In 2025, the world bid farewell to multiple rock legends. Artists such as Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Ace Frehley, Sam Rivers, and Perry Bamonte built the framework for music as we know it today. These musical icons made people fall in love with music, and their legacy continues to live on through us.
Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys co-founder and primary vocalist, Brian Wilson, passed away on June 11, 2025, due to respiratory arrest. Wilson is one of America’s greatest songwriters, writing hit songs such as “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” One of Wilson’s greatest accomplishments was the band’s 1966 album “Pet Sounds,” their most popular and critically acclaimed album.
Wilson’s complex harmonies and melodic genius from this album inspired artists such as The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Bob Dylan, R.E.M, Weezer, and The Ramones. Paul McCartney called “God Only Knows” the greatest song ever written, and Clapton called “Pet Sounds” an album that changed the world of music.
“I love the Beach Boys, and I was really sad when I saw he died,” sophomore Isabella Toro said. “He was a really good singer.”
Wilson’s voice and legendary lyrics will live on not only through the millions of listeners of The Beach Boys but also through the other artists who were inspired by him.
Ozzy Osbourne
Black Sabbath frontman, heavy metal pioneer, and the prince of darkness Ozzy Osbourne passed away from a heart attack just weeks after his massive farewell concert from a heart attack. Osbourne is known as the “godfather of heavy metal,” creating the blueprint for heavy metal with Black Sabbath in the late 1960s. Black Sabbath directly contrasted the 1960s peace movement with its heavy riffs and powerful vocals. Together, the band wrote hits such as “Paranoid” and “War Pigs.” Osbourne laid the foundation for bands across many genres, including Metallica and Nirvana, who cited him as a key influence on their band.
Osbourne was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979 due to severe alcohol and drug abuse. However, he continued to have massive success as a solo artist, writing songs such as “Crazy Train” in 1980.
“I remember looking at a clip of his show he did right before he passed,” junior Joseph Copper said. “When he passed, I thought ‘There’s no way this is real,’ and I was so sad because I’m never going to see him perform.”
Osbourne continues to inspire artists today and is the reason the unique sound of heavy metal is so popular around the world today.
Ace Frehley
Spaceman and original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley passed away on Oct. 16, 2025, due to blunt force head trauma. Frehley first left the band in 1982 and briefly rejoined in 1996 before leaving again after the band’s tour in 2002.
Frehley earned the name “Spaceman” because he created the iconic KISS stage look. He was inspired to do this from his love for space travel and science fiction. Frehley not only defined KISS’s stage presence, but also their iconic sounds and memorable riffs. He was crucial in introducing the band as a global phenomenon, and did this through his unique guitar playing.
Without Frehley, KISS would not be known for their iconic look, and although he was not a part of the band when he passed, he is at the core of the band’s success.
Sam Rivers
Founding member and bassist of Limp Bizkit, Sam Rivers, passed away on Oct. 18, 2025. Rivers created the rhythmic foundation for hit Limp Bizkit songs, such as “Nookie” and “Rollin’.” He was considered by his bandmates the heart and soul of the band, and “the pulse beneath each song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound.”
Shortly before his death, the band had just wrapped up touring with Metallica, opening for them during their North American shows of the M72 World Tour. After this, they had a short solo tour in South America. Rivers died while the band was on this tour, and his death was not only shocking but heartbreaking for the band.
Rivers had suffered from alcohol abuse in the past, forcing him to leave the band in 2015 due to severe liver disease. However, he rejoined just three years later after a successful liver transplant in 2017. Rivers passed away due to an alcohol-related liver disease and his death shows the devastating effects of excessive drinking.
Perry Bamonte
The world lost Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, on Dec. 25, 2025. Although not an original member of the band, he officially joined in 1990 and was a vital part of the band. He helped define their sound on iconic albums such as “Wish” and “Wild Mood Swings.” His contributions to the band cannot be overlooked, helping define the sound of hit songs such as “Friday I’m in Love.”
Bamonte added a unique sound to the band by playing a six-string bass. The six-string bass is unique because it has two extra strings and gives the instrument more rhythmic and melodic possibilities. This added harmony and depth to the band and helped define their sound in the 1990s.
Although the world lost many musicians last year, they will continue to live in the memories of their fans across the globe.
