Some don't have any of these instruments
Music is an artform, and as such it's used to convey messages and emotions. The death of a close person, such as a bandmate, or of someone we really admire, can have a great impact in one's life. Bands and solo artists from across all genres have paid tribute to these special people who are no longer with us, in the language they know best—music.
In this gallery we bring you some of the greatest tribute songs ever written for dead musicians. Click on and add them to your playlist.
The famous song was written in tribute to Buddy Holly. The song also references Richie Valens and Big Bopper, who were on the February 3, 1959 plane crash that killed the three music stars, on what became known as ‘The Day the Music Died.’
Kurt Cobain quoted Neil Young’s lyrics in his suicide note, and Young couldn't ignore it. He wrote this song to pay tribute to the Nirvana front man.
Sean Combs pays tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. with this tune based on The Police's 'Every Breath You Take.' Biggie and Combs were close friends.
Elvis was the subject of this tribute song by "The Boss." The song uses a tune originally written by Chuck Berry.
The Aussie rockers paid tribute to their late singer, Bon Scott with this song. AC/DC released the song and album of the same title in 1980, five months after Scott’s death.
Rod Stewart pays tribute to three blues and soul artists who were huge influences for him: Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, and Otis Redding.
The shock rocker wrote this 1971 song for his late friend and The Doors front man, Jim Morrison.
This 1997 song was written by Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, as a tribute to the band’s late front man Freddie Mercury.
RHCP wrote this 1995 as a tribute to Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Lyrics include “I liked your whiskers / And I liked the dimple in your chin / Your pale blue eyes / You painted pictures / 'Cause the one who hurts can give so much / You gave me such.”
You probably know this song best as a Christmas hit, but it was originally written about the band’s late guitarist James Honeyman-Scott (pictured, right).
Johnny Van Zant pays tribute to the band’s original front man, his brother Ronnie, who died with Steve and Cassie Gaines in a plane crash in 1977.
Megadeth’s front man Dave Mustaine wrote this song after Metallica’s bassist Cliff Burton tragically died in a bus crash in Sweden. Mustaine was great friends with Burton and played with him in Metallica until 1983.
This was Metallica’s tribute song to their bass player Cliff Burton (far left). The poignant instrumental features bass lines as well as words written by Burton before his passing.
The Irish rockers have paid tribute to a number of music personalities over the years. One example is 'Angel of Harlem,' which was written for singer Billie Holiday (though they have dedicated it to many others over the years, including Michael Jackson).
Other tribute songs U2 have written include 'Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of,' for INXS singer Michael Hutchence, 'A Day Without Me,' for Joy Division front man Ian Curtis, and 'The Miracle (of Joey Ramone),' for the Ramones singer Joey Ramone.
The iconic singer-songwriter recalls a romantic encounter he had with singer Janis Joplin in this song.
The song was originally written by Mick Jagger in 1968, but re-written in 1972 to pay tribute to the band’s late guitarist Brian Jones.
George Harrison had previously written this song for Ringo Star, but after Lennon died he changed the lyrics, and even got Paul McCartney to sing backing vocals. The song that reunited three out of the four Beatles was released in May 1981.
McCartney also paid tribute to John Lennon in a song of his own. The lyrics are an imagined chat between the two Beatles, where Paul McCartney recalls several moments and says how much he loves and misses Lennon.
Elton John also wrote a song for John Lennon. The title is a reference to Lennon's final concert appearance, which was at Elton John's 1974 concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City (pictured).
Other songs have been written in tribute to the late Beatle, including 'Edge of Seventeen' by Stevie Nicks, 'Roll on John' by Bob Dylan, and 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' by Paul Simon (though this one was about three Johns: the R&B star Johnny Ace, President JFK, and John Lennon).
Brian Wilson pays tribute to his brother and fellow Beach Boy, Carl Wilson, in this song.
The first AIC album after Layne Staley’s death contains a homonymous track where Jerry Cantrell sings “Lay down / Black gives way to blue / Lay down / I'll remember you.” A beautiful tribute to the band’s iconic front man.
This song was written by a band called Argent, but Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons updated it to pay tribute to their late drummer Eric Carr (far right).
The British band pays tribute to the late bandmate, guitarist Steve Clark, who died of an overdose in 1991. Another Def Leppard song, ‘Blood Runs Cold,’ also mentions Clark.
David Gilmour wrote this song for his Pink Floyd bandmate, keyboardist Rick Wright, who passed away in 2008. The lyrics were written by Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson.
Deep Purple paid tribute to the group’s co-founder, keyboardist Jon Lord with two songs on their 2013 album 'Now What?!'
Roger Daltrey released this tune in honor of his late friend and former bandmate in The Who, drummer Keith Moon. Originally written by John Parr and Julia Downes, the track had the participation of several famous drummers in the recording session, including Queen’s Roger Taylor and The Police’s Stewart Copeland.
Temple of the Dog was a group put together to record a tribute album for the late Andy Wood of Mother Love Bone. The band included members such as Chris Cornell from Soundgarden.
‘Oh Thank You Great Spirit’ was written in tribute to the late guitarist Jimmmy Hendrix.
Sources: (Ultimate Classic Rock) (Far Out Magazine) (Loudwire) (I Love Classic Rock) (AV Club)
See also: Stars who dropped dead mid-performance
Tribute songs written for dead musicians
In honor of bandmates and music legends
MUSIC Tunes
Music is an artform, and as such it's used to convey messages and emotions. The death of a close person, such as a bandmate, or of someone we really admire, can have a great impact in one's life. Bands and solo artists from across all genres have paid tribute to these special people who are no longer with us, in the language they know best—music.
In this gallery we bring you some of the greatest tribute songs ever written for dead musicians. Click on and add them to your playlist.