The Classic Rock stars we've lost in 2025

14 October 2025, 21:25 | Updated: 5 December 2025, 19:39

Radio X Classic Rock looks at the lives and careers of the musical legends that have died in 2025 so far... from The Jam's Rick Buckler to Marianne Faithfull and more.

• Read more: The celebrities and public figures we've lost in 2025

Steve Cropper

The Missouri guitarist, known as The Colonel, was a member of Booker T & The M.G.s, who backed numerous Stax label artists, including Otis Redding and Sam & Dave, while having hits with the tracks Green Onions and Soul Limbo. Cropper co-wrote Knock On Wood with Eddie Floyd and In The Midnight Hour with Wilson Pickett and appeared on albums such as Rod Stewart's Atlanic Crossing, John Lennon's Rock 'N' Roll and Ringo Starr's Ringo. Cropper was a member of the Blue Brothers band, supporting John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd and appears in the 1980 movie of the same name. He died on 3rd December 2025, aged 84.

November 2025

Jimmy Cliff

The pioneering Jamaican musician died on 24th November 2025, aged 81. His songs include You Can Get It If You Really Want, Many Rivers To Cross, Wonderful World Beautiful People and The Harder They Come, with Cliff starring in the film of the same name. One of the key figures in bringing reggae to an international audience, Cliff is the only Jamaican in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame apart from Bob Marley.

Gary "Mani" Mounfield

The Crumpsall-born bassist was a key member of The Stone Roses between November 1987 and October 1996, reuniting with his bandmates for a series of high profile live shows in 2012. Mani also played with Primal Scream between 1996 and 2011 and was part of the short-lived "bass superstars" group Freebass. He died on 20th November 2025, aged 63. Read his full obituary here.

Hilly Boy Michaels

The Connecticut-born drummer was briefly a member of Sparks during their Big Beat album era in 1976-77 and he also worked with Marianne Faithfull, Ronnie Wood and The Hunter/Ronson Band. He died on 15th November 2025, aged 77.

Chris Bradley

The bassist with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Band Savage died on 6th November 2025.

Savage - Let it Loose

Gilson Lavis

The British-born drummer was a member of Squeeze between 1976 and 1982, before joining the reformed band again in 1985. He was a member of bandmate Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra for three decades before retiring in 2024. He died on 5th November 2025, aged 74. Rod Stewart called him "The best swing drummer since Charlie Watts".

Donna Godchaux

The Alabama-born singer was a member of the Grateful Dead between 1972 and 1979. She died on 2nd November 2025, aged 78. Earlier in her career, she had appeared as a vocalist on Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds and When A Man Loves A Woman by Percy Sledge.

October 2025

Dave Ball

One half of the Leed synth-pop duo Soft Cell alongside Marc Almond, Ball played keyboards on the Number 1 hit Tainted Love, and other top 10 singles including What, Bedsitter, Torch and Say Hello Wave Goodbye. When Soft Cell folded in 1984, Ball worked on many other musical projects, including The Grid with producer Richard Norris and had a Number 3 hit in 1994 with Swamp Thing. Soft Cell reunited in the 00s and despite ill health, Ball was still performing up until August 2025; he died on 22nd October 2025, aged 66. A final album from the duo called Danceteria has been recorded and will be released in 2026.

Ace Frehley

New Yorker Paul Daniel Frehley, better known to fans as The Spaceman (or Space Ace) was a founding member of the US glam rock group KISS, playing with the band from its beginnings in 1973 until he left in 1982. His subsequent project, Frehley's Comet, had limited success and he rejoined KISS in 1996 until he quit for the final time in 2002. He died on 16th October 2025, aged 74 after a fall at his home.

John Lodge

One of the founding members of The Moody Blues died on 10th October, aged 82. Lodge joined as bassist in October 1966 just as the band's psychedelic period kicked in and penned tracks like I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band), Ride My See-Saw, Isn't Life Strange. He worked with the Moodies up until their final studio album, 2003's December. Lodge's death means that only surviving members of The Moody Blues are singer Justin Hayward (with the band from 1966 to their final split) and Patrick Moraz (who played keyboards between 1978 and 1991).

