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Child Item

First celebrity death you remember?

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With the sad passing of Aretha Franklin today, what was the first celebrity death you remember or that affected you?

I have early memories of my mother in tears when John Lennon died.

For me personally, the first that really hit me was Freddie Mercury.

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PlaneSpeeking

Sir Oxman wrote: »

Elvis for sure, I was 11 - twas a very big deal

The one that stuck with me the most - Lennon
Even at school the principal (a nun) came around each class and said a prayer for him.

I remember everyone going around in a daze that day

You know what's wierd that I always remember about the night of John Lennon's murder ?

American Werewolf in London was on tv the night before and I told my mam I was ok watching it. I was not!!!

Arghus

I remember my mother and one of her friends talking about the death of Rudolph Nureyev, "he was only 54, so young", that's crazy I thought, that age was beyond ancient.

Kurt Cobain when I was a really small kid, though I knew nothing about him or the circumstances of his death, I just was aware of it being a story in the news.

Diana was a big one alright. Mainly, I remember the hysteria. Not that I have a great deal of sympathy for any of the royals, but it'll always stay in my head how utterly wrong it seemed even to me then to have William and Harry walk behind their mother's casket in public like that. Jesus, that was rough.

Dermot Morgan was the first one that affected me personally. Watching season three of Father Ted shortly afterwards was surreal. Surely, he couldn't actually be dead? It's tragic that he just had enough in him to finish the show and then suddenly he was gone.

AVFC.Stephen

As a music lover when I was a kid I always wished that the likes of the Beatles members were still alive. Hendrix Morrison bolan also. I'm 37 now and kids get in the way of free time. There is 2 celebrities that brought me close to tears when they passed. Bowie and Mohammad Ali.

Condolences to all that have passed.

Diana I can't understand as when I was a nipper and being Irish there wasn't much love for the royal family in my neck of the woods.

That's not to say there's anything bad with the ones alive or deceased but for me back then, 5 mins of newsround with Philip scofield was your internet

[Deleted User]

Elvis- 41years this very day.

[Deleted User]

It's probably Princess Diana for me as well, followed by Mother Theresa not long after. I was 7 years old at the time and remember being annoyed at the fact that the British princess seemed to get a lot more grief and attention than the "saint" who "selflessly devoted her life to helping the sick and the poor" (thank you, Catholic education!!) Twenty-one years later I can now appreciate a bit more that Diana seems to have been a genuinely good and caring person, and it's a shame she died so young in the manner that she did (while still thinking the reaction to her death was a bit OTT). Also twenty-one years later, having read more about "Saint" Theresa, I hope hell is real and that she's burning in it. :mad:

People who are old enough to remember speak about the enormity of Elvis's death and John Lennon's death; I'd say the closest to that in my lifetime was when Michael Jackson died. That felt like one of those "I remember where I was when I heard..." moments.

Relikk

I'm struggling to think of anyone that I can remember dying before the person I'm going to mention as I would have been 7 years old at the time, but as avid viewers of MT-USA during its run, Vincent Hanley's death had an impact on me.

Diane Selwyn

Elvis - I was nearly six so not familiar with his work but I remember my parents discussing the spate of suicides that followed his death. Also Bing Crosby the same year and because my parents were fans i guess it made an impression.

John Lennon yes I remember my mother was upset even though she had given up on the Beatles after their 'bigger than jesus' faux pas. It was the violent nature of it as well as the total shock I guess.

For me I recall being upset about River Phoenix - nearly my contemporary i suppose. I remember that night driving and listening to Tom Waits singing The Earth Died Screaming - just being a total gen x saddo!

kev_Makaveli

For me it would have been freddie or Tupac that stood out most to me. Freddie for his amazing vocal range and Tupac for his ability to take you through an amazing story.

theoneeyedman

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

I remember Lennon. I also barely remember Elvis dying (I was about 5)

I was 6 when Presley died, and I remember it. I didn't know who he was, but I recall it coming on the news and my granny, who was not a celebrity watcher, stopping and watching, in fact it might have even warranted a NEWSFLASH on RTE at the time, but I might have that bit wrong(I might be mixing it up with another event). We walked down to our own house, and my mother was playing Elvis records. I thought they were sh1te

Also remember well Lennon in 1980. Was on the radio news when getting ready for school, again didn't really know who he was, but it's funny how the magnitude of him dying sticks in the mind, perhaps because he was murdered, I dunno.

MarkY91

Princess Diana for me. What was born in 1991.

