The music industry mourns the lives of countless rock musicians throughout 2022, all of whom we lost way too soon. Consisting of classic rock superstar Meat Loaf, Bon Jovi cofounder Alec John Such, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, Q Lazzarus, Jerry Allison, Yes drummer Alan White, rock n' roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Ronettes' lead vocalist Ronnie Spector, this year's rock musician death roster contains some of the greatest artists of all time. This list of deceased singers, instrumentalists, and songwriters will serve as your reference for all of the rock music artists who have passed away throughout 2022, from the musicians who died today to those who recently died.
To honor these musical geniuses' inspirational legacies, let's continue listening to their incredible music and keeping their influence alive. Check back weekly for the most recent deaths of every famous rockstar who left an unparalleled mark on the music world.
Terry Hall passed away from pancreatic cancer on December 18, 2022. He was 63.
Terry Hall was famously known for being the lead vocalist and frontman of the English 2 tone and ska revival band, The Specials. With humble beginnings in Coventry, England in 1977, The Specials eventually found success in the late ‘70s and early ’80s when their self-titled album debuted. Known for tracks like “Gangsters” and “Ghost Town,” the latter of which spent three weeks at number one on the UK charts, The Specials were quite popular in their heyday.
Gorillaz and Blur frontman Damon Albarn tweeted a sweet tribute to his frequent collaborator. The tweet had footage of him playing a piano version of The Specials' “Friday Night, Saturday Morning,” and was accompanied by a caption that said, ““Terry, you meant the world to me. I love you.”
Christine McVie passed away on November 30, 2022. She was 79.
McVie was a British singer-songwriter and a member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most famous rock bands of the world in the 1970s and 1980s. She joined the group at the start of the 1970s and was the writer behind hits like “Little Lies,” “Everywhere,” “Don't Stop,” “Say You Love Me,” and “Songbird.” McVie was married to bassist John McVie, and their breakup alongside that of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, inspired the 1977 album “Rumours." “Rumours” went onto becoming one of the best selling albums of all time with 40 million copies sold worldwide. With Fleetwood Mac, McVie would go on to earn five gold, one platinum, and seven multiplatinum albums. Years later, McVie, along with eight other members of Fleetwood Mac, was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. That same year she left the band, but returned in 2014.
Her bandmate and best friend, Stevie Nicks, penned an emotional letter that she posted on Instagram saying:
“A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975 had passed away. I didn’t even know she was ill… until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London; I wanted to get to London — but we were told to wait. So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around in my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now. I always knew I would need these words one day.”
Nicks then wrote the lyrics to “Hallelujah” by HAIM in tribute, before concluding, “See you on the other side, my love. Don’t forget me — Always, Stevie.”
Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on October 28, 2022. He was 87.
As written in The Guardian obituary, Jerry Lee Lewis “achieved dazzling early success as a defining hero of rock’n’roll, when he muscled in among Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry, creating rock’n’roll piano from honky-tonk and hymn, as if doing so were as natural as breathing, and commandeering rhythm and blues with a casual authority achieved by no other white performer except Presley. With ”Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On," “Great Balls of Fire,” and “High School Confidential,” he made three of the genre’s indispensable classics."
Jerry “JI” Allison passed away on August 22, 2022. He was 82.
Allison was known as not only the drummer for Buddy Holly and the Crickets, but also the co-writer of some of their greatest hits including “That'll Be The Day,” “Peggy Sue,” and “More Than I Can Say.”
The news of his passing was posted to the Buddy Holly Facebook page stating, “JI was a musician ahead of his time, and undoubtedly his energy, ideas and exceptional skill contributed to both The Crickets, and rock n’ roll itself, becoming such a success. Buddy is often heralded as the original singer-songwriter, but JI, too, wrote and inspired so many of the songs that would go on to be eternal classics.”
Q Lazarrus passed away from a short illness on July 19, 2022. She was 61.
Lazarrus, whose real name was Diane Luckey, was best known for her cult classic 1988 single “Goodbye Horses” which was featured in the Oscar-winning classic, Silence of the Lambs. During the 80s, Lazarrus played alongside a backing band dubbed, The Resurrection, while working odd jobs to support her music. As a taxi driver, she picked up director Jonathan Demme one day in a blizzard, one of her cassettes so happened to be playing in the car and Demme was intrigued. It was because of her connection with Demme that Lazarrus' music was able to have greater exposure, thanks to him featuring her song “The Candle That Goes Away” in his film Something Wild, and later on in Married to the Mob and Philadelphia as well.
Her close friend, Eva Aridjis, wrote to Rolling Stone confirming her death: “As her close friend, I am heartbroken knowing I will never see her again and I am devastated for her family. Q had a spirit that was truly unique and irreplaceable, not just for her loved ones in their daily lives but to the creative community as a whole. As her collaborator, I am now more determined than ever to get her incredible story and amazing music out into the world.”
Singer Nolan Neal passed away on July 18, 2022, the medical examiner's office in Nashville confirmed. No cause of death was given. He was 41.
Neal was known for appearing on both The Voice and America's Got Talent. On The Voice, he made it to the knockout rounds of the competition. For America's Got Talent, he got a standing ovation for performing an original song called “Lost." Twitter accounts for both shows released a statement, saying, “We are heartbroken by the passing of Nolan Neal. His incredible talent will always be remembered. Our sincerest sympathy goes out to his family and friends during this time.”