Thommy Price

The rock drummer, who worked with Billy Idol and was a member of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts between 1987 and 2017, died on 10th October, aged 68. Jett wrote in tribute: “Thommy was a legendary drummer who was a Blackheart for four decades. He was a drummer’s drummer and admired by so many."

September 2025

Soo Catwoman

Born Susan Lucas, the London-born actress and model was an iconic member of the original punk subculture, and a close friend of John Lydon and Sid Vicious. Her distinctive hairstyle made her a favourite of the tabloid press, who used her image as an example of the most outrageous of the punk kids. She was briefly a member of the Bradford band The Invaders but distanced herself from the scene - someone else plays a Soo Catwoman lookalike in the film The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle. Lucas died on 30th September 2025 from complications from meningitis, aged 70.

Chris Dreja

The former rhythm guitarist and bassist with The Yardbirds died on 25th September 2025, aged 78. After leaving the music business in the late 1960s, Dreja enjoyed a successful career as a photographer.

Sonny Curtis

A member of Buddy Holly's Crickets, Curtis penned such classic tunes as I Fought The Law (later covered by The Clash), Walk Right Back (covered by The Everly Brothers) and More Than I Can Say, which Leo Sayer took to Number 2 in the UK in 1980. He also wrote and performed Love Is All Around, the theme tune to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran on US television between 1970 and 1977. Curtis died on 19th September, aged 88.

Stephen Luscombe

The co-founder and keyboard player of synth pop duo Blancmange died on 13th September, aged 70. The band had four UK Top 40 singles: Living On The Ceiling, Waves, Blind Vision and Don't Tell Me.

Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Viv Prince

The drummer with the British band The Pretty Things died on 11th September 2025, aged 84. Prince appeared on the band's first two albums, but his infamously erratic behaviour led to him being fired in November 1965. A huge influence on The Who's Keith Moon, both in musical technique and lifestyle, Prince died on 11th September aged 84.

Bobby Hart

The veteran American musician died on 10th September aged 86. Together with his songwriting partner Tommy Boyce, Hart wrote some of The Monkees' best-known hits, including the memorable TV theme tune, Valleri, Words and Last Train To Clarksville.

They also penned the garage rock classic (I'm Not Your Stepping Stone), covered by everyone from The Monkees and Paul Revere & The Raiders to the Sex Pistols and The Farm. The duo also penned the theme tune to the TV soap Days Of Our Lives and had a brief spell in the mid-70s performing live with ex-Monkees Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones.

Rick Davies

A founding member of British prog rock band Supertramp, Davies wrote songs like Goodbye Stranger, Cannonball, Bloody Well Right and co-wrote Give A Little Bit with bandmate Roger Hodgson. He died on 6th September, aged 81.

Mark Vollman

A founding member of the American sunshine pop band The Turtles, Vollman was the voice of their hit Happy Together, It Ain't Me Babe and You Showed Me. Together with Turtles colelague Howard Kaylan, he formed Flo & Eddie, working with Frank Zappam, Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Vollman died on 5th September 2025, aged 78.

August 2025

Bobby Whitlock

The Memphis-born musician was a founding member of Derek & The Dominos with Eric Clapton, having worked with the likes of Sam & Dave, Delany & Bonnie, Booker T & The MGs and George Harrison on his All Things Must Pass album in 1970. He died on 10th August 2025, aged 77.

Terry Reid

The British singer died on 4th August 2025, aged 75. Reid enjoyed a solo career that attracted admiration from his peers - Jimmy Page invited him to front Led Zeppelin, while Ritchie Blackmore asked him to join Deep Purple. Reid turned them both down!

David Roach

The frontman of the Los Angeles metal band Junkyard died on 1st August 2025, aged 59.