Deaths with biggest affect on me were Steve Irwin and Michael Jackson. I cried in bed before school when I found out Steve Irwin died lol

Trigger Happy

Elvis. The town went quiet that day.

honeybear

Ayrton Senna

ohnonotgmail

Deleted User wrote: »

Tommy Cooper when I was around 4, he died on live tv

I remember watching it as it happened.

dark crystal

Princess Grace of Monaco - I remember seeing a picture of lying in her casket on the front page of the newspapers.

Also Karen Carpenter's death - my mother was a big fan and she was very upset over it.

BorneTobyWilde

Vincent van Gogh

jluv

Ger Roe wrote: »

Forty one years ago today - Elvis.

I remember the sense of shock on hearing the radio reports. I was thirteen, just discovering pop music and had only just started looking in to who Elvis was (his last single 'Way Down' was on release at the time)

Ironically enough, The King of Rock and the Queen of Soul have now passed on the same day - August 16th.

From something I read today,you can add Ronnie Drew to the date as well!
I'm old! definatly Elvis for me. Loved him and remember my mother coming in to break it to me gently. I had a scrapbook that I saved any newspaper clippings I could lay my hands on. I wish I could find it today. Gave hours at it..
While not the first, Princess Diana did impact me greatly. Watched everything I could for days..

Belle E. Flops

Joe Dolan

But I've very vague recollections of Diana and Mother Tereasa.

bfa1509

Gay Byrne

LaLa2004

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Elvis but I had to be told who he was.

Exact same here. I distinctly remember hearing of his death on the radio news and asking my father 'who is Elvis?'

Our record collection had Makem & Clancy / Jim Reeves / The Wolfe Tones

No rock n roll!

amdublin

Ok so I remember some before but I thought this was strange... before smart phones

My friends and I came out of a restaurant on a Thursday or Friday night. Around 11pm

A van with two fellas drives past. One winds down the window and shouts out Michael Jackson is dead. We just laughed and were like wtf.

Went home and switched on sky news and saw he had died.

My theory is your man had heard it on the radio and was so shocked that he just had to shout it out

pleas advice

John J Astor

RabbleRouser2k

AVFC.Stephen wrote: »

As a music lover when I was a kid I always wished that the likes of the Beatles members were still alive. Hendrix Morrison bolan also. I'm 37 now and kids get in the way of free time. There is 2 celebrities that brought me close to tears when they passed. Bowie and Mohammad Ali.

Condolences to all that have passed.

Diana I can't understand as when I was a nipper and being Irish there wasn't much love for the royal family in my neck of the woods.

That's not to say there's anything bad with the ones alive or deceased but for me back then, 5 mins of newsround with Philip scofield was your internet

I used to visit Huffington Post often to get global news.

I remember opening it that morning, and the words 'Bowie Dead' stopped my heart. Two words, but it was devastating. Huffpo announced it minutes after he had died.

I couldn't believe it. Felt like losing a relative.

bobbyss

One of the first was Bing Crosby I think he was playing golf in Spain.

Yer Da sells Avon

For once, a thread that makes me feel young. Sounds like some of you remember Methuselah being born.

seamus

amdublin wrote: »

My theory is your man had heard it on the radio and was so shocked that he just had to shout it out

Jackson was a bit out of nowhere all right. At the time there were ads and discussions going on about his huge upcoming world tour.

I was sitting in the pub, and remember looking up the telly which had Sky News on, and it said that TMZ was reporting Jackson had died. We were all just thinking, "WTF? Michael Jackson?"

ohnonotgmail

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Vincent van Gogh

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

For once, a thread that makes me feel young. Sounds like some of you remember Methuselah being born.

After reading BorneTobyWildes post i definitely feel young

Ulysses Gaze

Phil Lynott

murpho999

Elvis for me is the first big one I remember.

I was seven and staying in an aunt's house at the time.

She was devastated and cried for days.

It made an impact on me as I saw other adults being upset about it and realise how much he meant to people who grew up in the 50s as he broke the mould and defined the era.

Water John

JFK, his death stunned the world but Ireland in particular. He had visited the country in July previous. Poster Mickeymouse wondered how his mother knew as she had no radio. Everyone knew as word spread everywhere.
Remember the funeral on the radio. About 4 hours of it. I think it was Michael O'Hehir did the commentary. Particularly affected me as my father has just died.
Also remember his brother Robert Kennedy. Heard the news on the radio in the morning before going to school.

Pherekydes

Kennedy. I remember my devoutly catholic parents being very upset that "our" president had been assassinated.