The grim reaper has been in particularly good shape among rockers since the start of 2022. In a few months, the groups Foo Fighters, Depeche Mode, Queens of the Stone Age, Yes and Bon Jovi have seen one of their members, active or former, lose the life. Here are, in chronological order, 12 musicians who have already left us this year.
• Read also: Alec John Such, co-founder of Bon Jovi, dies at 70
• Read also: Andy Fletcher, founding member of Depeche Mode, has died
The lead singer of heavy metal band Budgie passed away on January 10. Suffering for several years, he was battling Stickler syndrome and had two aortic aneurysms. Founded in the late 1960s, Budgie has influenced several bands including Metallica, Iron Maiden and Van Halen.
Marvin Lee Aday, aka Meat Loaf, died at the age of 74 on January 20. In his career, the singer has become one of the best sellers of all time, selling 43 million copies of Bat Out of Hell, released in 1977. Sixteen years later, Meat Loaf found success with the mega hit I ‘d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).
Co-founder of surf rock band The Ventures, Don Wilson died at his home in Tacoma, Wash., on January 22. The Ventures were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
On February 9, the co-founder of bands King Crimson and Foreigner lost his battle with cancer. A multi-instrumentalist, McDonald notably played on King Crimson’s brilliant album In the Court of the Crimson King in 1969. He also collaborated on several Foreigner hits, including Cold as Ice.
At the age of just 57, Mark Lanegan passed away on February 22. He had found success in the 1980s as lead singer of the group Screaming Trees. He had also been part of Queens of the Stone Age in the early 2000s.
The rock planet was shocked on March 25 when it learned of the death of 50-year-old Taylor Hawkins. The Foo Fighters drummer was found dead hours before the band’s concert in Colombia. Hawkins had been with the group for 25 years. Previously, he played for Alanis Morissette.
It was mainly as a drummer in the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap that Ric Parnell was known to the public. Parnell had also been part of the group Atomic Rooster in the 1970s. He died on May 1.
Guitarist emeritus, Scottish Ricky Gardiner has accompanied legends such as David Bowie (Low) and Iggy Pop (Lust For Life) on albums. He died on May 13 at age 73.
The music he composed for the films Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner marked the imagination. The Greek Vangelis, Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou of his real name, died in Paris following a heart problem, on May 17.
The former Yes drummer, who replaced original drummer Bill Bruford in 1972, died on May 26 after a short illness.
The keyboardist and founding member of Depeche Mode died on May 26, to the surprise of his former bandmates, Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, who were saddened to lose their friend. Depeche Mode has sold 100 million career albums.
Last Sunday, the Bon Jovi group lost one of its founding members. Before leaving the group in 1994, the bassist had participated in the hits You Give Love a Bad Name, Livin’ on a Prayer and Bad Medicine.
