Tom Petty

[bludev]

Can't say this is surprising but still extremely depressing:

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/19/health/tom-petty-cause-of-death/index.html

[OldPhiKap]

Hank Williams, he came up from Montgomery
With a heart full of broken country songs
And Nashville Tennessee didn't really understand him
'Cause he did things differently than the way that they were done
When he finally made it to the Grand Ol' Opry he made it stand still
He ended up on alcohol and pills

Elvis Presley, he came up from Jackson
With a brand new way of singin' Lord, and a brand new way of dancin'
And even from the waist up Lord, he gave the world a thrill
He ended up on alcohol and pills

Alcohol and pills, its a cryin' shame
You think they might have been happy with the glory and the fame
But fame doesn't take away the pain, it just pays the bills
And you wind up on alcohol and pills

Janis Joplin, she was wild and reckless
And then there was Graham Parsons, Lord, and then there was Jimmy Hendrix
The story just goes on and on and I guess it always will
They ended up on alcohol and pills

Alcohol and pills, its a cryin' shame
You think they might have been happy with the glory and the fame
But fame doesn't take away the pain, it just pays the bills
And you wind up on alcohol and pills

Sometimes somebody just doesn't wake up one day
Sometimes it's a heart attack, sometimes they just don't say
But they pulled poor old Hank Williams out of a Cadillac Coupe DeVille
He ended up on alcohol and pills

Alcohol and pills, its a cryin' shame
You think they might have been happy with the glory and the fame
But fame doesn't take away the pain, it just pays the bills
And you wind up on alcohol and pills
And you wind up on alcohol and pills

— Fred Eaglesmith


As you say, very sad but not surprising.

[moonpie23]

the music business is rough. seems like the three main take-downs are, drugs(booze), money and love.

My dad used to say, "there's a price to be paid for everything you do".......


i used to think he was talking about money.... :(

[OldPhiKap]

the music business is rough. seems like the three main take-downs are, drugs(booze), money and love.

My dad used to say, "there's a price to be paid for everything you do"....


i used to think he was talking about money... :(

“My my, hey hey
Rock and roll is here to stay
It’s better to burn out
Than to fade away
My my, hey hey . . . .”

— Neil

[cspan37421]

Can't say this is surprising but still extremely depressing:

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/19/health/tom-petty-cause-of-death/index.html

If it's true that Delores O'Riordan suffered back problems much of last year, it would not surprise me at all if she died from similar causes (a la Prince as well - just dropping dead from Fenanyl). The time lag for testing is similar too ... latest on Delores is that results won't be out til April.

Amazing how risky the latest pain meds are.

[lotusland]

Just keep your nose on the grindstone and out of the pills...
https://youtu.be/_QzcrflqDCg

[freshmanjs]

If it's true that Delores O'Riordan suffered back problems much of last year, it would not surprise me at all if she died from similar causes (a la Prince as well - just dropping dead from Fenanyl). The time lag for testing is similar too ... latest on Delores is that results won't be out til April.

Amazing how risky the latest pain meds are.

Very likely that one was a suicide. Also, it is Dolores.

http://people.com/music/dolores-oriordan-dead-inside-difficult-life/

[jimsumner]

the music business is rough. seems like the three main take-downs are, drugs(booze), money and love.

My dad used to say, "there's a price to be paid for everything you do"....


i used to think he was talking about money... :(

I suspect we could add travel to the list of take-downs.

[OldPhiKap]

I suspect we could add travel to the list of take-downs.

There is a really interesting and entertaining documentary about stand-up comics called “Dying Laughing,” folks who watch it will know many of the comedians interviewed. It is about what the life is like as a stand-up. The parts about travel, loneliness on the road, the disconnected life, etc. certainly applies to musicians.

Highly recommend that film on its own merits, but also as it relates to musicians.

[jimsumner]

There is a really interesting and entertaining documentary about stand-up comics called “Dying Laughing,” folks who watch it will know many of the comedians interviewed. It is about what the life is like as a stand-up. The parts about travel, loneliness on the road, the disconnected life, etc. certainly applies to musicians.

Highly recommend that film on its own merits, but also as it relates to musicians.

Not to mention the deaths directly attributable to travel. Glenn Miller, Clifford Brown, Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Denver, Guido Cantelli, Jim Croce, et. al. We could do this all day. Unfortunately.

