Rock Stars Whose Fame Surged After Death: Posthumous Legacies of Music Legends

Those engaged in making music are doing more than entertaining fans in the moment. They are contributing to a legacy with songs that tell a story, reflect the culture, and, often, grow in significance long after the artist is gone. Sometimes it's not until performers pass away that their work receives the recognition it deserves. This is particularly common in the rock genre, which, over its relatively short history, has propelled a fascinating set of characters to fame and fortune.

Rock has provided us with numerous examples of artists whose fame has grown after their death, adding an interesting element to our collective musical history. Streaming music platforms are allowing new generations of fans to discover artists from the past, leading to a level of posthumous popularity some didn't experience while alive. Consider this list of performers whose reputations grew after their passing.

The 27 Club isn't a single performer or band but an informal moniker for artists who have been joined together by a tragic coincidence. Members of the 27 Club are all rock stars who died within a year of their 27th birthdays. This club includes performers who had measurable success before their untimely deaths but whose popularity soared after they died, including Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse.

It was Cobain's passing that triggered the formation of The 27 Club. The mother of the Nirvana lead singer reportedly said after his death in an interview with The Daily World newspaper, "Now he's gone and joined that stupid club. I told him not to join that stupid club."

While critics and fans alike mostly acknowledge The 27 Club as a coincidence, it has cast a shadow over the rock music profession, prompting some introspection about the price of fame and the meaning of posthumous music success. For the individual performers, membership in the 27 Club has conferred an almost mystical reverence that has endured across generations of fans.

Rather than reflecting morbid fan interest, the posthumous premium is driven by several measurable factors that contribute to post-death popularity. One of the biggest influences is intense media coverage, as the death of a famous person at a young age raises questions and also creates a shock factor. Nostalgia and scarcity in the form of a limited discography also play a role. Some of the performers who saw significant posthumous surges include:

Though a massive artist during his lifetime, sales of Michael Jackson's albums increased 6,000% in the week following his unexpected death in 2009. 

The label representing rapper Pop Smoke, who was shot to death in 2020, released two of the rapper's studio albums and a mixtape after his death at the age of 20. Both albums reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while the mixtape peaked at No. 7, according to Law For Business.

The production company for hip-hop artist Juice WRLD claims it has more than 3,000 unreleased songs recorded before the singer died of a seizure in 2019. Juice WRLD's posthumous album, Legends Never Die, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Nirvana released MTV Unplugged in New York shortly after Cobain's death. The album went on to win a GRAMMY for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996. It also debuted at No. 1.

The list of performers who gained recognition and commercial success after their deaths goes beyond the members of The 27 Club. Some of the stories behind songs and albums you probably recognize that gained fan interest after the performer's passing include:

An influential soul artist, Redding died in a plane crash at the age of 26. He had modest success with songs such as "These Arms of Mine" and "Try a Little Tenderness" during his lifetime, but his most recognizable song, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," was released after his death. It quickly rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Icons such as Hendrix and Morrison had already achieved high levels of fan popularity before their unexpected deaths, but others, including Drake, a British folk rock artist, were less well-known and earned recognition after their passing. Drake played guitar and offered thoughtful lyrics but only became influential after his death in 1974 at the age of 26 from an overdose. His work includes albums such as Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon. Drake has been cited as influential in the careers of R.E.M. and Norah Jones, among others.

Growing up in Maryland, Cassidy learned to play the guitar from her father and went on to record and perform jazz, blues, folk, gospel, and pop standards. Cassidy was on the verge of a breakout when she died of cancer at the age of 33. A compilation of her songs was released as the album Songbird after her death, and it produced remarkable success for the previously little-known artist. The album was certified 6x Platinum in the United Kingdom and has sold more than five million copies worldwide, an incredible example of posthumous music success.

It's never too late to make it big in rock music, as the list of rock stars who died young is a lengthy one. They're leaving lasting artistic legacies that last a lifetime. Although technology is making this even more common with the advent of streaming, it's still essential to appreciate artists while they're alive. Continue to support your favorite performers, even if they're less well-known. One day they may become more widely recognized. Until then, posthumous music success is something that allows for continued discovery and appreciation.