14 legendary music artists who died in mysterious way

Sam Cooke (1964)

Perhaps the greatest “pure” soul singer in American history, Sam Cooke’s career increased after a series of hits when he was shot to death On December 11, 1964, at the age of 33 in a stylish LA-Motell, alleged by the hotel’s manager in self-defense.

Various alternative theories have emerged; But most circle around the idea that Cooke may have been murdered: One JamesFor example, saw Cooke’s body before he was buried and maintained his injuries was more consistent with those who beat a shooting, per The custodian.

Bobby Fuller (1966)

The singer “I fought against the law” was found dead at 23 in his car on July 18, 1966 – just a few months after the song became a hit. His body apparently had doused in gasoline, and several people indicated the presence of bruises on his body.

Originally, was considered a suicide, Fuller’s death was eventually controlled inadvertently. However, According to NPRrumors circulated that he had been killed by mafia or in another outlandic theory Manson family.

Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones (1969)

Brian was the eccentric genius behind some of the most wavy sounds at the beginning Pull stones“Record, including Marimba on” under my thumb. “The English musician died at the age of 27 on July 3, 1969. His death was ruled as an unintentional drowning in his pool (and marked” Death by Misadventure “by the coron as a nod for his alcohol and drug abuse).

However, British investigative journalist Scott Jones attached Brian dead to a builder named Frank Thorogood, the last person who saw musicians alive. The Sussex police examined the case in 2009 based on Scott’s evidence but decided that none of the new information was enough to override their first decision (via The custodian).

Jim Morrison of the Doors (1971)

Given Jim Morrison’s legendary hedonism, it may seem strange to consider his death “mysterious”. After he was found dead in the bathtub in an apartment in Paris on July 3, 1971, his official cause of death was listed as a heart attack – although no autopsy was ever performed on the door’s frontman, as it was not required by French law.

2014, per TelegraphSinger songwriter Marianne Faithfull accused Drugs Dealer and Ex-Boyfriend Jean de Breiteuil as the man Behind Morrison’s deathstated that he administered an overly strong dose of heroin to Morrison.

Paul Williams of the Temptations (1973)

On August 17, 1973, Paul Williams (top left) was found dead inside a car parked in an alley with a gun nearby shortly after an argument with his girlfriend. He reportedly talked about suicide to friends in recent months.

As I said, the coronary report stated that Williams used his right hand to shoot himself on the left side of his head – think about the logistics for it – and the gun used in shooting had fired two shots that night, of which only one killed Williams.

Donny Hathaway (1979)

Donny Hathaway lived with paranoid schizophrenia and was known for not being particularly aware of following his medicine routine. Although his career recovered from a low point in 1979, he began to act independently during a recording session on January 13. Hathaway then went back to his 15th floor room at the Essex House Hotel in New York City and jumped to his death at the age of 33 (via New York Times).

Rumors have remained that Hathaway owed money to the mob around this time, although it would have been difficult to separate his ravings that “white men were after him” from the symptoms of his mental illness.

Gary Driscoll of Rainbow (1987)

Gary Driscoll from British Rock Group Rainbow was found murdered in Hans Ithaca, NY, home on June 8, 1987, without obvious motif. Separating the fact from the invention is difficult, but there have been rumors that there was more than one murderer, the murder was drug-related and-kanish most disturbing-that Driscoll was either dismantled or struck alive. It is still an unsolved case for this day.

CESNEY ‘CHET’ Baker (1988)

Chet Baker fell to his death from the balcony of a hotel in Amsterdam on May 13, 1988; He was 58 years old. To fight against addiction and economic misery, it would be easy to assume that the death of Baker had any harmful aspect. (After all, he was beaten over drugs so badly in the late 1960s that most of his teeth were knocked out.)

Medicines were found in his system, and it is generally assumed that his death was unintentional. But given Baker’s lasting inheritance, it is likely that it will remain a point in the rumor circulation.

Cornelius “Cornell” Gunter of the Coasters (1990)

Cornelius “Cornell” Gunter – R&B Singer and member of the coasters —was shot and killed in his car in las vegas on feb. 26, 1990. He was shot through the windshield at an intersection, and witnesses reported gunter arguing with a man from his car shortly before the shooting, according to Los Angeles Times. No arrests were made, and the murder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induator remains unresolved.

Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls (1991)

Like Morrison, Johnny Thunder’s death was hardly a surprise on April 23, 1991. Although it was officially controlled drug -related, toxicological reports later determined the drugs in the guitarist and the singer’s system was not at a deadly level. (Thunders had also suffered from advanced leukemia at that time.)

However, his New Orleans hotel room had been ranked. Dee Dee Ramone wrote in his 2000 -Selvobiography, Lobotomy: Survive Ramonesthat “Johnny had been mixed with some bastards … who ripped him for his methadone supply. They had given him LSD and then murdered him.”

Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers (1995)

Richey Edwards had a long history of mental health problems when he disappeared on February 1, 1995, just before his band, Manic Street preachers, would fly to the United States for a campaign tour.

Although his car was found abandoned near Severn Bridge – an ordinary suicide site in the UK (via The Independent) – Edwards became one of Rock’s most famous missing people for some time, with observations on tropical islands and India. His sister criticized the police’s handling of the case, with the family who did not explain Edward’s legal death until November 23, 2008, on which his status was changed to “Missing, adopted death.”

Tupac Shakur (1996)

Shakur’s murder from 1996 has aroused countless conspiracy theories. Often rumored as victims of a dispute between gang, some have even pointed their finger toward hip hop moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs – Who was reportedly jealous of Shakur’s friendship With the late bad boy artist Biggie Smalls (Né Christopher Wallace) – and Suck Knight to order the deed.

In his self -published book 2011, RapThe Former LAPD -Detective Greg Kading claimed to have proof that Combs and Knight were responsible for Shakur’s death, and the Los Angeles authorities suppressed the evidence (via Police stone).

Combs, however, denied the charges in an e -mail message to Laid every week 2011, Writing, “This story is pure fiction and completely ridiculous.”

Although one of Shakur’s songs supposedly contains the hidden message “Suge shot me”, there has never been any crucial evidence that links the former Death Row CEO and co-founder of Shakur’s death. Knight himself has denied killing Shakur and even told TMZ (probably joking) 2014 that the rapper is actually still alive.

Even more strange, Haaretz reported That the FBI files released in 2011 revealed that Shakur had received death threats from the Jewish Defense League, an organization characterized as a terrorist cell.

Following Shakur’s murder, Duane was “Keefe D” Davis (or “Keffe D” as Prosecutor has noted)-Farbror to the deceased Crips gang member Orlando Anderson, the suspected shooter who later died in a separate gang-related incident 1998- arrested and accused in connection with the crime.

While Davis has maintained his innocence, the authorities believe that he orchestrated the murder as retaliation In the middle of a growing gang feud involving his nephew.

Davis’s trial was scheduled for March 2025 but at the last minute was run until February 2026, Per ABC News.

Biggie Smalls/Notorious Big (1997)

A similar group of rumors has surrounded Smalls’ (aka notoriously large) unsolved murder, according to New York Daily News. While some have posed the unfounded theory that government agents killed both small and shakur to end the perceived “east coast/west coast” rap battle in the 90s, the FBI’s files About the “juicy” rapper’s death on March 9, 1997, include a reference to rare ammunition used in shooting that was also found in the home to Lapd police David Mack.

At the murder, Mack Månljus was a bodyguard for Knight and was arrested for bank robbery the same year. The FBI also found a black Chevy Impala SS in Mack’s possession – the same vehicle as the agency claims was driven by the killer. Small’s family is called Mack in an incorrect death right in 2005, but the case was dismissed from the court, reported Police stone.

The late LAPD Detective Russell Poole, who died in 2015, was a song advocate for the theory that Knight ordered unknown murderers – possibly Mack – to commit the crime. Until today, Mack has not been charged with any crime related to Small’s murder, and he has continued to maintain his innocence. Knight has also denied to command someone to kill little ones.

Elliott Smith (2003)

Musician Elliott Smith (Né Steven Paul Smith) died at the age of 34 on October 21, 2003, of what was two seemingly self -destroyed sticks to the heart. However, there were wounds on his hands in accordance with defensive marks, and Coroner’s report did not mention typical “doubts” as seen in suicide by knife.

The custodian reported These detectives concluded that his death was “possibly suspicious” at that time, although nothing ever came from a further investigation.