As today is Friday the 13th we thought that we would delve into metals history to see some of the most unfortunate and just downright unlucky bands that there have been. Moving through different decades and genres we will see what makes, often absolutely legendary band just so unfortunate.
DECAPITATED – COVAN & VITEK
The first of our unlucky bands is arguably one of the most tragic. Young band Decapitated had everything going for them. After having released one of the best death metal albums ever in my opinion, Organic Hallucinosis the band suffered a tragic road accident. On October 28th the band were involved in a collision where the band’s tour bus collided with a log truck, causing then singer Covan to slip into a coma and drummer Witold Kieltyka unfortunately died later in November in a Russian hospital. After having multiple line up changes the band had slowly begun to get back to normal only for this to happen, add to the fact that in late 2014 after releasing Blood Mantra the band were involved in yet another collision. Luckily it hasn’t dampened their spirits though and the band continue onward.
BARONESS – BUS CRASH
Shortly after releasing their double album Yellow & Green, Baroness embarked on a UK tour with the first couple of dates going very well until their crash where the German tour bus veered off a viaduct near Bath. Nine people were injured in total. John Baizley suffered a broken arm and broken leg, Allen Blickle along with Matt Maggioni both suffered from a fractured vertebrae. Forcing them to cancel any further tour dates the band may have until they had fully recovered. A crying shame as both the double album was seeing them begin to reach a wider audience and could hve definitely helped broaden their fan base.
LAMB OF GOD – RANDYS TRIAL
For something less life threatening but all the more devastating, on June 27th 2012 the Czech police arrested singer of Lamb Of God Randy Blythe for his actions during a concert back in 2010. Where a fan had decided to try and get on stage and the front man, like so many do, pushed the boy off. Unfortunately it transpired that the boy had hit his head from the fall and later died from his injury. The band cancelled their upcoming tour due to this troubling news, what followed was a series of court dates where Blythe would return to Prague in order to await his trial. He was acquitted of all charges, but as he had thrown Nosek he was morally liable but not criminally. Throughout the trial Blythe was very modest in teaching that he may have been acquitted but that makes no difference, a boy has still died.
MACHINE HEAD – CAREER
Although not plagued by the ills of death and criminality Machine Head have had a rather turbulent career. Beginning with the now classic Burn My Eyes the band seemed to be going from strength to strength, yet it seemed to be one step forward two steps back. Supercharger reared its ugly head along with the mixed bag of The Burning Red, although some people take a shine to it. However now it does seem as though the band’s luck might have turned around after the release of The Blackening and last years destructive Bloodstone & Diamonds, the band might have outgrown their past.
LYNYRD SKYNYRD – PLANE CRASH
On October 20th 1977 , after their performance at the Greenville Memorial Aditorium in South Carolina, Lynyrd Skynyrd boarded a Convair CV-300 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Scheduled to appear at the LSU the following night the band never made the appearance. Due to a faulty engine meaning the airplane had a low quantity of fuel the plane was directed to nearest airport Mc-Comb Pike County Airport. Although unfortunately the plane ran out of fuel before then… Forcing them to attempt an emergency crash landing in a heavily forested area in Mississippi. Six people were killed on impact, including Ronnie Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and pilot Walter McCreary and co pilot William Gray. All other members of the band suffered serious injuries but we’re still alive.
Just three days before the tragedy the band’s new album Street Survivors was released, reaching no 5 on the US chart and contained an album cover depicting the band on fire. The record company soon rectified the album cover with a standard picture of the band.
METALLICA – CLIFF AND PYRO
After the release of their critically acclaimed Master Of Puppets album the band had embarked on the Damage, Inc tour in Europe. On September 27th 1986 the band had drawn cards to determine which bunks they would be sleeping in. Burton had won and hauntingly chose to sleep in Hammett‘s bunk. Near Dorarp in Sweden the bus driver lost control. After skidding the bus was overturned several times, Hetfield, Ulrich and Hammett were fine but Burton was pinned under the bus and died. Terrifying to think that had Hammett not decided to let Burton in his bunk that night then history might be altogether different. Also whilst performing ” Fade To Black” on the GunsNRoses/Metallica tour in Montreal at the Olympic Stadium, Hetfield stood too close and as a consequence was blasted by the fire. Not very lucky!
GWAR – CORY & BROCKIE
Before last years tragic news that long time GWAR member Dave Brockie had died, the band went through a similar set of circumstances with long time guitarist Cory Smoot. On November 3rd 2011 ,after the band had performed their show at First Avenue and were driving to their next date Smoot was discovered dead. The coroner announced that it was coronary artery thrombosis brought about by his pre existing heart condition. Sad to know that just three years later the life and soul of the GWAR party would also be taken from us.
