Pop and Rock Star Deaths in 2017

Col. Bruce Hampton (nee Gustav Berglund III)

Band: The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Hampton Grease Band, Fiji Mariners, the Codetalkers

Position: lead singer/guitarist

Died: May 2, 2017

Cause of death: suffered heart attack on stage at Fox Theatre in Atlanta

Age: 70

Distinctions: Known as the godfather of the jamband scene, he recorded as a band, solo artist and guest on albums by Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Widespread Panic, Chuck Leavell and Mike Gordon. He's the subject of the 2012 documentary, Basically Frightened: The Musical Madness of Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret., and also appeared in Sling Blade (1996).

Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.