Icons of the musical style such as John Mayall (Bluesbreakers), Paul Di’Anno (ex-Iron Maiden) and Wayne Kramer (MC5) passed away this year
The end of the year is a time not only to celebrate achievements or make projections for the future: it is also a time to remember those who left us in the previous months.
In rock, fans mourned the loss of several icons. For example, one of the giants of blues rock, John Mayallpassed away on July 22, aged 90. Paul Di’Annolead singer of Iron Maiden’s first two albums, died on October 21, aged 66. Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompsonrespectively guitarist and drummer of the revolutionary MC5left us in the same year.
Representatives of the style in Brazil also said “goodbye”. John Vincentkeyboardist and harmonica player None of Uspassed away on March 26, aged 58. Pit Passarellbassist of Viperdied on November 27, aged 56.
Check below a list of some — more specifically 20 — rock musicians who left us in 2024. The survey was initially published on the Igor Miranda website, with 45 names.
James Kottak (drummer for Scorpions, Kingdom Come, Montrose etc)
- Date: 01/09/2024
- Age: 61 years old
- Cause: not disclosed, but believed to be a heart attack
Rui Motta (drummer for Os Mutantes, Ney Matogrosso, Erasmo Carlos etc)
- Date: 01/17/2024
- Age: 72 years old
- Cause: not disclosed
Greg Wilson (lead singer and guitarist of Blues Etílios)
- Date: 01/20/2024
- Age: 60 years old
- Cause: rectal cancer
Wayne Kramer (MC5 guitarist)
- Date: 02/02/2024
- Age: 75 years old
- Cause: pancreatic cancer
Brit Turner (Blackberry Smoke drummer)
- Date: 03/03/2024
- Age: 57 years old
- Cause: brain cancer
João Vicenti (keyboardist and harmonica player for Nunca de Nós)
- Date: 03/26/2024
- Age: 58 years old
- Cause: kidney cancer
CJ Snare (lead singer of Firehouse)
- Date: 04/05/2024
- Age: 64 years old
- Cause: colorectal cancer
Dickey Betts (guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band)
- Date: 04/18/2024
- Age: 80 years old
- Cause: cancer and chronic kidney obstruction
Steve Albini (Shellac and Big Black musician and producer of Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Page & Plant etc)
- Date: 05/07/2024
- Age: 61 years old
- Cause: heart attack
Dennis Thompson (MC5 drummer)
- Date: 05/08/2024
- Age: 75 years old
- Cause: heart attack
Shifty Shellshock (Crazy Town vocalist)
- Date: 06/24/2024
- Age: 49 years old
- Cause: overdose of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine
Pinche Peach (Brujeria singer)
- Date: 07/17/2024
- Age: 57 years old
- Cause: heart problems
John Mayall (lead singer and guitarist of the Bluesbreakers)
- Date: 07/22/2024
- Age: 90 years old
- Cause: not disclosed
Jack Russell (lead singer of Great White)
- Date: 07/08/2024
- Age: 63 years old
- Cause: dementia with Lewy bodies
Juan Brujo (lead singer of Brujeria)
- Date: 09/16/2024
- Age: 56 years old
- Cause: heart attack
Pit Passarell (Viper bassist and vocalist)
- Date: 09/27/2024
- Age: 56 years old
- Cause: pancreatic cancer
Paul Di’Anno (lead singer of Iron Maiden)
- Date: 10/21/2024
- Age: 66 years old
- Cause: heart problems
Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead bassist)
- Date: 10/25/2024
- Age: 84 years old
- Cause: not disclosed, but had been facing bladder cancer since 2015
Peter Sinfield (composer for King Crimson, Roxy Music etc)
- Date: 11/14/2024
- Age: 80 years old
- Cause: not disclosed
Jon Camp (Renaissance bassist)
- Date: 12/19/2024
- Age: 75 years old
- Cause: not disclosed
Viper’s new video pays homage to Pit Passarell with scenes from his penultimate show
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