EVILE – MIKE ALEXANDER
Longtime bassist and founding member of Huddersfield’s Evile was found dead on the 5th of October 2009. Whilst the band were on tour in Lulea, Sweden Alexander had suffered a pulmonary embolism. The bassist died from a blood clot in his lungs, just as the band had release their brand new album Infected Nations. As a commemoration to Alexander‘s memory in forthcoming album Five Serpents Teeth a song used a bass line that Alexander would always play during rehearsals. Add to this that Ol Drake had decided to leave the band in order to pursue his own music. Just when the band were beginning to get back onto the right track yet another set back appears. A crying shame and such a loss for all thrash metal fans, Alexander obviously…
SYLOSIS – BUS CRASH
Dialling it back slightly, we see that Sylosis are the latest victims to the perils of touring. On the 25th of September 2013 the band were involved in an RV collision causing them to have to withdraw from the previous dates supporting Trivium and Devildriver. Luckily no one was seriously injured and the story has gone on to inspire the band slightly with their brand new album Dormant Heart.
SLIPKNOT – PAUL GRAY, JORDISON
Potentially one of the most well known deaths of the modern metal scene was that of Paul Gray. Slipknot‘s bassist that was so suddenly taken. After releasing Slipknot‘s All Hope Is Gone the band had gone on hiatus. Paul Gray was scheduled to be performing with other band Hail! When he was found dead at home on May 24th 2010. Although originally not disclosing his cause of death it was later revealed that Gray had had an overdose of Morphone and Fentanyl being a Morphine substitute.
This then threw the band into a situation they never thought that they would see themselves in. Choosing to carry on in Gray‘s memory the band began to play live once again at festivals. Having gone through the ordeal of losing a band member, the band then had to go through losing Joey Jordison the esteemed drummer, although all signs point to this not being too bad seeing as .5: The Gray Chapter went to Number 1 last year! A fantastic way to honour Gray’s memory.
MAYHEM – DEAD AND MURDERS
Among other things Mayhem are one of the most controversial metal acts going. Due in part to their history of black metal, burning churches all over Norway the band seemed to attract madness. However none are as macabre as Euronymous and Dead. Per Yngve Ohlin (Dead) was the band’s new singer, infamous for his intense live shows where he would often cut himself and bury his stage clothes after a show, only to dig them up again.
Shortly before recording their new album the now infamous De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas the band were living together, Euronymous and Dead did not get on. Dead committed suicide and left a note “Excuse all the blood” instead of alerting the police like a normal human, Euronymous ran out to buy a camera returned, re arranged Dead‘s corpse and took photos. Which later transpired to be on a bootleg album cover, Dawn Of The Black Hearts. After this much of the band fell apart with some members being so deeply affected that they had decided to quit. Euronymous decided to keep the band going and got session musicians, Varg Vikernes being one of note. Prior to the release of the new album Eronymous and Vikernes conspired to blow up Nidaros Cathedral, these plans were never achieved . On the 10th of August 1993 Varg Vikernes killed Euronymous, when arriving at Euronymous place a confrontation ensued, Euronymous was found with twenty three cut wounds, Vikernes‘ defence was that Euronymous had planned to torture Vikernes and film it using a contract as a disguise. Shortly afterwards Vikernes was arrested for 28 years and has now been released from prison in 2009.
Mayhem essentially ceased to exist after these acts, haunting stories of murder and the macabre make this band not only unlucky but downright disturbing.
PANTERA – DIMEBAG
After emotions ran rather high in the Pantera camp between Anselmo and the Abotts the band had decided to call it a day. In the ashes of Pantera brothers Vinne Paul and Dimebag Darrel decided to carry on playing music in the new outfit Damageplan. On Dece,her 8th 2004 were performing at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus,Ohio where Nathan Gale got on stage and killed Dimebag Darrel. Less than a minute into their set the disgruntled fan was unhappy with the demise of Pantera and blamed Darrel for it. Gale also killed three other people, a fan pat wenty three year old Nathan Bray, club employee Erin Halk and Pantera security Jeff “Mayhem” Thompson. Thankfully before he could kill anymore people the violence ended when police officer James Niggemeyer shot Gale dead. Creating one of the most horrifying events in metal history where a true legend was taken from us at a far too young age. Almost everyone in the metal community sung Dimebag’s praise and still to this day defend the gentle man. Although never proven it is suspected that Gale suffered from schizophrenia and as such had a deluded personality where thought that Pantera had personally stolen riffs from him.
And finally we come to
DEATH – CHUCK SCHULDINER
Many stories in this segment are frought with tragedy, we’ve seen people being helpless victims to circumstance. From Dimebag to Witek and simply accidents, Death‘s master mind Chuck Schuldiner whilst also carving a niche for himself and his band had also been battling with a disease. Shortly after putting a pin in Death and beginning Schuldiner‘s next project Control Denied he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Upon finishing Fragile Art Of Existence he was diagnosed, forcing the band to cancel any up coming tours, working on the second album his condition improved, but sadly left him weak and vulnerable. Contracting pneumonia Schuldiner was placed in hospital after being discharged on December 13th 2001 he later died that day at home.
One of metal’s nicest people, although the band he had been sculpting could be seen as aggressive and violent, his words were profound his philosophy heartfelt, but most importantly he was just a nice person. A tragic tale of the true example of a genius being taken too young. If there’s anything that we can take from these most unlucky events it’s that we are lucky to be in the life we are now. Make sure you blast each band’s albums as loud as possible tonight in celebration. To anyone in this post that was taken from us we wish them the utmost peace. Now to honour the dead and not tarnish their memory.
