However, she would fall back into the trap of addiction repeatedly, which ultimately led to her death of an accidental overdose. James Jamerson was the bassist on most of the Motown Records in the 1960s and early 1970s and is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential bass players in modern music history. Jamerson played on twenty-three Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, as well as fifty-six R&B number-one hits.

What is wrong with the popular music industry?

This is a list of alcoholic musicians who drank themselves to death. Alcoholism is more than simply a lack of self control; today, it is considered an all out addictive disorder. Fortunately, alcohol abuse is a treatable disease and many addictions have been broken.

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• Mac Miller, born Malcolm James McCormick, was a rapper with several albums, and had hit songs including „The Way,“ with his one-time girlfriend Ariana Grande.
• British actress Yootha Joyce found success in her work on British television, appearing in such productions as Man About the House and George and Mildred.
• However, his career was cut short when he died at only 33 years old.
• A long-time alcoholic, Cassavetes passed from complications of cirrhosis of the liver in 1989, at the age of 59.

Amy Winehouse (Sept. 14, 1983 – 23 July 23, 2011) was an English singer and songwriter. Keith Whitley (July 1, 1954 – May 9, 1989) was a country music singer. Some of the systemic problems in the pop music industry were outlined in a previous article in the Death and Dying series.

• She died shortly after as a result of alcohol-and-drug-related complications.
• The next morning, her bodyguard saw her lying in bed at 10 am, not unusual.
• His alcoholism prematurely aged him—he was known to put back two liters a day.
• According to a family member, Cobain had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had a painful digestive disorder, which he used heroin to relieve the pain.
• While alcoholism can affect anyone from any type of career, we often see musicians especially vulnerable to addiction.

Musicians Who Have Died of Alcohol or Drug Overdose

Dr Paul Adams is a professor of medicine and the Chief of Gastroenterology at the University Hospital in London, Ontario. He is a performing jazz musician (drums and vibraphone, ) and has a longstanding interest in the history of jazz. At Resurgence Behavioral Health, a team of addiction specialists offers a full continuum of care with the most amphetamine addiction treatment up-to-date evidence-based addiction treatment programs. We support clients no matter where they are in their recovery journey and customize treatments for each unique client. Our treatments also address trauma and co-occurring disorders to get to the core of addiction. And The Three Musketeers, Oliver Reed was notorious for both his womanizing and his drinking and was known for his binge drinking.

Kurt Cobain

Even though her death is thought to have been a heroin overdose, alcohol also played a role. Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, had developed alcoholism throughout his career to cope with depressive moods and traumatic events because he felt it helped his creativity. Drugs and alcohol took their toll on Morrison, and his performances were greatly affected. No autopsy was performed, but it is believed he passed from a drug and alcohol overdose. Deryck Whibley (born March 21, 1980) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. The lead singer, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, main songwriter, and producer of the rock band Sum 41.

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It’s still delightfully fun music, and one that pairs well with alcohol—something simple and high-proof to sip on during complex solos, or a bourbon drink during New Orleans backline romps. But, like Parker himself, the romance of the binge-drinking performer has largely been laid to rest. Rivalry with other musicians and the struggle to develop one’s own recognisable “brand” in a saturated market is also a chronic stressor. With her sultry voice and steely on-stage persona, Amphlett was one of the greats of Australian rock. In the fall of 2005, Godwyn had seen enough of his client and friend stumbling through Camden, closer and closer to the edge of squandering her talent, not to mention her life.

She started drinking alcohol at just 12 years old and struggled with alcohol addiction for most of her life. She had also dabbled with crack cocaine and heroin later in life while she continued alcohol abuse to numb her mental health issues. Paramedics found her body at her home with empty vodka bottles on the floor. Toxicology tests revealed she had five times the legal drink-drive limit.

Jackie Keith Whitley influenced many country stars

• Magic,” the hidden last track of that album, about substance abuse.
• Bop and post-bop musicians, witnessing the damage of widespread substance abuse, warned the next round of artists against the romantic myth of the heavy-drinking creative genius.
• His autopsy revealed he had crack cocaine, fentanyl, alcohol, and prescription drugs in his system, as well as showing he had Covid-19.

Others deal with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety and rarely seek professional help, turning to drugs and alcohol to cope. The rock ‘n’ roll culture also encourages substance use, which for many leads to dependence. Gene Clark was a musicians who died from alcohol gifted songwriter and singer, famous for co-founding the Byrds in 1965. He suffered from anxiety and other possible mental health problems, self-medicating himself with alcohol and drugs.

• He was 31 at the time and in a long-time relationship with a co-star from Glee, Lea Michele.
• However, drug use is big in the entertainment industry and there have been a lot of celebrities that had a substance abuse problem.
• Doctors listed liver, kidney, and heart ailments all as causes, complicated by pneumonia and his continued drinking.
• It seems more common for famous people because everything they do is announced to the world.

Unfortunately, on October 4, 1970, her road manager found her dead in her hotel room from an accidental heroin overdose. Fans of the hit rock band Nirvana will tell you that it came as a heartbreaking shock when lead singer Kurt Cobain passed away due to his substance abuse issues in the early 1990s. Cobain’s star was only on its way up, and he had gained millions of fans throughout the world. However, as famous as he got, he could never free himself from drugs’ influence on his life. Although the official cause of death for Cobain was suicide, it was determined that this suicide was driven by accessive heroin use, which may have altered his thinking.