The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches

Did you know that Brian Jones was told by a medium to “avoid water”? Or that Buddy Holly only decided to fly so he’d have time to finish his laundry? The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars reveals the truth behind these and thousands of other fascinating stories, while answering such perennial questions as:

• which band boasts the most dead members?
• who had the bright idea of changing a light bulb while standing in the shower?
• and did Cass Elliot really check out before finishing lunch?

The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars is the bible of pop music’s dead–the ultimate record of all those who arrived, rocked, and checked out over the last forty-odd years of fast cars, private jets, hard drugs, lethal weapons, and reckless living. Jeremy Simmonds here draws on a lifetime’s obsession to match the industry’s biggest departed stars–Buddy, Jeff, Sid, Jimi, Biggie, Janis, Elvis, Marc, Tupac–with more than a few lesser-known tales of rock tragedy. He also includes a smorgasbord of lighter-hearted sidebars, including strange facts, lucky escapes, and top-ten death discs.

An indispensable reference full of useful and useless information, with hundreds of photos of the good, the bad, and the silly, The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars is guaranteed to rock the world of trivia buffs and diehards alike.