Show Must Go On: 15 Rock Icons That Transformed After Tragedy

1. AC/DC – Brian Johnson Replaces the Late Bon Scott

In February of 1980, while the band was working on Back in Black, singer Bon Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heaving drinking. While the surviving members of AC/DC contemplated putting, Scott’s parents urged the group to press on. The band decided to do just that, and began looking for a new lead vocalist.

The band brought Brian Johnson in for two auditions, and liked that his voice was distinctly different from Scott’s, wanting to avoid an imitation of their late band member. They announced Johnson’s hire on April 1, 1980, and finished recording Back in Black. The album went on to be the biggest hit of the band’s career, going 2x RIAA diamond.

2. Alice In Chains – Band Reforms After Layne Staley’s Death

Alice in Chains began experiencing significant internal turbulence in 1995. In 1996, singer Layne Staley suffered a drug overdose, forcing the band to go on hiatus as he recovered. The band briefly reunited in 1998 to record a pair of songs for the band’s 1999 box set, Music Bank. In April of 2002, Staley was found dead at his condo around two weeks after he had died.

Surviving members of Alice in Chains briefly reunited for a benefit concert in 2004, and expressed interest in continuing the band after the experience. Singer William DuVall, who had performed with guitarist Jerry Cantrell‘s solo band in the past, was brought in to sing lead for Alice in Chains’ reunion shows. Not long after, DuVall was named as the official lead singer for the band. Alice in Chains has since released new music with DuVall, and are still performing to this day.

3. The Allman Brothers Band – Duane Allman Dies as Band Begins to Peak

The Allman Brothers Band was reaching their peak in 1971, thanks in part to the fantastic 1971 live album, At Fillmore East. Duane Allman, often considered one of the greatest guitarists in rock history, was tragically killed after a freak motorcycle accident in October of 1971, one day after leaving rehab for heroin addiction.

Gregg Allman, Duane’s younger brother, and the surviving members of the band, met and concluded they still wanted to keep the band going. They returned to the road not long after, and completed their third studio album, Eat a Peach, which went platinum. The band continued touring and realizing music until 1976.

The Allman Brothers Band reunited in 1978, before breaking up again in 1982 as Gregg’s solo career started to take off. They’d reunite again in 1989, staying together until 2014.

4. Boston – Band Finds New Singer in Wake Of Brad Delp’s Death

Formed by musician Tom Scholz in 1975, Boston had experienced several lineup changes and hiatuses throughout its history. Despite a revolving door of members, due to the perfectionism of Scholz, singer Brad Delp was a consistent presence throughout most of the band’s history, aside from leaving the band from 1989 to 1994. After returning, he remained with the band until 2007, when the singer tragically committed suicide. 

After Delp’s death, Boston fan Tommy DeCarlo wrote and recorded a tribute song to the late singer, along with a few Boston covers. He uploaded the recordings to his MySpace page, and sent the link to Boston’s management. Scholz reached out to DeCarlo, eventually hiring the singer to join his favorite band, where he’s remained a lead vocalist ever since. Boston has been on hiatus since 2017, but DeCarlo is still listed as a current member.

5. Chicago – Band Carries on After Terry Kath’s Death

In January of 1978, guitarist and singer Terry Kath died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. With some outside encouragement from Doc Severinsen of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Chicago decided to continue on and audition for Kath’s replacement. 

The band brought in guitarist and singer-songwriter Donnie Dacus. The single Alive Again brought Chicago back onto the charts. In the 1980s, Chicago changed their sound with a focus on power ballads. The change saw a rise back to prominence and success on the charts.

6. Def Leppard – Rick Allen Loses Arm in Car Crash

After the success of their 1983 record Pyromania, Def Leppard was a major player in the commercial rock music space. With the band at a then-all-time high, drummer Rick Allen was involved in a terrible crash on New Year’s Eve in 1984. His arm was severed in the crash. While it was reattached, it had to be amputated due to an infection. The band would have to halt live performances until 1986.

