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What famous person's untimely death saddened you the most?
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For me, it was undoubtedly Spalding Gray. His brand of quirky wit always resonated with me.
Gray's life and death is a lesson in just how insidious and destructive a force clinical depression can be. Here was someone who had a successful career, a loving family, and was loved by New Yorkers in a way that allowed him to enjoy some celebrity but lead a relatively normal life. Gray's suicide was a dreadful blow to me. I still carry a bit of that with me.
Gray's life and death is a lesson in just how insidious and destructive a force clinical depression can be. Here was someone who had a successful career, a loving family, and was loved by New Yorkers in a way that allowed him to enjoy some celebrity but lead a relatively normal life. Gray's suicide was a dreadful blow to me. I still carry a bit of that with me.
Jim Henson. I grew up wathcing The Muppet Show, usually b4 Yankees &/or Rangers games. It was like losing a childhood friend, both the event and my reaction to it completely surprised me.
notable second. Shel Silverstein.
Ok, now I really feel old.
notable second. Shel Silverstein.
Ok, now I really feel old.
Ayrton Senna was a death that shocked me. I was only 10 at the time and to see it live on TV was something i will never forget. I have been fascinated by his life ever since and have read some great books on him. Also it got me into F1 in a perverse way and I now work for Honda Racing so I suppose it was a very influential incident. Also people forget about Roland Ratzenberger who died at Imola the day before (12 years ago today), he gave up everything for what he believed in and got no reward.
The death of John Peel also shocked me, again top bloke who was so genuine.
Freddie Mercury was also a death that had a huge impact on my life. I had never heard of Queen before then and have now become a huge fan and even met my girlfriend through a mutual appreciation of Queen, thanks Freddie.
As someone else mentioned, John Lee from Feeder. I have only recently got into their music but reading his story is very saddening and makes some of the songs from Comfort In Sound and Pushing The Sences mean so much more.
The death of John Peel also shocked me, again top bloke who was so genuine.
Freddie Mercury was also a death that had a huge impact on my life. I had never heard of Queen before then and have now become a huge fan and even met my girlfriend through a mutual appreciation of Queen, thanks Freddie.
As someone else mentioned, John Lee from Feeder. I have only recently got into their music but reading his story is very saddening and makes some of the songs from Comfort In Sound and Pushing The Sences mean so much more.
Lau said:
I was listening to John Peel when he brought the news that Elvis had died.
I also got really angry when Marc Bolan's girlfriend drove him into a fracking tree.
I play Imagine on the piano and even though I wasn't around when he was popular and died, I don't know, it's just that the way he wrote his music for it blows me away, yeah there's similar pieces but, IDK.™ There was just something about that piece...Deepdale said:
From what I can tell and what I've read about him, he was a great guy.
If he was still living I would die to talk to him.
You know, I'm going to go play that now.
I don't think I ever really feel the need to mourn someone's death. It is a shame when people who have a purpose die, but I never seem to be affected by it. However, there are probably three people that I had felt some sort of odd saddness about when they died.
John Ritter, perhaps because I grew up watching him and he was just wonderful. Maybe even because I met him once and ate where he ate a couple of times. He just never seemed that affected by his own greatness.
Princess Diana, I think for obvious reasons. Maybe because I was one of those people who sat around for days watching the funeral and the news coverage. Maybe because I had met someone who was from England not two months before and we sat on the phone watching as she was remembered. Who knows. But I did.
Finally, Dana Reeve. Without getting into the politics surrounding most of her causes, I felt she was a fighter. I felt bad when she died and most of all I felt like her family was getting screwed. I found her death to be unfair...but that's just me.
John Ritter, perhaps because I grew up watching him and he was just wonderful. Maybe even because I met him once and ate where he ate a couple of times. He just never seemed that affected by his own greatness.
Princess Diana, I think for obvious reasons. Maybe because I was one of those people who sat around for days watching the funeral and the news coverage. Maybe because I had met someone who was from England not two months before and we sat on the phone watching as she was remembered. Who knows. But I did.
