Probably Prince, followed by Bowie, followed by Cobain, then Cornell, all because of the influence each had on me. My very first LP (that wasn't a K-Tel record) was "Let's Dance", and I got the cassette of "Purple Rain" around the same time. It was a gut-punch when he died - so much potential just gone. Bowie...felt like he got a good long time, despite hiding his cancer.
Cobain's death brings back that era (which was not about grunge for me - that was my thrash metal period), and the surprise of someone so young taking their life. Cornell's didn't have much impact at all - I wasn't into Soundgarden when it first came on the scene, and only got into their music in the last 20 years or so.
You are sadist making us choose between these, Sonny 🤣
That said, it would be Prince. I legit shed tears when he died and that one hit me hard because it was so unexpected. He, Kurt, and Chris are all big influences on me, but I was a bit too young when Kurt died to really make sense of it although it's hit me harder since, and Chris' death just shocked me. Apparently his family reached some kind of settlement regarding his death. I don't know the specifics, but whatever medication he was on apparently, his doc authorized a higher than usual dose and it caused some problems wrt suicidal ideation.
David Bowie was and remains a huge part of my life as a music person. While I was very sad when I heard he'd died, news of Prince's death came as more of a shock. Bowie, at least, had a few more years under his belt, and his history of drug use and alcoholism would have put him at high risk of cancer (though, of course, I sorely wish Bowie could have had longer on this earth to dazzle us. Why does Donald Trump get to live while Bowie had to die?). All of these are sad. I'd say Chris Cornell's death impacted me the least, because his era is a bit later, and I mostly ignored the music of the nineties. As an older gen x'er, 1980s were a much more instrumental decade in forming and solidifying my musical tastes. The testosterone fueled/hypermasculine grunge bands of the 90s did not resonate for me, sort of found that era alienating as a listener - perhaps I shouldn't have watched that documentary about Woodstock 1999, LOL, did not do anything to endear me to grunge.
Really should do a hip hop version of this — Big L, Tupac, Biggie, Big Pun come to mind.
Great idea, Wyatt! Will definitely do one in the future!
Bowie, still hurts.
Chris Cornell, his suicide, much like Chester Bennington’s, such a loss.
Both were completely unexpected by me especially Chester’s as I thought Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne had production deals for Chester.
Michael Hutchence
Good morning Mr Rane **said in the best Mission Impossible tape vocal I can muster at this moment**
I am still not over Chris Cornell’s passing. Have been going through my Soundgarden catalog phase again.
Also Henrik Ostergaard’s death hit me really hard too.
All big losses for sure but Cornell hit the hardest for me personally. Soundgarden’s SUPERUNKNOWN is my favorite record all-time.
Billy Mackenzie
Probably Prince, followed by Bowie, followed by Cobain, then Cornell, all because of the influence each had on me. My very first LP (that wasn't a K-Tel record) was "Let's Dance", and I got the cassette of "Purple Rain" around the same time. It was a gut-punch when he died - so much potential just gone. Bowie...felt like he got a good long time, despite hiding his cancer.
Cobain's death brings back that era (which was not about grunge for me - that was my thrash metal period), and the surprise of someone so young taking their life. Cornell's didn't have much impact at all - I wasn't into Soundgarden when it first came on the scene, and only got into their music in the last 20 years or so.
These are excellent posts, Sonny! Thank you!
Thank YOU, Sheila!
You are sadist making us choose between these, Sonny 🤣
That said, it would be Prince. I legit shed tears when he died and that one hit me hard because it was so unexpected. He, Kurt, and Chris are all big influences on me, but I was a bit too young when Kurt died to really make sense of it although it's hit me harder since, and Chris' death just shocked me. Apparently his family reached some kind of settlement regarding his death. I don't know the specifics, but whatever medication he was on apparently, his doc authorized a higher than usual dose and it caused some problems wrt suicidal ideation.
Lou Reed. Jeff Hanneman. Dave Brockie.
David Bowie was and remains a huge part of my life as a music person. While I was very sad when I heard he'd died, news of Prince's death came as more of a shock. Bowie, at least, had a few more years under his belt, and his history of drug use and alcoholism would have put him at high risk of cancer (though, of course, I sorely wish Bowie could have had longer on this earth to dazzle us. Why does Donald Trump get to live while Bowie had to die?). All of these are sad. I'd say Chris Cornell's death impacted me the least, because his era is a bit later, and I mostly ignored the music of the nineties. As an older gen x'er, 1980s were a much more instrumental decade in forming and solidifying my musical tastes. The testosterone fueled/hypermasculine grunge bands of the 90s did not resonate for me, sort of found that era alienating as a listener - perhaps I shouldn't have watched that documentary about Woodstock 1999, LOL, did not do anything to endear me to grunge.