I guess depression and greatness are inseparable at times. Many geniuses, who for various reasons, took their own life despite worldwide fame and recognition. These are great artists whose suicides are a loss to the whole world and to many generations. We thank and remember them for sharing their music to us.
Pete Ham (Badfinger). This band from Wales worked closely with the legendary Beatles. Badfinger was making big bucks for companies but inadequate wages for themselves. Stan Polley signed the band to many contracts that stifled their financial success. Ham, who did vocals and played both guitars and keyboard, was undergoing desperate times that on April 24, 1975, he hanged himself in his studio leaving a note for his pregnant wife and son saying “Anne, I love you. Blair, I love you. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better. Pete. P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me.”
Tom Evans (Badfinger). With Pete Ham’s death, Badfinger disbanded. But the members were still touring and playing music, but none led to the success they deserved. There were a lot of terrible tours with devastating lawsuits. Evans then had an argument with another member Joey Molland about money problems they had way back when Ham was still alive. After the argument, he hanged himself. That was November 1983 and he was 36.
Ian Curtis (Joy Division). Ian is a punk rock legend. He is recognized for his songwriting and unique dancing on stage which looks a lot like having a seizure. This reflected his struggles in real life. He did suffer from epilepsy and his songs were distinctly melancholic. He was getting famous while his health and marriage were failing. At the very young age of 23, he was depressed and “hanged himself in his kitchen after having viewed Werner Herzog’s film Stroszek and listening to Iggy Pop’s The Idiot.” There was also a note saying “At this moment, I wish I were dead. I just can’t cope anymore.” Listen to his lyrics and you will notice the dark and sad tones.
Douglas Hopkins (Gin Blossoms). Doug was an important part of Gin Blossoms, before he was later replaced by Scott Johnson. He was not only the lead guitarist, but also the major songwriter and co-founder. One of the band’s timeless hits, Found Out About You, was written by Doug. But because of his behavior due to chronic depression and alcoholism, he was let go by the band. While Gin Blossoms was rising in the industry with the songs he wrote, he was trying to make it with another band but did not succeed. At 32, he escaped a detox unit in Phoenix and shot himself December of 1993.
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana). His iconic band started the distinctive grunge music and culture of the 90’s. But at the peak of fame and professional success, Kurt tragically took his life with a gun. He reportedly had many failed suicide attempts during the tour in Italy which led to a coma. As he went home to Seattle, he took the bullet on April 5, 1994.
Elliot Smith. His voice is melancholically enthralling and his lyrics reflect loneliness. Listen to his music and you’ll surely be drawn to his voice. Smith’s unique songwriting and voice earned him an Academy Award nomination for the song Miss Misery which was soundtrack to Good Will Hunting. On October 23, 2003, at the age of 34, he was stabbed at the chest. Though there’s the possibility of an attack, most say that the wound was self-inflicted.
Though they have been gone for quite some time, people still know them and can still sing their songs. They have left their marks in music history.
There are many ways to remember these musical masterminds:
Visit the home and birthplace of grunge music in Seattle.
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