Who Passed Away in Heavy Metal Music?

As a fan of heavy metal music, you’re likely familiar with some of the genre’s most iconic figures. But who passed away in heavy metal music? Here’s a look at some of the most notable musicians who have died in recent years.

Ronnie James Dio

Ronald James Padavona, better known by his stage name Ronnie James Dio, was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the “metal horns” hand gesture in heavy metal culture.

Dio had a powerful vocal range that spanned nearly four octaves. His voice was described as “a powerful raspy voice with a high-pitched timbre.” He was known for his “finger-in-the-wind” fist-pumping gestures during performances, which he started doing in 1969 with Elf followed by Rainbow and Black Sabbath.

Dio died on May 16, 2010, at the age of 67 from stomach cancer.

Vinnie Paul

Vincent Paul Abbott, better known as Vinnie Paul, was an American professional musician, songwriter and producer, best known for being a co-founder, drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist for American heavy metal band Pantera. He was a founding member of supergroup Hellyeah and heavy metal band Damageplan. Abbott died on June 22, 2018, aged 54.

Dimebag Darrell

Dimebag Darrell, birth name Darrell Lance Abbott, was an iconic American musician who helped to pioneer the heavy metal genre. He is best known for his work as the guitarist for the bands Pantera and Damageplan. He was tragically killed onstage in 2004 by a deranged fan.

Cliff Burton

Cliff Burton (February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986) was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Burton joined Metallica in December 1986 and performed on their second studio album, …And Justice for All. He also co-wrote the song “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)” from that album.

Burton died in September 1986, at the age of 24, when his tour bus crashed in Sweden. A 24-hour memorial was held for him at Tushino Airfield in Moscow, USSR on September 29, 1986, which was attended by an estimated 500,000 people.

Chuck Schuldiner

Chuck Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was the founder and primary creative force behind the death metal band Death. He is credited with inventing the death metal genre and is considered one of the most influential heavy metal musicians of all time. Schuldiner died on December 12, 2001, after a battle with brain cancer.

Phil Anselmo

Philip H. Anselmo (born June 30, 1968) is an American musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman of the bands Superjoint Ritual, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals and Scour. Anselmo also performed with Venom Inc., Arson Anthem, Theoscillating Fan Club, Down (stylized as DOWN), and Eibon.

Anselmo has worked with Rex Brown, Hank Williams III, Warren Haynes, Bobby Landgraf, Mike Inez, Collin McKinney, Jimmy Bower, Warbeast and Superjoint guitarist Kevin Bond as well as singers and musicians in other genres such as JimRoot, CoreyTaylor and Scott Ian.

Anselmo was studying pre-law at University of Louisiana at Lafayette when he joined Pantera in 1986 replacing Terry Glaze on lead vocals. In September 1988, Pantera released Power Metal which peaked number 100 on Billboard 200 chart. The next two albums Cowboys from Hell (1990) and Vulgar Display of Power (1992), were certified platinum by RIAA selling more than 1 million copies each in the U.S alone. Far Beyond Driven charted at number one on Billboard 200 upon release in 1994 making it the first extreme metal album to do so.[12] The following album The Great Southern Trendkill was released in 1996 debuting at number four on Billboard 200.[13]

Following Pantera’s disbandment in 2003 due to vocalist Phil Anselmo’s drug addiction and personal conflicts with Abbott brothers Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott,[14] Anselmo formed side project Superjoint Ritual that same year.