Gone Too Soon: Remembering 7 Music Legends We’ve Lost This Past Decade
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There’s something timeless about great music. The right voice, the right lyric, the right beat—it sticks with you, long after the needle’s lifted or the final chord fades. But every once in a while, the artists behind those sounds leave us too soon, and it hits like a gut punch.
Over the last decade, we’ve said goodbye to some towering talents, artists who shaped genres, redefined what music could be, and left a mark that’s still being felt today. Whether you’ve got their albums filed alphabetically or still spin their classics on the regular, these are the names that never left the room—they just stopped taking the stage.
Let’s take a moment to remember a few of them, and the ripple effect their music still has on modern artists, scenes, and sounds.
David Bowie (1947–2016)
Genre-chameleon. Icon before the word lost its meaning.
It’s hard to overstate Bowie’s influence. From the glam shock of Ziggy Stardust to the Berlin Trilogy’s art-rock edge, right through to the haunting goodbye of Blackstar, Bowie never stood still—and neither has music since.
Modern indie, synth-pop, experimental hip-hop—they all owe a debt. Artists like St. Vincent, The Weeknd, even Janelle Monáe are flying the freak-flag he planted decades ago.
Listen to: Heroes, Life on Mars?, Lazarus
Buy Bowie Classics
Prince (1958–2016)
Virtuoso. Visionary. Vault-keeper of unreleased genius.
Prince didn’t just blur genre lines—he obliterated them. Funk, pop, rock, soul—he could play it all, often on the same record. His attitude, independence, and creativity still echo in the music of artists like Frank Ocean, H.E.R., and Childish Gambino.
And let’s be honest—no one grooves like Prince. Not before, not since.
Listen to: Purple Rain, If I Was Your Girlfriend, Kiss
Prince Hits to buy
Aretha Franklin (1942–2018)
The Queen. Full stop.
Aretha wasn’t just a voice—she was the voice. Her gospel-powered soul laid the foundation for almost every powerhouse vocalist you can name. Beyoncé, Adele, Alicia Keys—they all trace a line back to Aretha.
And her influence goes deeper: confidence, control, activism, ownership—Aretha did it all, and on her own terms.
Listen to: A Natural Woman, Think, Rock Steady
Scott Hutchison (Frightened Rabbit, 1981–2018)
Honest, raw, and heartbreakingly human.
Scott’s lyrics could cut you open and somehow make you feel okay about it. Frightened Rabbit’s blend of emotional indie-rock struck a chord that bands like The 1975, Phoebe Bridgers, and Bear’s Den are still strumming.
His openness about mental health has made his legacy even more powerful in today’s conversation-heavy world of music.
Listen to: The Modern Leper, Keep Yourself Warm, Swim Until You Can’t See Land
Mac Miller (1992–2018)
From frat-rap to full-blown jazz-rap poet.
Mac’s evolution was one of the most impressive arcs in recent memory. From early party tracks to the introspective brilliance of Swimming and Circles, he was finding his voice—and it was a beautiful one.
He’s left fingerprints on everything from lo-fi beats to modern soul-tinged hip-hop. Artists like Anderson .Paak and Tyler, The Creator openly cite him as a friend and influence.
Listen to: Self Care, 2009, Dang!
Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac, 1943–2022)
The quiet engine behind some of the Mac’s greatest moments.
Stevie Nicks might’ve had the spotlight, but Christine brought the soul. Her songwriting on Everywhere, Songbird, and You Make Loving Fun gave Fleetwood Mac its softness and depth. You can hear her influence in today’s indie-pop, especially in artists like HAIM, First Aid Kit and Maggie Rogers.
Listen to: Songbird, Little Lies, You Make Loving Fun
Buy Fleetwood Mac classics
Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters, 1972–2022)
Rock’s beating heart.
Taylor wasn’t just the drummer behind Dave Grohl—he was a frontman in waiting, a powerhouse player with pure charisma. His love of classic rock and punk came through in every hit of the kit.
Modern rock still has room for raw energy, and Taylor proved it never needed to be polished to be powerful.
Listen to: Best of You, My Hero, All My Life
All the best of Foo Fighters
Why It Still Matters
Music doesn’t disappear when the artist does. These legends pushed the art forward, inspired countless others, and built sounds that still pulse through modern music—from playlists and turntables to sold-out arenas.
Whether you’re spinning their records, discovering them for the first time, or catching their influence in your favourite new band—they’re not really gone. Their music’s still here. Still playing. Still alive.
So light a candle, cue up the vinyl, and raise a glass to the greats.
Gone, but never not heard. 🎶
Miss someone we didn’t mention? Drop your own tributes below, or come find their records at chalkys.com—we’ll help you keep their music spinning.