Jimi Hendrix:  Age 27
(b. Johnny Allen Hendrix, 27 November 1942, Seattle, Washington, d. 18 September 1970.
His father subsequently changed his son's name to James Marshall Hendrix).
More superlatives have been bestowed upon Hendrix than any other rock guitarist.  Enough said.
On 18 September 1970, his girlfriend, Monika Danneman, became alarmed when she was unable
to rouse him from sleep. An ambulance was called, but Hendrix was pronounced dead on arrival
at a nearby hospital. The inquest recorded an open verdict, with death caused by suffocation due
to inhalation of vomit. Eric Burdon claimed at the time to possess a suicide note, but this has never
been confirmed.

Bon Scott:  Age 33
(b. Ronald Scott, 9 July 1946, Kirriemuir, Scotland, d. 20 February 1980).
Scott graduated from being AC/DC’s chauffeur to becoming their vocalist.  HIGHWAY
TO HELL in 1979 established them as international stars. This, the band's first album with
producer Mutt Lange, also proved to be their last with Bon Scott. On 20 February 1980,
after a night of heavy drinking, he was left unconscious in a friend's car, and was later found
to be dead, having choked on his own vomit. The coroner recorded a verdict of death by
misadventure.

Tommy Dorsey:  Age 50
(b. 19 November 1905, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 26 November 1956).
In 1934 he and Jimmy formed the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, which became extremely
popular. Despite, or perhaps because of, their close relationship, the brothers frequently
argued, sometimes violently, and after one such disagreement in May 1935, Tommy walked
out leaving Jimmy to take over leadership of the orchestra. Tommy then took over the
excellent danceband led by Joe Haymes. Highly ambitious, Dorsey set about turning the band,
which was already a sound and well-disciplined unit, into the finest dance orchestra of the era.
 And although Frank Sinatra had already begun to establish a reputation with Harry James, it
was his stint with Dorsey that made him into an international singing star.  Nevertheless, the '50s
were difficult times and in 1953, he was happy to be reunited with his brother, whose own outfit
had folded. Tommy Dorsey gave Jimmy a featured spot and renamed his band as the Dorsey Brothers
Orchestra. A heavy eater, Tommy Dorsey choked to death in his sleep. He had had a big dinner and
was accustomed to using  pills to help him sleep.

John Bonham:  Age 32
Led Zeppelin
(b. 31 May 1947, Birmingham, England, d. 25 September 1980).
This pivotal quartet was formed in October 1968.  The four gelled immediately and having
completed outstanding commitments under the name 'New Yardbirds', became Led Zeppelin
following an off-the-cuff quip by the Who's Keith Moon, who remarked when rating their
prospects that they would probably go down like a lead zeppelin. After releasing In Through
The Out Door in 1979  two concerts at Britain's Knebworth Festival were the prelude to a short
European tour on which the group unveiled a stripped-down act, inspired, in part, by the punk
explosion. Rehearsals were then undertaken for another US tour, but in September 1980,
Bonham was found dead following a lengthy drinking bout. On 4 December, Swan Song
announced that the group had officially retired.