Finally, Dana Reeve. Without getting into the politics surrounding most of her causes, I felt she was a fighter. I felt bad when she died and most of all I felt like her family was getting screwed. I found her death to be unfair...but that's just me.
lilstewart said:
LOL
Way to go on making some of us feel old.
xsedrinam said:
That is what I remember most, since I was just 5 years old at the time. The tears and the candles. My Mom lit up our house with blessed candles to a point that I thought I was in some cathedral. Though as a 5yo, I was most upset that Ranger Rick was not on.
Abe Vigoda.
Seriously though.
Jim Henson.
If famous netizens count, Carl Lydick
http://www.myths.com/~dpm/vms/carl.html
Seriously though.
Jim Henson.
If famous netizens count, Carl Lydick
http://www.myths.com/~dpm/vms/carl.html
Wow, I can't believe no one's mentioned Dimebag Darrell from Pantera (guess MR isn't full of metal heads) but the dude was shot on stage! On the anniversary of John Lennon's Deaths.
That one upset me pretty bad, if you've ever watched Pantera's home videos you'll know why.
That one upset me pretty bad, if you've ever watched Pantera's home videos you'll know why.
Duff-Mna says...not as famous as some others, but just today I was reading the online diary of guitarist Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) and his younger brother and sometimes band-mate has recently passed. It was quite moving to read what Bill has written, so fresh in his mind...oh yeah!
Chip NoVaMac said:Don't dis the Fish.
Never dream of it. He is a great character actor.
I was dissing the common misconception that he is dead.
jsw said:
he did give you something great while he was here..
add another vote for chris farley. and phil hartman right behind... both were very sudden and tragic. i was certain that when my neighbor called me to tell me that farley had died, that he was kidding. wouldn't have been a very funny joke, in hindsight...
Peter Jennings impacted me the most. Also Lady Diana was pretty sad.
But Peter Jennings, anyone who saw him during the 9/11 news broadcast saw greatness.
But Peter Jennings, anyone who saw him during the 9/11 news broadcast saw greatness.
A lot of the above ring true for me: Wasn't born for Jimi Hendrix or Lennon but I wish those two were alive today, or had at least lived longer than they did. Senna was probably the worst as I was very into F1 at the time and it was pretty gruesome.
One person that hasn't been mentioned is Christopher Reeve. His death wasn't so much untimely because of how ill his accident made him, but it's definitely a sadder than usual story nonetheless.
One person that hasn't been mentioned is Christopher Reeve. His death wasn't so much untimely because of how ill his accident made him, but it's definitely a sadder than usual story nonetheless.
Musicians have had a strong impact on me, they're always in the background keeping me sane.
1. Johnny Cash - His stuff with Rick Rubin is outstanding.
2. Warren Zevon - He faced death with wit and determination. Listen to one of my favorite songs, "My shi*'s Fuc*ed up." Absolutely hysterical, yet thought provoking.
3. Freddie Mercury - The last Queen album is probably my favorite, and the cover is perfect. Freddie had a number of songs on the BBC prior to his passing. It made his death all the more poignant.
As for actors, John Candy was a shock. It shouldn't have been with his weight and smoking. Although not all his movies were memorable, the world lost a great talent. I'll miss him.
Princess Diana
1. Johnny Cash - His stuff with Rick Rubin is outstanding.
2. Warren Zevon - He faced death with wit and determination. Listen to one of my favorite songs, "My shi*'s Fuc*ed up." Absolutely hysterical, yet thought provoking.
3. Freddie Mercury - The last Queen album is probably my favorite, and the cover is perfect. Freddie had a number of songs on the BBC prior to his passing. It made his death all the more poignant.
As for actors, John Candy was a shock. It shouldn't have been with his weight and smoking. Although not all his movies were memorable, the world lost a great talent. I'll miss him.
Princess Diana