Pull up a bar stool, grab a pint, and get ready for a proper emotional wallop, butt — because 2025’s been a gut-punch for the rock world. From blues wizards to metal gods, we’ve lost giants this year. And while they may have left the stage, their riffs, roars, and rebellious spirit will never fade.
So here’s our Riff Report roll call — a loud, proud, “TURN IT UP!” farewell to the legends who’ve headed to that great gig in the sky.
🎹 Garth Hudson (The Band) – January 21, 2025 – Age 87
The last surviving original member of The Band, and quite possibly the most brilliant organist rock has ever seen. Known for weaving pure magic into songs like “The Weight” and “Up On Cripple Creek,” Garth wasn’t just a musician — he was a sonic architect.
🎹 Barry Goldberg – January 22, 2025 – Age 83
A blues-rock maestro and behind-the-scenes powerhouse. Played with Dylan, jammed with Mike Bloomfield, and left his mark in every note. Complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may have taken him, but his music’s still smiling that sly blues grin.
🎤 Chris Youlden (Savoy Brown) – April 4, 2025 – Age 82
That voice. Deep, soulful, unforgettable. Chris fronted Savoy Brown during their prime and could make the blues cut straight to your bones. Lost to bronchial pneumonia — but his records still steam up the speakers.
🎷 John “Poli” Palmer (Family) – July 21, 2025 – Age 82
Flute, vibraphone, keys… if it made a sound, Poli could play it. His contributions to Family’s prog-rock weirdness were the definition of “musical colour.”
🎤 Terry Reid – August 4, 2025 – Age 75
“Superlungs” himself. The man who famously said “nah” to fronting Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, choosing his own path instead. That voice was silk wrapped in sandpaper — and integrity oozed out of every note.
🎹 Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominos) – August 10, 2025 – Age 77
Co-wrote “Bell Bottom Blues,” sang like an angel with a sore throat, and laid down keys that made Clapton’s guitar cry. Passed at home in Texas after a short battle with cancer, surrounded by love.
🦇 Ozzy Osbourne – July 22, 2025 – Age 76
The Prince of Darkness. The Madman. The voice of Black Sabbath. After decades of defying the odds (and probably science), Ozzy finally took his last bow from cardiac arrest tied to heart disease and Parkinson’s. His final Sabbath set just weeks before? Utterly spine-tingling. Brum’s working-class hero, now headlining eternity.
📜 More Rock Notables Who Shredded Their Last Chord in 2025
- Fredrik Lindgren (Unleashed) – Jan 6
- Peter “P. Fluid” Forrest (24-7 Spyz) – Jan 13
- John Sykes (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) – Jan 20
- Bruce Howe (Fraternity) – Jan 29
- Sal Maida (Roxy Music, Sparks) – Feb 1
- Rick Buckler (The Jam) – Feb 17
- Snowy Fleet (The Easybeats) – Feb 19
- David Johansen (New York Dolls) – Feb 28
- Les Binks (Judas Priest) – Mar 15
- Clem Burke (Blondie) – Apr 6
- Mike Peters (The Alarm) – Apr 28
- James Baker (The Scientists) – May 5
- Adam Ramey (Dropout Kings) – May 19
- Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) – Jun 11
- Derek A. E. Fuhrmann – Jun 27
- Paul Mario Day (Iron Maiden early singer) – Jul 29
🥁 How We Remember Them
We don’t mourn rock legends in silence — we celebrate them at full volume. Play their albums. Tell their stories. Raise a glass and a middle finger to the sky.
They may have left the stage, but their music will forever be the soundtrack to our chaos. Proper job, legends. Diolch for everything.
