(A 90-page True Crime Short with photographs) On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye—one of the world's most beloved singers—was gunned down by his own father. A generation later, fans still puzzle over how it could be that a man who crooned about peace, love, and understanding could possibly meet with such a violent end—and from his own flesh and blood. Yet the history of popular music is written in blood.

Using the slaying of Marvin Gaye as an abject example of the rock and roll lifestyle, David J. Krajicek's Death by Rock and Roll pulls together the threads of the violent ends of music stars like John Lennon, Sam Cooke, Tupac Shakur, soul saxophone legend King Curtis, and many others. Between overdoses and suicides of what are often fragile stars, rock and roll seems to qualify as one of Americas most dangerous professions. Here, experts weigh in on whether there are patterns to the violence of rock and roll and whether there have been warning signs in some cases that may have saved some lives. A fascinating read.