Allen relearned how to play drums on a custom kit, where he’d use his left foot to hit four electronic pedals to mimic what he used to do with his left arm. In 1987, Def Leppard released their follow-up record, Hysteria, which marked the band’s most-successful release to date. Allen has remained Def Leppard’s drummer ever since.

7. Def Leppard – Steve Clark Dies

Unfortunately, Def Leppard makes this list again for a darker reason. Guitarist Steve Clark had been struggling with alcohol addiction during the recording of 1992’s Adrenalize. Clark’s addiction became a distraction for a band trying to avoid another long gap between records, and was granted a leave of absence in hopes he’d recover. Sadly, Clark died of an overdose in January of 1991,

Def Leppard continued on with finishing Adrenalize, having guitarist Phil Collen mimic Clark’s style to achieve the band’s signature dual-guitar sound on the record, as Clark had only recorded minimal contributions prior to his absence. The band hired Vivian Campbell to replace Clark in 1992, and has remained with Def Leppard ever since. Def Leppard continues touring to this day.

8. Foo Fighters – Band Rises from Ashes of Nirvana

Nirvana led the grunge wave of the early 1990s, fronted by the iconic Kurt Cobain. Tragically, Cobain was suffering from mental health issues, and took his own life in April of 1994. Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, who had been recording music anonymously for a few years. In October of 1994, Grohl recorded 15 of his own songs – almost completely by himself – in five days. 

Grohl then went to work putting a band together to support the album, Foo Fighters, which included former Nirvana touring guitarist Pat Smear. The group, despite several lineup changes, has gone on to win 15 Grammy awards and continues to tour.

9. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Band Reforms Years After Tragic Plane Crash

On October 20, 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a plane bound for Baton Rogue, LA. The plane ran out of fuel about five miles from Gillsburg, MS, forcing the pilots to attempt an emergency landing. The plane crash landed in a swamp, killing both pilots, singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, while severely injuring several other survivors. This occurred three days before the release of Street Survivors, for which MCA had to pull the original album artwork as it featured members of the band, including the deceased, engulfed by flames.

While Street Survivors went on to be Lynyrd Skynyrd’s highest-charting album at No. 5, the band disbanded. The surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd joined together for a one-off performance in 1979 with members from the Charlie Daniels Band. 

In 1987, five major pre-crash era members, along with Van Zant’s younger brother, Johnny Van Zant, reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd. Johnny took over vocals and songwriting duties, filling the shoes of Ronnie. The band began touring and releasing new music again. With the death of guitarist Gary Rossington in 2023, no original members remain.

10. Metallica – Band Carries on After Bus Crash

On Sept. 27, 1986, Metallica was on the European leg of their “Damage, Inc. Tour,” and was riding in their tour bus in Sweden. Bassist Cliff Burton and his bandmates drew straws to see who would end up with the preferred bunks on the bus. Burton drew the longest straw, claiming the best bunk.

Early that morning, the bus driver lost control of the bus, going into a skid before overturning several times. While his bandmates escaped without serious injury, Burton was found crushed under the bus.

After a blessing from Burton’s parents, the serving members of Metallica decided to continue on, and hired Jason Newsted as the band’s new bassist. They released …And Justice for All in 1988, their first top-10 record. Every release since through 1997’s Reload has achieved at least RIAA-certified 3x platinum.

11. Mötley Crüe – Nikki Sixx’s Overdose Inspires Major Hit

By 1987, substance abuse was a problem for several members of Mötley Crüe, most notably bassist Nikki Sixx‘s struggle with heroin addiction. On Dec. 23, Sixx suffered an overdose on the drug, and was reportedly clinically dead for two minutes, before being revived with two shots of adrenaline. 

After surviving his overdose, Sixx entered rehab the following month, causing the Mötley Crüe to cancel all shows in 1988 as the band leader recovered. The rest of his bandmates joined him in getting sober, ahead of the recording of 1989’s Dr. Feelgood. The band recorded the album in Vancouver – separately – to avoid fighting during the process.

From the record came the band’s biggest song to date; Kickstart My Heart. Sixx’s overdose was the inspiration for the song, and it helped Dr. Feelgood become the band’s first U.S. No. 1 album.

