This reference opens with a quotation by Jimi Hendrix, “Once you’re dead you’re made for life – you have to die before they think you’re worth anything,” followed by an introduction that details the death of Blues pioneer Robert Johnson by strychnine poisoning. This event is listed as a “timeline of death in popular music.”

The book is a true encyclopedia, divided into sections by date rather than alphabetical order by name, beginning with pre 1965, then month by month each year after that. It includes greats like Sam Cooke, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, including a key to symbols used to denote what kind of death each victim suffered. For students who just want to read about various artists to those looking for a particular star, this book should find a niche, but I doubt it will circulate a lot