December 22

 

Punk rock lost its passionate heart today in 2002 when Joe Strummer died of a congenital heart defect at 50, ending the life of The Clash's visionary frontman whose political fire and musical adventurousness made him one of rock's most important and principled voices…

 

Blue-eyed soul mourned its most powerful voice today in 2014 when Joe Cocker died of lung cancer at his Colorado home at 70, silencing the Sheffield singer whose spastic performances and gravelly interpretations of others' songs made him one of rock's most distinctive interpreters…

 

Pop's queen of reinvention married British film director Guy Ritchie today in 2000 at Scotland's Skibo Castle, Madonna's union with the "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" director producing a son before their acrimonious divorce eight years later…

 

Disco royalty arrived in double today in 1949 when twins Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees were born on the Isle of Man, the brothers whose falsetto harmonies with Barry would dominate the Saturday Night Fever era before both died within two years of each other…

 

Rock's most notorious septuagenarian Ron Wood married 34-year-old Sally Humphreys today in 2012 at 65, with best men Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart witnessing the Rolling Stones guitarist's third marriage, proving age was just a number in rock and roll romance…

 

Power pop's most eccentric guitarist Rick Nielsen was born today in 1948, the Cheap Trick axeman whose massive guitar collection and five-neck instruments made him rock's most visually distinctive player while his songwriting gave the band hits like "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me."