This month marks 60 years since Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. He is one of many brilliant musicians who have gone too soon. Elvis, Michael Jackson, Prince, Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday all died too young, along with George Michael, Kurt Cobain and David Bowie. You can only wonder at what music they still had to make.
John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix were both making new albums at the time of their deaths and nearly all of them were haunted by demons and by the pressures of fame which pushed them towards addiction. It frightening to see so many lives cut tragically short. Here are 15 great music stars who died before their time.