12. New Order – Joy Division Rebrands After Death of Ian Curtis

English post-punk band Joy Division making headlines as the world came into the 1980s. However, before the band’s first U.S. tour and the release of their sophomore record, Closer, frontman Ian Curtis committed suicide in May of 1980.

Prior to Curtis’ death, the band had agreed to go by a new name if a member left or died. Deciding to continue on after Curtis, Joy Division reformed as New Order. They embarked on a U.S. tour in the fall of 1980, with the remaining trio sharing lead vocal duties. Eventually, guitarist Bernard Sumner took on lead vocal duties, but struggled playing guitar while he sang. 

The banded decided to recruit someone they knew to complete their lineup. They brought on drummer Stephen Morris‘ girlfriend and future wife Gillian Gilbert as a keyboardist and guitarist. The band has gone on to be extremely influential in new wave music, and aside from bassist Peter Hook, every member from their 1980 quartet lineup is still with the band.

13. Queen – Band Soldiers on After Freddie Mercury’s Death

Few frontmen in rock history are as recognizable and iconic as the legendary Freddie Mercury. The idea of Queen existing without the singer’s involvement probably seemed like an impossibility prior to his death in 1991. Mercury was diagnosed HIV positive in 1987, but word of his illness had been rumor since 1986, not long after Queen’s final show with the singer. By 1988, Mercury’s condition was becoming apparent as he appeared more gaunt and exhausted. 

Queen released The Miracle in 1989, and continued to work on new music with Mercury. He made his last public appearance in February 1990 onstage with his bandmates as they received a Brit Award. By the time the band was recording 1991’s Innuendo, could hardly walk, but instead coming into the studio to record more material, even if only for an hour or two at a time. Innuendo featured The Show Must Go On, which Mercury was able to record despite the skepticism of his deteriorating health. Guitarist Brian May claims Mercury “completely killed it.” He died on Nov. 23, 1991, due to an AIDS-related illness.

Thanks to 1992’s Wayne’s World, Queen’s and Bohemian Rhapsody’s popularity skyrocket once again. Through the 1990s, Queen released more music they recorded with Mercury, and made occasional onstage appearances. Bassist John Deacon decided to retire from performing in 1997. From 2004 to 2009, they were known as “Queen + Paul Rodgers,” and currently exist as “Queen + Adam Lambert” with May, singer Adam Lambert, drummer Roger Taylor and a few touring members.  

14. Thin Lizzy – Band Reforms as Tribute to Phil Lynott

Thin Lizzy‘s iconic frontman Phil Lynott, struggling with heroin addiction, decided to allow the band to break up in 1983. Lynott died of organ failure due to drug dependency in January of 1986 while planning a reformation of Thin Lizzy for March of that year.

Surviving members of Thin Lizzy got together from time to time to perform or record into the 1990s. In 1994, guitarist John Sykes reformed a temporary Thin Lizzy with drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Scott Gorham and keyboardist Darren Wharton. Sykes reorganized the band again in 1996 as a tribute to Lynott and the music of the 1969 to 1983 era of Thin Lizzy.

Despite Sykes leaving in 2009, the band continued to perform into 2019. Sykes died of cancer in January of 2025.

15. The Who – Band Continues After Keith Moon’s Death

The Who experienced a tumultuous time in the mid 1970s, as singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townsend publicly funded over the band’s future. Drummer Keith Moon‘s health and habits were a major problem, as his drinking, drug use and partying was excessive. As the band was attempting to record 1978’s Who Are You, Daltrey considered firing Moon over his poor drumming. Moon later improved, and recording of the record continued. The last performance the Who had with Moon was for the recording of The Kids Are Alright in May.

Who Are You was released in August of 1978, one of the band’s biggest records to date. In September of 1978, Moon died of an overdose on clomethiazole. The next day, Townsend declared the band’s desire to carry on. In November of 1978, they hired Kenney Jones as Moon’s replacement.

The band later broke up in 1983, reuniting for one-offs three times through the end of the 1980s, before permanently reforming in 1996.