July 2025

Paul Mario Day

The original vocalist with Iron Maiden died on 29th July 2025, aged 69. He was with the metal pioneers between 1975 to 1976 and later joined a 1980s line-up of (The) Sweet.

Tom Lehrer

The American satirist and musician died on 26th July 2025, aged 97. He's best known for his political songs like The Vatican Rag and his black humour, particularl yon the song Poisoning Pigeons In The Park.

Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons In The Park

Ozzy Osbourne

The legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and heavy metal solo star died on 22nd July 2025, aged 76, His family posted: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love."

The star had performed his final, farewell show with Sabbath, Back To The Beginning, at Villa Park in Birmingham on 5th July, a mere two weeks before his death.

George Kooymans

The guitarist and vocalist with the Dutch band Golden Earring died on 22nd July 2025, four years after retiring from the music business following a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 77.

Golden Earring - Radar Love (Official Music Video [HD])

Dave Cousins

The founding member of The Strawbs died on 13th July 2025, aged 85. Their biggest British hits were Part Of The Union and Lay Down.

Strawbs - Part Of The Union (1973)

David Kaff

The British actor and musician gained immortality for his role as keyboard player Viv Savage in the spoof music documentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984). He was a genuine, accomplished musician, having founded the prg rock band Rare Bird in 1969. He died on 11th July 2025, aged 79. "Have a good time all the time."

Connie Francis

The New Jersey-born pop singer died on 16th July, aged 87. She was the first woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960, with her song Everybody's Somebody's Fool. She had two UK Number 1 singles - Who's Sorry Now and Stupid Cupid - and her other hits include Lipstick On Your Collar, My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own and Pretty Little Baby.

Connie Francis "Lipstick On Your Collar" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Bobby Sherman

The Santa Monica-born teen idol had a million-selling American hit in 1969. with Little Woman and a UK Top 30 entry with Julie Do You Love Me? He died on 24th June 2025, aged 81.

Mick Ralphs

The Herefordshire-born guitarist played with Mott The Hoople and Bad Company, penning the classics Can't Get Enough and Feel Like Makin' Love. He died on 23rd June 2025 aged 81.

James Prime

The Kilmarnock-born musician played keyboards with Deacon Blue between 1979 and his death in 2025, on 19th June. He was 64.

Cavin Yarbrough

One half of the R&B duo Yarbrough and Peoples, with Alisa Peoples, the Texan musician died from heart disease on 19th June, aged 71. The pair's best-known song was Don't Stop The Music, a UK Top 10 hit in February 1981.

Yarbrough & Peoples - Don't Stop The Music

Lou Christie

The American singer had a British Number 2 hit in November 1969 with I'm Gonna Make You Mine. Christie died on 18th June 2025, aged 82.

NEW * I'm Gonna Make You Mine - Lou Christie {Stereo} 1969

Brian Wilson

The hugely-influential founding member of The Beach Boys died on 11th June, aged 82. Wilson masterminded the songwriting and arrangement of the group's music, but in 1964 the pressure became too great and he withdrew from performing live to focus on production work from that point on. This led to the band's peak of creativity, culminating in the brilliant single Good Vibrations and the accompanying album Pet Sounds, which also featured God Only Knows and Wouldn't It Be Nice.

While problems with his mental health affected his life and ability to work during the 1970s and 80s, Wilson continued to release music through the 1990s and the 2000s, and he reunited with the Beach Boys for one last time in 2011.

Brian leaves behind six children, including daughters Carnie and Wendy who made up two-thirds of the pop vocal group Wilson Phillips.

Sly Stone

The pioneering funk and soul legend died on 9th June 2025, aged 82, after a lengthy health battle, surrounded by his loved ones. “After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family,” a family statement read. “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”

May 2025

Rick Derringer

The Ohio-born musician first topped the US charts as a member of The McCoys, with their single Hang On Sloopy. As well a successful solo career, Derringer also collaborated with Todd Rundgren, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Cyndi Lauper, Steely Dan and "Weird" Al Yankovic. He also toured with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band and performed the guitar solo on Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart.He died on 26th May 2025, aged 77.

