Rock & Roll Suicide

You have heard people say in satire “live fast and die young”, but I say unto you without Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life you are guaranteed that outcome.

Here are some quotes from contemporary artist who achieved worldly success at the same time as these 4 rock stars of the 90’s who all committed suicide in one way or another.

“It just blows my mind too that four out of the five big grunge band’s singers have passed away at, at a young age… It seems like there was a very dark energy between all of those guys and that whole scene, the Seattle scene.” – Chris Jericho WWE Superstar; Loudwire.com 5/19/17

In December of 2015 during an interview with a radio station in St. Louis the question was asked if it blows Chris Cornell’s mind that he’s still here, especially with fellow Grunge icons Scott Weiland, Kurt Cobain, and Layne Staley having all died.

“I don’t know, it’s hard to say. I guess the overall attitude ends up being that it’s a drug issue, but that’s kind of cloudy. I have other friends that are extremely talented musicians that died in different ways.” later saying, “I don’t think that, at the end of the day, if a person really wants to get better, anything can stop them, and if a person doesn’t want to, they won’t. You can’t make them do it.”

“I just can’t believe that all these people I came up with are gone: Scott [Weiland], Kurt [Cobain], Layne [Staley], now Chris. All my friends are dying. How is it possible?” – Dave Navarro, guitarist for Jane’s Addiction; Billboard.com 5/24/2017

James Heitfield, front man for Metallica was asked recently of his thoughts on Chris Cornell’s suicide as well;

“It makes you realize that, you know, there is a darkness that anyone and everyone can find and feel that they’re trapped in. And when you’re there — and at least I know the depth of my darkness at times — it is difficult when you’re in that space to even fathom that there’s someone there that can help you or has been through that before. Sometimes you’re at such a loss.” Blabbermouth.net 5/23/2017

“They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” – Psalm 82:5-7 KJV

Kurt Cobain sang “I swear that I don’t have a gun”, then shot himself. Layne Staley and Scott Weiland sang of drug addiction leading to their deaths, both of which overdosed. Recently Chris Cornell committed suicide by hanging himself; he also sang ‘Pretty Noose’ in 96′.

All four singers were at the forefront of the grunge era in music throughout the 90’s, defining what came to be known as the Seattle sound, now leaving only Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam left alive. Perhaps there was another meaning to his song “alive” in which he proclaims over and over “I’m still alive”. Or perhaps not, ironic either way.

Somebody pray for Eddie Vedder or at least wrap him in bubble wrap; praying would probably be easier though, just saying.

When we are young we are as filled with life as we are naive, but as we grow older learning about life our light fades a little bit each day as our mortal bodies draw closer to the grave. And if there is not enough oil in our lamp or our candle was never lit, woe unto those who followed the ways of the world for no one knows the day or the hour they will be called.