cancer
29. Marie Fredriksson (Roxette) - brain cancer
30. Glenn Frey - colitis and pneumonia after being treated with drugs for rheumatoid arthritis
31. France Gall - breast cancer
32. Marvin Gaye - gunshot (shot by his own father)
33. J. Geils (The J. Geils Band) - natural causes
34. Andy Gibb - inflammation of the heart muscle caused by drug abuse
35. Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees) - complications of a twisted intestine
36. Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) - colorectal cancer
37. Boon Gould (Level 42) - suicide
38. Greg Ham (Men at Work) - heart attack
39. George Harrison - laryngeal cancer
40. Dan Hartman - AIDS-related brain tumor
41. Felix Haug (Double) - heart attack
42. Ofra Haza - AIDS-related pneumonia
43. Jeff Healey (The Jeff Healey Band) - lung cancer
44. Paul Hester (Split Enz, Crowded House) - suicide
45. Brian Hibbard (Flying Pickets) - prostate cancer
46. Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil) - cancer
47. Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) - a short illness (not disclosed)
48. Whitney Houston - drowning and the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use
49. Michael Hutchence (INXS) - suicide or accidental strangulation
50. James Ingram - brain cancer
51. Michael Jackson - cardiac arrest after propofol overdose
52. Rick James - pulmonary failure and cardiac failure
53. Jimi Jamison (Survivor) - heart attack
54. Mory Kanté - the result of untreated chronic health problems
55. Jani Lane (Warrant) - alcohol poisoning
56. Rose Laurens - cancer
57. John Lennon - murder by gunshot
58. Tony Lewis (The Outfield) - cause of death not disclosed
59. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) - heart failure and pneumonia caused by alcohol and drug use
60. Kirsty MacColl - hit by powerboat while on holiday (saving her son's life)
61. Kevin MacMichael (Cutting Crew) - lung cancer
62. Benny Mardones - complications of Parkinson's disease
63. Teena Marie - natural causes
64. Bob Marley (Bob Marley and the Wailers) - skin cancer
65. Jimmy McShane (Baltimora) - AIDS
66. Freddie Mercury (Queen) - pneumonia as a complication of AIDS
67. George Michael (Wham!) - heart failure
68. Jason Mizell (= Jam Master Jay) (Run-D.M.C.) - murder by gunshot
69. Eddie Money - esophageal cancer
70. Gary Moore - heart attack
71. Ric Ocasek (The Cars) - cardiovascular disease
72. Roy Orbison - heart attack
73. Benjamin Orr (The Cars) - pancreatic cancer
74. Robert Palmer - heart attack
75. Neil Peart (Rush) - brain cancer
76. Tom Petty (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) - accidental overdose of prescription drugs
77. Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli) - alcohol and drug overdose
78. June Pointer (Pointer Sisters) - cancer
79. Prince - accidental fentanyl overdose
80. Eddie Rabbitt - lung cancer
81. Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon) - complications after hospital treatment for a stomach ailment
82. Kenny Rogers - natural causes
83. Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk) - cancer
84. Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything) - heart attack
85. Jim Steinman - kidney failure
86. Jermaine Stewart - AIDS-related liver cancer
87. Steve Strange (Visage) - heart attack
88. Joe Strummer (The Clash) - congenital heart defect
89. Donna Summer - lung cancer
90. Patrick Swayze - pancreatic cancer
91. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) - throat cancer
92. Luther Vandross - heart attack
93. Colin Vearncombe (Black) - traffic accident
94. Groover Washington Jr. - heart attack
95. John Wetton (Asia) - complications of colorectal cancer
96. Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys) - lung cancer
97. Bill Withers - heart complications
98. Cecil Womack (Womack & Womack) - unknown causes
99. Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project) - kidney cancer
100. Paul Young (Mike and the Mechanics) - heart attack

[stp]

More talent in this dead list than most of the combined singers alive today

[Vicki-stfc]

Some of them were so young. Their music will live on forever

[alameas]

As a "child" of the 80's it hurts to see that all these talented and great musicans are gone forever! 🥀
RIP GEORGE
RIP WHITNEY
RIP MICHAEL
RIP FREDDIE
RIP PRINCE....etc, etc!

[lisasimpson]

They died but they're still alive with their music for ever⚘⚘⚘

[davidminz]

Rest in peace you all. My best years of my life was listening to the music you all made when I was a teenager. Thank you for making my life wonderful growing up.. ❤️

[shereehewings]

This is sad 😔😓
So many talented people died so young. I love the 1980, s music, brings back so many good memories

[josephsmall]

So many talented artists gone, and can never be replaced.

[mrssweetcaroline]

10 minutes of pure nostalgia. So amazing yet so sad at the same time. Take me back to the 80s! 💔

[alessandracanaan]

George Michael died on 12/25/2016, same date as my Mom, impossible to forget.
Thank you for such excellent job. So many talented people...

[lindawilson]

We lost some amazing artists from the 80's they are truly missed. The 80's had the best music and I'm so glad I was part of that decade! Good times and many many good memories!

[jinrestored]

Awww take me back to the best decade of music the 80s. All those wonderful people and fabulous music . Lucky to have seen some of them in concert . Thank you for such happy memories . RIP 🙏

[frankiefelinesalwayswelcom]

It’s unbelievable how many great performers have been taken away from us from such horrible circumstances. R.I.P. All of you. Your music will live on

[leeveron]

So many of them I love, grew up listening to their music and still listens..
RIP to all of them...😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺

[earlleary]

I lost my mom almost a year ago now, and watching this was just to much. I grew up in the 80's. She knew a lot of these songs.
Now...this group wasn't on this list, but an 80's song helped me get through my moms funeral last June 15, 2021.
It was A-HA's, Take On Me. I told myself the day before the funeral I wasn't going go it! I couldn't handle i!! And then God but it in my head, and gave me the ides that whenever anything got to heavy for me, to just block it out and start singing Take On Me as loud as I could to myself in my head, and just shake my head and nod like I was paying attention, lol. And it worked! I didn't shed a single tear!
It was sad watching the Laura Brannigan interview. I loved her so much.

[danielvojtik]

I feel so sad watching this video...I grew up with 80s...so sad they passed away so young...but they are still alive in our hearts and minds...the 80s so unique period

[nemesisprime]

Wooow it looks like we are losing all the eighties singers ... and they have some of the greatest and sweetest songs of all time....R.I.P brothers and sisters.... God bless you all and thanks for bringing us such wonderful songs in your life time.... love live forever.

[Syria_Straff]

All these artists will live forever through their music 🖤

[marialemos]

R.I.P to all of these amazing and talented musicians☹️!! They will always be missed but never forgotten.

[DanielFitzpatrick]

Damn I didn’t know some of these people died. That sucks. Long live the 80’s.