Simon House

The classically-trained violinist and keyboard player died on 25th May, aged 76. He was best known for his work with Hawkwind and the Third Ear Band and for touring with David Bowie in 1978 - he appears on both the live album Stage and the 1979 studio LP Lodger.

David Bowie | Warszawa | Live on Musikladen Extra | Bremen | 30 May 1978

Terry Draper

The Canadian musician was a member of Klaatu, whose song Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft was a hit for The Carpenters. He died on 15th May 2025, aged 73.

OFFICIAL Klaatu "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"

April 2025

Mike Peters

The Alarm frontman died after a long battle with blood cancer on 29th April 2025. The 66-year-old Welsh musician was diagnosed with lymphocytic leukemia more than 30 years ago, and in October last year, Peters found out he had Richter syndrome – an aggressive form of lymphoma. The Alarm officially formed in 1981 in Rhyl, and their debut album Declaration from February 1984 was their biggest hit in the UK, spawning the singles 68 Guns and Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke? The band's other hits include Rain In The Summertime and Spirit Of '76.

David Thomas

The frontman with the influential American art punk band Pere Ubu died on 23rd April, aged 71.

Pere Ubu - 30 Seconds Over Tokyo

Clodagh Rodgers

The Northern Irish singer represented the United Kingdom in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Jack In The Box, coming fourth. She died on 18th April 2025, aged 78.

JACK IN THE BOX – CLODAGH RODGERS | United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | Eurovision Song Contest 1971 [HD Remaster]

Roy Thomas Baker

The hugely successful British record producer died on 12th April, aged 78. Baker produced five albums by Queen, including A Night At The Opera, which included their most complex recording, Bohemian Rhapsody. The producer also worked with The Cars, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, The Stranglers, Cheap Trick, Devo, The Darkness and Smashing Pumpkins.

Mike Berry

The Northampton-born singer and actor enjoyed a brief pop career in the 60s, when his Joe Meek-produced single Don't You Think It's Time entered the Top 10. He had another Top 10 hit in 1980 with the standard The Sunshine of Your Smile produced by Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave fame. Berry was also known for his roles in Are You Being Served and Worzel Gummidge, plus appearing in a famous TV advert for Blue Riband biscuits. He died on 11th April 2025, aged 82.

Clem Burke

Blondie drummer Clem Burke died on 6th April 2025, aged 70, after losing his private battle with cancer. Founding members Debbie Harry and Chris Stein shared the news in a statement on Monday 7th April, where they described him as the "heartbeat of Blondie".

March 2025

Andy Peebles, broadcaster

The London-born presenter was initially a club DJ, before starting his broadcasting career at BBC Radio Manchester, going on to help found the city's Piccadilly Radio in 1974. Peebles graduated to Radio 1 and frequently introduced the BBC's Top Of The Pops programme. He was one of the last people to interview John Lennon before the former Beatle was murdered on 8th December 1980. Peebles died on 22nd March 2025, aged 76.

Larry Tamblyn

The vocalist and keyboard player with the Los Angeles garage rock band The Standells died on 21st March, aged 82. Their biggest hit was 1965's Dirty Water. His brother Russ was a well-known dancer and actor, appearing in the musicals Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and West Side Story.

The Standells - Dirty Water

Brian James

One of the founding members of The Damned, James died on 6th March 2025, aged 70. He wrote Britain's first punk single, New Rose, which was released on the Chiswick label in October 1976, appearing a month before the Sex Pistols' Anarchy In The UK. After composing most of the material on the first two Damned albums, he left the band at the end of 1977, later working with Iggy Pop and Duff McKagan, among many others.

In 1981, James launched a new band The Lords Of The New Church with ex-Dead Boys singer Stiv Bators. He reunited with his Damned colleagues for a series of shows in 2022; his bandmate Captain Sensible wrote on social media: "We’re shocked to hear that creator of The Damned, our great chum Brian James, has sadly gone. A lovely bloke that I feel so lucky to have met all those years ago and for some reason chose me to help in his quest for the music revolution that became known as punk."

