SOUNDBITES

12 November / December 2005 CURRENT

There are rock stars – and thereare rock legends. Here are thetragic stories of the six mosttalented music stars. How didthey go from top of the charts to six feet under●?

Famous For: Those swinging hips,that pompadour● hair! Elvis was aninternational rock sensation by age 21.He revolutionized the sound of rock androll by combining pop, country, gospel,and R&B. Elvis didn’t earn the title “The King” for nothing: he started anew era of pop culture in America andgenerated the first European interest inAmerican rock ’n’ roll. He also starredin 33 successful films and has sold overone billion albums, more than any other singer in record history.

Cause of Death: Heart Failure.Elvis’ weakness was junk food (fried peanut butter and bananasandwiches were one of hisfavourites) and an addiction to prescription drugs. After 1973, Elvis’ health began todeteriorate●; he looked bloated,a far cry from his former goodlooks. He was found dead in the bathroom of his Memphis,Tennessee mansion by his roadmanager.

World’s Reaction: To many,Elvis lives on – literally! Popularlegend says he’s not actuallydead, and Elvis sightings aroundthe U.S. are reported regularly.There are currently over 635active Elvis fan clubs and 85,000Elvis impersonators worldwide.600,000 people visit hisMemphis home, ‘Graceland’,every year, and his total earningsamount to $40 million a year –making him the highest-earningdead celebrity.

Rock Deaths thatShook the World

DRUGSDied:

August 16, 1977 (age 42)

We can’t go on togetherWith suspicious mindsAnd we can’t build our dreamsOn suspicious minds Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley

V.I.PFrom

R.I.P● ●

to

Elvis Presley(a.k.a. The King, Elvis the Pelvis)

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Jim Morrison(a.k.a. Mr. Mojo Risin, The Lizard King)

Famous For: Being the outrageous leadsinger and lyricist of 1960s’ band The Doors.Morrison’s stage persona was wild: hesmashed up musical equipment, ranted athis audience and took drugs as part of hisshow. In fact it was not unusual for hisshows to end in near riot. His long hair andleather pants became the iconic image ofthe rock star.

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Tried to run Tried to hide Break on through to the other side Break on through to the other sideBreak on Through, The Doors

Freddie Mercury (born: Farrokh Bulsara)

Famous For: Mercury was the pianist, singer, songwriter, and lead vocalist ofBritish rock group Queen. Mercury had a singing voice like no other, and a lifestylelike no other. On the outside, he sported a glam rock style, with nail varnish and

outrageous costumes, but it was whatwas on the inside that made Freddie sospecial: “The reason I’m so successful,darling? My charisma of course!” hesaid.

Cause of Death: AIDS. Following a very private battle for his health,Mercury became the first major rockstar to die of AIDS just one day afterannouncing publicly that he hadcontracted the illness. He passed awayquietly in his London home with closefriends and family at his side. His bodywas cremated at Kensal GreenCemetery, London, although thelocation of his ashes is kept secret.

World’s Reaction: Freddie’scelebrity friends Elton John, Axl Rose,Diana Ross, and Boy George allgrieved publicly along with his fans. An AIDS charity concert was held inhis honour five months later. SinceMercury’s death, an East Africancrustacean has been named after him,he has inspired characters in two videogames, and he was even mentioned inKurt Cobain’s suicide letter. WithoutMercury, Queen were never the same.

John LennonFamous For: Lennon was a singer,songwriter, and guitarist for TheBeatles. He was also a solo musician,artist, actor, author, and politicalactivist. A pop icon of the 20thcentury, he and his signature roundsunglasses are now synonymous withhis hope for world peace.

Cause of Death: Murder. To theworld’s horror, Lennon was shot inthe back five times by deranged● fanMark David Chapman outside hisNew York apartment building. AfterLennon was shot, his killer sat downto read Salinger’s Catcher in the Ryeand waited for his arrest. Lennon wasimmediately taken to the hospital buthad lost over 80% of his blood anddied of shock.

World’s Reaction: Lennon was lost but never forgotten. A large crowdgathered at his New York apartment the night of his death, and another crowdheld a vigil in Central Park. The Strawberry Fields memorial was later constructedthere, and Liverpool airport was renamed in his honour too. On the twentiethanniversary of his death, millions of fans united in Liverpool and New York to payrespect. And as you probably know, Beatles music remains as popular andinfluential today.

