Death Post

Steve Herbst

Michael Wong

Christina Scarsella

Chloe Bernard

In "The Show Goes On" by Newman, the various ways a musical group handles the death of a band member is discussed. In Sublime, the members didn't want to exploit Brad Nowell's death. They wanted the music to stand out, but not because of his death. Prior to his death, the were planning on releasing an album. They could have released it earlier than scheduled, but they didn't want others to see his death as a profit. The band Nirvana handled Kurt Cobain's death differently. Listening to the music they had created was painful and a reminder of Cobain's existence. Record labels wanted to release their music, but Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, fought against them trying to release this music. Kurt Cobain didn't want his band to become another profit for a label, so it is fitting that his widow didn't allow this to happen after he passed. The Smashing Pumpkins did not let a member's death or arrest phase them. They simply got a new member and kept on going. All these bands handled death differently. There is no right to say a band should move on after a death of a group member. It depends on the facts of the death and the band as a whole.

Sullivan in "Dead Ahead" discusses how the careers of recording artists are only temporarily derailed by the unfortunate predicament of death. Artists that have passed on yet continue to profit after death include Jeff Buckley, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Elvis, and many more. Some critics may believe that sharing or producing more music after death would merely be for profit, and would not reflect the artistic or creative side of music. However, we believe that music should be kept alive even if the artist is dead.

In Thomson's "The Art of Dying", artists who grasp the idea of death and can sing about death but focus on it have an upper hand against pop stars who dwell on their younger years and entertaining. Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger sing about death, while artists like Madonna are stuck in pop music. However, being able to sing about death should not give an artist the upper hand. Music is an escape for some and listening to death songs should not be the only place to run. Where music about death stands now is where it should be. No more, no less.

Death Playlist

Death and All His Friends- Coldplay

Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel

Time of Dying- Three Days Grace

Adam's Song - Blink 182

Anthem of the Angels - Breaking Benjamin

Inside the Fire - Disturbed

I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab For Cutie

The Queen is Dead - The Smiths

If I Die Young- The Band Perry

Death Of an Angel - The Kingsmen

Afterlife - Avenged Sevenfold

Never Too Late - Three Days Grace

What Sarah Said - Death Cab For Cutie

So Far Away - Avenged Sevenfold

Yesterday - The Beatles

A little Piece of Heaven - Avenged Sevenfold

Forever Young - Bob Dylan

The Last Night - Skillet

Not Good Enough for Truth in Cliche - Escape the Fate

Timshel - Mumford & Sons

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Go To Sleep - Eminem