The Tragic Death Of George Gershwin
Born in 1898 in Brooklyn, Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz (for such was his name) was identified early as a genuine musical prodigy. Here's how he died.
Read MoreBorn in 1898 in Brooklyn, Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz (for such was his name) was identified early as a genuine musical prodigy. Here's how he died.
By Eric Meisfjord March 5th, 2020 Read MoreRush's songs speak to the mind and the heart. The band also sings from a place of empathy, as its individual members have endured a lot of pain and struggle over the years. Here's the tragic real-life story of Rush.
By Brian Boone March 4th, 2020 Read MoreWho among us, some idle summer afternoon, hasn't thought, "Wouldn't it be cool to be King (or Queen)?" Or just royal. For Margaret Tudor, it may have contributed to her death.
By Eric Meisfjord March 4th, 2020 Read MoreYou might remember Phil Hartman from SNL, The Simpsons, or NewsRadio. But his life was beset with heartbreak, and it ended with an unspeakable tragedy. Here's a look at the all-too-brief and incredibly tragic life of Phil Hartman.
By Brian Boone March 3rd, 2020 Read MoreApparently he was a pretty fair soldier, but as a domestic terrorist, he was lacking. Guy Fawkes, born in 1570 in York, England, didn't even start out Catholic -- but by the end of his tragic life, he would be sentenced to death as one.
By Eric Meisfjord March 2nd, 2020 Read MoreHe was the King of Rock n' Roll in life, but his death was anything but distinguished. According to musical legend Leonard Bernstein, Elvis was the "greatest cultural force in the 20th century." But he died too young.
By Zach Lisabeth February 28th, 2020 Read MoreLife hasn't been easy for Carlos Santana. In fact, it's been a long and bumpy road to legendary status for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
By Brian Boone February 27th, 2020 Read MoreToday we refer to leprosy as Hansen's disease, named for the Norwegian physician who first identified the causative agent back in 1873. But the disease itself has been around for millennia -- with indications found in human remains dating back to around 2000 BCE.
By Eric Meisfjord February 26th, 2020 Read MoreFrida Kahlo’s work is known for portraying both magical realism and suffering. And speaking of suffering, Kahlo had an incredibly hard life, and while she was a talented artist, she died a pretty tragic death.
By Robert Balkovich February 26th, 2020 Read MoreWhile King Henry VIII's infamous series of unhappy couplings often gets the lion's share of the spotlight, he wasn't the only Tudor who was getting into matrimonial trouble. His sister, Margaret Tudor, had quite the track record of her own when it came to scandal at the altar.
By Robert Balkovich February 25th, 2020 Read MoreEartha Kitt was a phenomenal performer. But her career was full of ups and downs, and despite her fame, Kitt’s life was pretty tragic.
By Nicholas Conley February 21st, 2020 Read MoreRudyard Kipling gave us classic stories like 'The Jungle Book,' but in World War I, the man suffered a devastating tragedy: the tragic death of his son, John.
By Eric Meisfjord February 21st, 2020 Read MoreThere's an epic poem about the Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, England's Poet Laureate. It's pretty thrilling, with lines like: Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do & die, / Into the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred.
By Eric Meisfjord February 21st, 2020 Read MoreEliot Ness was a Prohibition agent working in Chicago. In his 20s, handsome, and with a knack for providing good newspaper quotes, Ness led a team that really did put a crimp on the bootlegging business. Then things turned tragic.
By Eric Meisfjord February 12th, 2020 Read MorePantera originated groove metal. Guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, bassist Rex Brown, and singer Phil Anselmo provided a soundtrack for the disaffected, and a loud one at that. This is the tragic real-life story of Pantera, one of metal's greatest bands.
By Rob Smith February 12th, 2020 Read MoreJohn Denver was an Air Force brat, named Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., the son of an extremely accomplished career pilot. Here's how he died.
By Eric Meisfjord February 7th, 2020 Read MoreJohn Henry "Doc" Holliday. Even people who don't like westerns seem to like Tombstone, and even people who don't like Val Kilmer (which is hard to believe) seem to like the former Batman's portrayal of Doc Holliday. Here's how he spent his final, tragic days.
By Eric Meisfjord February 6th, 2020 Read MoreHoward Hughes packed a lot into his life. To say Hughes was an ambitious eccentric is an understatement. Here's the tragic real-life story of Howard Hughes.
By Kelly McClure January 30th, 2020 Read MoreWill Rogers was the man who famously observed that he never met a man he didn't like, giving rise in turn to innumerable jokes about how "Will Rogers never met my brother-in-law/fill in the blank." Here's the story of his tragic death.
By Eric Meisfjord January 28th, 2020 Read MoreSince 2014, Hong Kongers have demonstrated for democracy. But the hunger for freedom isn't the only thing fueling the unrest. The plight of many citizens echoes the dismal conditions that stoked the 1967 riots. Back then, destitute citizens lived in shanties. Now they reside in "coffin cubicles."
By A. C. Grimes January 6th, 2020 Read MoreThe Rolling Stones have been sowing the seeds of rock 'n' roll since 1962, and they're still at it. How can a band as wild and unpredictable as this conquer problem after problem and remain at the top of the rock 'n' roll heap in their 70s? Here's the tragic real-life story of the Rolling Stones.
By Pauli Poisuo January 6th, 2020 Read MoreMorgan Seth Earp was a bonafide frontier man of mystery. A lot of his life is poorly documented, but the rumors and conjecture make him sound like a wild dude. But he's mostly remembered as Earp who died with the biggest bullet hole in his body. Here's the tragic truth of Morgan Earp's death.
By Tom Meisfjord December 27th, 2019 Read MoreAs you may have noticed, the 2010s have been particularly rough for celebrities when it came to staying alive, and chances are at least one famous face you used to look up to has suffered an untimely, tragic death. Let's take a look at the most tragic celebrity deaths of the past decade.
By Pauli Poisuo December 27th, 2019 Read MoreThe atlas moth is sort of the Andre the Giant of the moth community. It's a remarkable species with a wingspan that can reach nearly thirty centimeters, or large enough to make anyone shudder when imagining what it would feel like to have one crawl across their face. Here is its tragic life's tale.
By Tom Meisfjord December 20th, 2019 Read MoreThe DeBarges are a big family. The musical group's biggest success was the 1985 hit "Rhythm of the Night," but the personal lives of the DeBarges have been defined by discord. Between their struggles with addiction, crime, and drama, the DeBarges have lived tragic lives.
By A. C. Grimes December 10th, 2019 Read MoreT.E. Lawrence was dubbed "Lawrence of Arabia" by the press following his time fighting in the Middle East. But the Lawrence of Arabia the public knows -- larger than life, braver than brave, without fault -- is only a small part of the story. This is the tragic real-life story of Lawrence of Arabia.
By Deborah Kennedy November 26th, 2019 Read MoreChristopher Dennis was the famous Hollywood Boulevard Superman for 25 years. But Dennis' life wasn't all flowing capes and amiable photos with admiring tourists. It was filled with sad events that culminated in his untimely death. Here's the tragic real-life story of Hollywood Boulevard Superman.
By Pauli Poisuo November 21st, 2019 Read More