On This Date, March 5th in 1982: Actor / Comedian John Belushi died of an accidental drug overdose in the Chateau Marmont Hotel in West Hollywood, California. He was 33 years old. He’s been gone so long now that it’s easy to forget just how gifted and funny John Belushi was, and many people reading this may be too young to remember much at all about John. But you can remember some of his achievements, and read about projects he never lived to see completed, at This Link. RIP, John.
On This Date, January 8th, in 1991: Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark was found dead at his Chelsea flat by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy drinking and prescription drug consumption. He was 30 years old. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as an overdose of codeine combined with Valium, morphine and alcohol. In 2007, Clark was posthumously ranked No.11 on Classic Rock Magazine’s 100 Wildest Guitar Heroes. What a waste. RIP, Steve.
On This Date, May 30th, in 1997: Songwriter and musician West Arkeen, a close friend and collaborator to Guns N’ Roses who co-wrote “It’s So Easy” and numerous songs with the band, died of an accidental opiate overdose. West had returned to his home from a hospital intensive care unit where he was being treated for burns over much of his body after his indoor barbecue exploded 11 days before his death. He was 36 years old.
Heaven Beside You; Hell Within
Layne Staley, singer for Alice in Chains was born on this day, August 22nd, in 1967. Throughout his career, Staley struggled with severe drug addiction, which eventually led to his death in April of 2002. RIP.