Roy Ayers

The American composer, singer and vibraphonist died on 4th March, aged 84. He was best known for his 1976 cut Everybody Loves The Sunshine and the soundtrack to the 1973 film Coffy.

Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Joey Molland

The Liverpool-born guitarist joined the band Badfinger in 1969, just as they signed to The Beatles' Apple Records. He appeared on their hits No Matter What and the original version of Without You, later covered by Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey. As an Apple artist, Molland also played on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album, John Lennon's Imagine sessions and appeared at the Concert For Bangladesh in 1971.

Molland quit the band in December 1974, just as Badfinger's financial troubles became serious and formed the band Natural Gas. He and former bandmate Tom Evans reformed under the Badfinger name in the late 70s and at the time of his death was the last surviving member of the "classic" line-up. He died from from complications of diabetes on 1st March 2025 aged 77.

February 2025

David Johansen

The lead singer of the "proto-punk" band The New York Dolls died on 28th February 2025, aged 75. He was the last surviving original member, following the deaths of Sylvain Sylvain in 2021, Arthur Kane in 2004, Jerry Nolan in 1992 and Johnny Thunders in 1991.

Roberta Flack

The North Carolina-born singer was best known for her performances of Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, which both won a Grammy for Record Of The Year. She died on 24th February 2025, aged 88.

Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song (Official Video)

Robert John

The New York-born singer was best known for his 1979 hit Sad Eyes, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and made number 31 in the UK charts. He died on 24th February 2025, aged 79.

ROBERT JOHN - "SAD EYES" 1979

Bill Fay

Folk rock singer Fay recorded two well-regarded albums for the Deram label in the early 70s, but his reputation grew over the decades and he released three albums in the 21st Century; his last was Countless Branches in 2020. He died on 22nd February, aged 81.

I Hear You Calling

Rick Buckler

The drummer with The Jam died on 17th February after a short illness aged 69. He had been part of the mod outfit with bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton since the mid-1970s until their much-publicised split in December 1982.

Jamie Muir

The former percussionist with King Crimson died on 17th February, aged 82.

Gordon "Snowy" Fleet

Liverpool-born drummer who moved to Australia in the early 60s and joined the band The Easybeats, best-known for their 1966 hit Friday On My Mind. He left the band in 1967 and went on to have a career as a builder in Perth. He died on 17th February 2025, aged 85.

Mike Ratledge

Keyboard player Ratledge was one of the founding members of folk-rock band Soft Machine, appearing on their self-titled debut album alongside Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers. He later worked with Mike Oldfield and appeared on former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett's solo album The Madcap Laughs. He died on 5th February 2025, aged 81.

Sal Maida

The bassist with Long Island power pop act Milk 'N' Cookies later worked with Roxy Music and Sparks. After sustaining injuries in a fall last December, he died on 1st February 2025, aged 76.

January 2025:

Marianne Faithfull

The Hampstead-born actor and musician died on 30th January 2025 aged 78. Her first single was a Mick Jagger-Keith Richards composition As Tears Go By her relationship with Mick Jagger fascinated the newspapers in the late 60s - particularly after she was present when Mick and Keith were arrested for possession of drugs in February 1967. In 1979, Faithfull's musical career was given a boost with the "comeback" album Broken English, which spawned the hit The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan.

Garth Hudson

The Canadian musician, best known for his time with The Band, died on 21st January, aged 87.

John Sykes

The musician, who was best known as the guitarist for Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake died at the age of 65 on 20th January after losing his long battle with cancer.

Sam Moore

Sam Moore, best known for being half of the duo Sam & Dave - along with partner Dave Prater - that performed Soul Man and Hold On I'm Coming, died on 10th January at age 89 from surgery complications.

Sam & Dave - Soul Man (1967)

Wayne Osmond

The second-eldest of the Osmond brothers died on 1st January, aged 73. The band topped the charts in August 1974 with Love Me For A Reason.