[duke74]

Not to mention the deaths directly attributable to travel. Glenn Miller, Clifford Brown, Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Denver, Guido Cantelli, Jim Croce, et. al. We could do this all day. Unfortunately.

Jim, I'm not sure I would lump Denver in this this group, but understand the point. Didn't he crash his glider into a mountain while recreationally flying? Didn't die on the way to a concert or engagement.

BTW, if you include Holly, then of course the Big Bopper and Richie Valens would also be included.

[jimsumner]

Jim, I'm not sure I would lump Denver in this this group, but understand the point. Didn't he crash his glider into a mountain while recreationally flying? Didn't die on the way to a concert or engagement.

BTW, if you include Holly, then of course the Big Bopper and Richie Valens would also be included.

Yep on Denver. I remember plane crash but not that it was a recreational crash. More Thurman Munson than the Day the Music Died.

Eddie Cochran was returning from a gig. I guess he counts.

[cspan37421]

Very likely that one was a suicide. Also, it is Dolores.

http://people.com/music/dolores-oriordan-dead-inside-difficult-life/

That last sentence seems rather unkind and uncharitable. Many people have had difficult lives, even surviving abuse, without resorting to suicide, and there's nothing we know at this stage that points to that in her case (unlike say for Chris Cornell or Chester Bennington). A too-young death can occur for many causes, and I don't see why suicide would be considered "very likely", especially in this case when, apparently, there was no note, and no (reported) evidence of self-administered death (such as discharged firearm, ligature around neck, etc).

I only brought her up because thus far it appears as unexplained as Tom Petty's and Prince's deaths were.

[freshmanjs]

That last sentence seems rather unkind and uncharitable. Many people have had difficult lives, even surviving abuse, without resorting to suicide, and there's nothing we know at this stage that points to that in her case (unlike say for Chris Cornell or Chester Bennington). A too-young death can occur for many causes, and I don't see why suicide would be considered "very likely", especially in this case when, apparently, there was no note, and no (reported) evidence of self-administered death (such as discharged firearm, ligature around neck, etc).

I only brought her up because thus far it appears as unexplained as Tom Petty's and Prince's deaths were.

I said it was likely because she is bipolar and has attempted before. Sadly, folks in that position often die by suicide.

[left_hook_lacey]

I heard on the radio this morning that Tom Petty had an absolute wrecked hip. He was taking pain meds, sleeping medicine, etc., to keep his tour dates until he could get it repaired. He even did a show the night before his death. Autopsy confirmed it was a reaction between all the things he was taking to alleviate the pain and try to sleep. Truly tragic. These old rockers that are still going on tour are tough ole dogs.

[Jeffrey]

I heard on the radio this morning that Tom Petty had an absolute wrecked hip. He was taking pain meds, sleeping medicine, etc., to keep his tour dates until he could get it repaired. He even did a show the night before his death. Autopsy confirmed it was a reaction between all the things he was taking to alleviate the pain and try to sleep. Truly tragic. These old rockers that are still going on tour are tough ole dogs.

Unfortunately, the show must go on. It's amazing how many people become financially dependent on a star, like Tom Petty, constantly and consistently touring. Neil Young may not care, but Tom Petty did. IIRC, there was more money on the line, for Tom Petty's final tour, than any other in his career.

[OldPhiKap]

I heard on the radio this morning that Tom Petty had an absolute wrecked hip. He was taking pain meds, sleeping medicine, etc., to keep his tour dates until he could get it repaired. He even did a show the night before his death. Autopsy confirmed it was a reaction between all the things he was taking to alleviate the pain and try to sleep. Truly tragic. These old rockers that are still going on tour are tough ole dogs.

My understanding is that he had a fractured hip, and it had developed into a full break. Yikes.

[jimmymax]

FYI, this could be fun for Durhamites -- nice small venue downtown and some great local talent.

https://www.thepinhook.com/event/1635914-even-losers-tom-petty-durham/

[lotusland]

Unfortunately, the show must go on. It's amazing how many people become financially dependent on a star, like Tom Petty, constantly and consistently touring. Neil Young may not care, but Tom Petty did. IIRC, there was more money on the line, for Tom Petty's final tour, than any other in his career.

A Showman’s Life...

https://youtu.be/mFjsVNlsyxc