Several notable music artists died of unnatural causes in the 1980s . Bon Scott , at the time lead singer of rock band AC/DC , died of acute alcohol poisoning on February 19 , 1980 . English drummer John Bonham of the rock band Led Zeppelin also died that year in similar fashion . John Lennon was shot outside his home in New York City on the night of December 8 , 1980 . Tim Hardin died of a heroin overdose on December 29 , 1980 . Bob Marley died from a lentiginous skin melanoma on May 11 , 1981 . Harry Chapin died of a car accident on July 16 , 1981 . Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father at his home in Los Angeles on April 1 , 1984 , one day before what would have been his 45th birthday . Ozzy Osbourne 's guitarist Randy Rhoads died in an airplane crash on March 19 , 1982 . Karen Carpenter died from heart failure caused by her anorexia condition on February 4 , 1983 . Metallica bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a bus accident in Sweden on September 27 , 1986 . Andy Gibb died in 1988 as a result of myocarditis
shot dead
Death of Marvin Gaye
1980s