From Spanish to Japanese, and everything in between
It is rumored that Robert Johnson, a notable figure in Delta blues, entered into a pact with the devil at a crossroads, offering his soul in return for fame. The song 'Crossroads' by Johnson continues to be associated with this curse.
Several artists, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, and Eric Clapton, have experienced tragic events, including death, after covering this song.
Due to their association with the occult, it is unsurprising that rumors of a pact with the devil emerged about the band. However, according to reports, only three members, namely Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham, made the Faustian deal—a deal with the devil where one swaps their soul for success, talent, or power.
All three members of the band experienced tragic outcomes. Plant endured a terrible car accident and later suffered the loss of his son. Bonham tragically choked to death, while Plant narrowly survived his own self-destructive behavior. Bassist John Paul Jones wisely chose to avoid such unfortunate circumstances.
Hungarian musician Rezső Seress composed the well-known melody 'Gloomy Sunday,' which has been associated with several suicides, resulting in its prohibition in Hungary.
Billie Holiday performed a rendition of the song, which was subsequently prohibited in the US. Moreover, the UK's BBC also banned 'Gloomy Sunday' until 2002.
It is widely known as one of the most famous curses in the music industry. Surprisingly and mysteriously, numerous renowned artists have passed away at the age of 27.
Some well-known individuals in the 27 Club include Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse, among others.
It is said that some members of the 27 Club were discovered with a white lighter in their possession upon their deaths. However, this claim seems unlikely given that white disposable lighters were not available when Hendrix, Joplin, and Morrison passed away.
Peter Green, the founding guitarist (on the left), departed the band citing mental health problems. Shortly thereafter, slide guitarist Jerry Spencer also left. Following them, Danny Kirwan (on the right), who also battled mental illness.
In 2012, guitarist Bob Weston passed away due to an aneurysm, and later that year guitarist Bob Welch tragically took his own life. So, who wants to audition to be the band's next guitarist?
Bad Boy Records, owned by Sean Combs (P. Diddy), experienced significant success in the 1990s. However, the label's fortunes took a downturn following the untimely passing of The Notorious B.I.G. Curiously, several artists from the label, including Craig Mack, Mase, Shyne, and Loon, transitioned to become religious leaders.
The renowned jazz pianist from New Orleans did not trade his soul with the devil, but it seems his godmother did!
Morton's life took a turn for the worse when a string of unfortunate incidents occurred, such as the emergence of asthma and a stabbing incident. Seeking assistance, Morton approached a voodoo practitioner who aided in breaking the curse.
On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, also known as "The Big Bopper," lost their lives in an unfortunate plane crash, forever marking this day as "the day the music died."
Since then, there was a series of unfortunate events. Ronnie Smith, the singer hired to replace Holly on the Winter Dance Party Tour, experienced significant mental health problems and tragically took his own life some years later.
The number 9 appears frequently in Lennon's life. He was born on October 9, 1940, the Beatles were discovered on November 9, 1961, and they performed on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' on February 9, 1964. Additionally, he met Yoko Ono on November 9, 1966.
Regrettably, the count is not solely associated with positive occurrences in John Lennon's life. The Beatles disbanded after nine years, and despite Lennon's passing on December 8, 1980, in New York, it was already December 9 in his birthplace of Liverpool in the UK, due to the time difference.
Several composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, faced an unfortunate fate after composing their Ninth Symphony and passed away shortly after.
Gustave Mahler, an Austrian composer, was on the verge of overcoming the curse by completing his Tenth Symphony, but unfortunately, he passed away prior to its completion.
According to reports, the hip-hop collective allegedly used an Ouija board, and as they progressed in their careers, their music contained multiple mentions of the devil alongside the inclusion of occult symbols.
However, the situation becomes even more bizarre as several rappers who worked with the group, such as Easy-E, 2Pac, and The Notorious B.I.G., passed away shortly after.
According to legend, composer Giuseppe Tartini supposedly had a dream where the devil played him a melody on the violin.
Upon awakening, Tartini composed the Violin Sonata in G minor, known as the Devil's Trill Sonata, a song allegedly imbued with a curse.
The sound quality on the 'SNL' stage has a well-known reputation for being poor, leading to various hardships for many musicians over the years. According to some, this issue began with the controversial act of Sinead O'Connor tearing up a photo of the Pope during a live TV performance.
Several artists, such as Milli Vanilli, Men at Work, A Taste of Honey, Jody Watley, and the Starland Vocal Band, experienced a decline in their careers after receiving this Grammy award.
Benjamin Franklin invented this instrument in 1761, said to drive both musicians and listeners into madness with its sound.
Russian composer Alexander Scriabin chose not to publicly perform his Piano Sonata No. 6 as he deemed it "nightmarish, murky, unclean and mischievous."
Many Filipinos believe that this popular karaoke song is cursed, as numerous individuals have reportedly met their demise after singing it.
Jan & Dean's 1964 song 'Dead Man's Curve' almost predicted Jan's future, as two years later he crashed his car in that same curve, somewhere in LA.
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Real stories of curses in the world of music
From deals with the devil to cursed melodies
MUSIC Curiosities
Stories of musicians making deals with the devil are quite common throughout music history. The allure of success often outweighs the value of one's soul, or so some believe. Undoubtedly, these artists face the consequences of their pact with Lucifer. However, music curses extend beyond these diabolical bargains. Certain bands and musicians seem to be inexplicably cursed, while others have created songs that are best avoided (and not just due to personal preference).
Are you prepared to be creeped out? Then go ahead and click through the gallery.