When news came that George Michael had died at home at the age of 53, our collective sadness was highlighted by a cruel irony. As part of '80s power duo Wham! (with Andrew Ridgeley), Michael brought us one of the all-time beloved Christmas pop songs, "Last Christmas" -- and he died on Christmas Day.
All-female pop-rock group the Go-Go's climbed to the top of the charts in the early 1980s with hits like "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips are Sealed." But behind the pop hits, the Go-Go's members were plagued by drug addiction, eating disorders, heated lawsuits, a changing lineup, and health issues.
Cline recorded her first album in 1955 and gained a huge following by the time the 1960s rolled around. Her songs started to appear on the radio. Her face was showing up on the television variety program Town and Country Jamboree. She was on her way to the top.
George Harrison enjoyed much success, but his life was marked by underappreciation by peers, Eric Clapton marrying his ex-wife, and an attempt on his life.
In the story of NASA, one of the worst disasters in the department's history happened on solid ground. As NASA reports, on January 27, 1967, a fire during a preflight test for the Apollo 1 mission took the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee.
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper was one of the biggest WWE personalities of the 1980s. Why? Because everyone loved to hate this hot-headed, fearless star. He battled the likes of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in the ring, and had quite the prolific career on the other side of the ropes as well.
New Hampshire-born Connie Converse is considered to be the first modern singer-songwriter. She settled among the beatniks and bohemians in New York City's Greenwich Village in the 1950s, writing hauntingly raw lyrics over guitar melodies.
And though Axl Rose's childhood isn't an excuse for any unpalatable behavior he may have exhibited, it certainly gives us a little insight into the trouble he's had in his past.
In 1965, after more than a decade of struggling to become the musician he dreamed of being and joining the ranks of the budding rock 'n' roll royalty, Roy Orbison began to see his fame fade...
Desi Arnaz Jr. might not ring a bell at all to the younger generations, but being the child of a famous couple keeps you in the spotlight -- and being in the spotlight often means trouble.
Jeff Buckley was a unique talent whose career was only beginning to take off before a bad decision cost him his life. Here is the story of his tragic death.
Rodman had hard times. If you were to spot him as a kid, you'd never know that he'd someday be shooting hoops for the NBA. His childhood goes far beyond everyday hardships, which makes his story of success all the more fantastic.
All four members of The Who had significant moments of tragedy and tribulation throughout their lives, but guitarist and singer Pete Townshend's childhood had a series of particularly sad and disturbing moments.
The Royal Library of Alexandria was a wonder of the ancient world, built to house all knowledge. Nevertheless, tragedy struck the Great Library and all of its invaluable manuscripts were lost. But how could such a thing happen? Read on for the tragic fate of the Library of Alexandria.
Gram Parsons was a guitarist and singer who, as a member of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, along with his solo releases, helped invent "country rock".
Sean and fellow journalist Dana Stone were captured by elements of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army while on assignment for Time magazine in Cambodia on April 6, 1970.
Barbara showed an intense talent for the written word from a young age, as reported by The Guardian. She taught herself how to read, much like other children learn to walk, and by age 4 her tiny form was carting her father's typewriter back to her room so she could write.