Imagine there’s no heavenIt’s easy if you tryNo hell below usAbove us only skyImagine, John Lennon

Is this the real life?Is this just fantasy?Caught in a landslideNo escape from realityBohemian Rhapsody, Queen

AIDSDied:

November 24, 1991 (age 45)

SHOTDied:

December 8, 1980 (age 40)

DRUGSDied:

July 3, 1971(age 27)

Cause of Death: Drugs overdose.Morrison was a binge● drinker and a drugaddict who had started to cough up bloodregularly months before his death. He wasfound dead in a pool of bloody water in hisParis apartment bathtub. According toauthorities, the official cause of death was aheart attack. But many believe his deathwas a cover-up● and suspicions werefurther raised when the only witness, formergirlfriend Pamela Coursen, committedsuicide a few years later.

World’s Reaction: His simple gravestonein Paris has become a shrine for his fansand his music remains as popular today.Fans remain adamant● he is still alive andescaped to Africa to become a writer andpoet.

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SOUNDBITES

14 November / December 2005 CURRENT

Tupac Shakur(a.k.a. 2Pac, Pac, Makaveli)

Famous For: Tupac was a famous rap star at the topof his game. He lived life to the full and dangerously,and had a long-term feud with rap star Notorious BIG.

Cause of Death: Shot. Tupac was cruising down LasVegas Boulevard in a convoy of luxury cars full of rapstars on the way to a nightclub, but he was shot withfour rounds when stopped at a red light. The bullets,fired by members of a rival L.A. gang, tore his chest to pieces. A lthough doctors tried to save him byremoving his right lung, he died six days later with hismother at his side.

World’s Reaction: Controversy over Notorious BIG’sfollowing involvement in Tupac’s murder spurred moregang conflict in the days after his death. BIG waskilled one year later. Tupac’s murder was neverofficially solved, and no arrests were ever made. Buthis legacy lives on. Theories about Tupac faking hisown death to escape pressure and violence circulatedamong his fans, and he has released more songs whiledead than alive (he had over 200 unreleased songs). A clothing line called Makaveli Branded was launchedin 2003, the same time as the famous documentary inwhich Tupac predicts his own death: “I always knew Iwas gonna be shot.”

AaliyahFamous For: The rising star ofR&B in the 1990s, Aaliyah madeheadlines with her debut albumAge A in’t Nothing But A Numberwhen she was only 15. She starredin two movies and was signed upfor The Matrix, had modelled forTommy Hilfiger, and had gotmarried at age 15 to fellowR&B star R Kelly – who wasover ten years older.

Cause of Death: Plane crash.Aaliyah perished when her smallplane, on route from the Bahamasto Florida after a music video shoot,crashed upon takeoff and exploded.A ll nine passengers were killed. Theplane had been overloaded by acouple of hundred pounds – somuch that the pilot had complainedabout the heavy load. The

passengers refusedto take off anysuitcases. However,an autopsy laterrevealed cocaineand alcohol in thepilot’s blood. Aaliyahis now buried inHartsdale, New York.

World’s Reaction:Her song Rock theBoat and video, shotin the Bahamas, wasreleased andbecame an instanthit. Famous rap starfriends such asM issy Elliott andTimbaland praisedher as a talented,unique musician,and this year CentralPark dedicated aweeping willow treeto her next toStrawberry Fields.

I see no changes Wake up in the morning and I ask myselfIs life worth living, should I blast myself?Changes, Tupac

If at first you don’t succeed(First you don't succeed)Then dust yourself off and try againTry again, Aaliyah

DiscussionWhat makes a rock legend?

Which of the stars were rock legends before they died? Which ones do you think went on to become legends?

If the stars had not died prematurely, what do you think wouldhave happened to them? What would they be doing today?

Some of the stars are believed to have faked their deaths. Doyou think this is because fans can’t accept their deaths or arethere any cases where you think this could actually be true?

You can find a language activity for this article on page 30

✱ GLOSSARYV.I.P: (abbrv.) stands for very importantpersonR.I.P: (abbrv.) stands for rest in peace .You will see this on gravestonessix feet under: (phrase) this is thedistance under the earth that people are buriedpompadour: (n) an eighteenth-centuryhairstyle with the hair piled up at the front

to deteriorate: (v) get worsederanged: (adj) madto binge: (v) overdose on alcoholor food; is often used by youngpeople, e.g. binge on chocolate cover-up: (n) try to conceal acrime or a mistakeadamant: (adj) to be sure thatyour view is correct

Samantha Brody /Sarah Johnson

V.I.PFrom R.I.Pto

SHOTDied:

September 13,1996 (age 25)

PLANECRASH

Died:August 25,

2001 (age 22)

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