25 Iconic Tribute Songs For Musicians Who Passed Away

Musical heroes who have died should be remembered through songs. We highlight some of the most powerful songs that famous artists wrote to remember their late teammates, friends, and inspirations in these best tribute songs in classic rock.

This was a way for many rockers to deal with their own loss. Bands like AC/DC and the Who released new albums that honored the lives of members who had died. Losses in their own lives inspired Bruce Springsteen and Roger Daltrey to write songs with deep meaning. And after John Lennon’s tragic death in 1980, both George Harrison and Paul McCartney wrote separate tributes to their late bandmate. From legends like Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin to folk rockers like Buddy Holly, these tributes come from a place of deep respect and admiration.

Get ready for a rock and roll remembrance tour—these are the best musical goodbyes in classic rock history.

1. “All Those Years Ago” by George Harrison
Originally written for Ringo Starr with different lyrics, George Harrison rewrote the song after Lennon’s murder in 1980. Starr had already recorded drums, and Harrison invited Paul McCartney to sing backup. The result was a brief, heartfelt Beatles reunion and a touching tribute from “The Quiet Beatle.”

2. “Here Today” by Paul McCartney
McCartney’s emotional ballad is written as an imagined conversation with John Lennon. Set to vocals, acoustic guitar, and a string quartet, the song captures Paul’s love and lingering regrets. It’s a gentle, intimate farewell to his longtime friend and collaborator.

3. “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” by Elton John
Elton John and John Lennon were close friends in the ’70s. Though unsure about recording a tribute, Elton was moved by Bernie Taupin’s lyrics referencing Lennon’s final show at Madison Square Garden. It remains one of Elton’s most heartfelt performances.

4. “The Late Great Johnny Ace” by Paul Simon
Paul Simon’s tribute connects the deaths of Johnny Ace, JFK, and John Lennon—three “Johns” all killed by gunfire. He recalls hearing the news of Lennon’s death, reflecting on the weight of losing such cultural figures in sudden, violent ways.

5. “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks
Inspired by the death of her uncle and Lennon’s murder, Nicks wrote this song as a layered tribute. Though she never met Lennon, her friend Jimmy Iovine had worked with him. The “white-winged dove” became her symbol of Lennon’s peaceful spirit.

6. “Roll on John” by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan and John Lennon crossed paths in the ’60s, with Dylan famously influencing the Beatles’ growth as songwriters. Though he waited decades to write a tribute, Dylan eventually released this reflective track, weaving in references to Lennon’s life and lyrics from “A Day in the Life,” “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” and “Come Together.”

7. “Blind Willie McTell” by Bob Dylan
Originally left off his 1983 Infidels album, this haunting tribute later appeared in The Bootleg Series. Dylan honors blues legend Blind Willie McTell with a melody borrowed from “St. James Infirmary Blues” and lyrics that capture McTell’s spirit and influence, even though they never met.

8. “American Pie” by Don McLean
Don McLean may have never known Buddy Holly personally, but Holly’s impact on him was huge. His iconic song “American Pie” starts with the 1959 plane crash that killed Holly—what McLean famously called “the day the music died.”

9. “Desperado” by Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper channeled his grief over Jim Morrison’s death into this dark, Western-inspired track. Full of swagger and edge, the song paints a gritty picture that feels fitting for the Doors’ wild and poetic frontman.

10. “Old Red Wine” by The Who
Written after bassist John Entwistle’s sudden death in 2002, this track is Pete Townshend’s tribute to his late bandmate. The title nods to Entwistle’s love of red wine—even when it was “past its prime”—capturing his personality with warmth and honesty.

11. “Real Good Looking Boy” by The Who
Pete Townshend wrote this 2004 tribute to Elvis Presley, borrowing lyrics and melody from “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Roger Daltrey, who’s spoken about how much Elvis inspired him growing up, even sings a few lines from the King’s classic. It’s a heartfelt nod to one of rock’s earliest icons.

12. “Johnny Bye-Bye” by Bruce Springsteen
This Born in the U.S.A. B-side blends Chuck Berry’s songwriting with Springsteen’s memories of Elvis Presley. Bruce paints a vivid picture of hearing about Presley’s death on the radio, then imagines a dreamy, somber farewell to the King of Rock and Roll.

13. “The Last Carnival” by Bruce Springsteen
After E Street Band member Danny Federici died from melanoma in 2008, Springsteen honored him with this emotional song. Referencing “Wild Billy’s Circus Story,” where Federici played accordion, Bruce invited Federici’s son Jason to play the same instrument on this touching tribute.

14. “Miss You ‘C’” by Nils Lofgren
Originally written as “Miss You Ray” for Ray Charles, Nils Lofgren rewrote the lyrics after Clarence Clemons, his E Street bandmate, passed in 2011. He also honors other late friends, including Danny Federici and Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, making it a broader tribute to fallen bandmates.

15. “The Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young
Neil Young wrote this stark acoustic ballad about heroin addiction, focusing on Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, who died from an overdose. Young once blamed himself, but later accepted the truth: “Every junkie’s like a setting sun”—always fading, no matter how hard you try to help.

16. “Chelsea Hotel #2” by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen wrote this 1974 song about a brief encounter he had with Janis Joplin at New York’s legendary Chelsea Hotel. He later revealed she was the subject, though he admitted regretting sharing that detail—especially since the lyrics describe such a personal moment. Still, the song remains one of his most haunting tributes.

17. “A Boat Lies Waiting” by David Gilmour
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour dedicated this soft, reflective track to his late bandmate Rick Wright, who passed away in 2008. With lyrics by Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson, the song uses ocean imagery to reflect Wright’s love of sailing. Fittingly, it even opens with Wright’s voice.

18. “Of Missing Persons” by Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne wrote this emotional ballad for Inara George, daughter of Little Feat’s Lowell George. Browne and George had been close collaborators and friends, so George’s sudden death in 1979 deeply affected him. The song offers comfort and remembrance in equal measure.

19. “Fallen Angel” by Robbie Robertson
This moving debut solo single from The Band’s Robbie Robertson honors his friend and bandmate Richard Manuel, who died by suicide in 1986. The track features Peter Gabriel, who added both keyboards and background vocals to the tribute.

20. “Angel of Harlem” by U2
U2’s soulful tribute to jazz legend Billie Holiday also name-drops fellow icons like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Written during the band’s time in New York, the track captures the city’s musical soul. More recently, they’ve also dedicated the song to Michael Jackson during live shows.

21. “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” by U2
Bono wrote this emotional track after the death of his friend Michael Hutchence, frontman of INXS. Inspired by gospel music, the lyrics reflect a conversation Bono wishes he could’ve had with Hutchence—an argument meant to pull him back from the edge before his 1997 suicide.

22. “Back in Black” by AC/DC
After the sudden death of singer Bon Scott in 1980, AC/DC came back strong with Back in Black. The title track became a tribute to Scott’s memory, with new vocalist Brian Johnson’s wild energy and lyrics that showed the band’s respect and resilience in the face of loss.

23. “Lay Down Burden” by Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson honored his brother and fellow Beach Boy Carl Wilson with this touching song from his 1998 solo album Imagination. Carl passed away from lung cancer during the making of the album, and the song serves as a heartfelt farewell to both a sibling and a bandmate.

24. “Oh, Thank You Great Spirit” by Chicago
Chicago’s Terry Kath paid homage to Jimi Hendrix on this 1975 track. Kath, clearly influenced by Hendrix, delivers spaced-out vocals and a fiery guitar solo that feels like a spiritual connection to the late guitar god.

25. “Above and Beyond” by Deep Purple
Deep Purple honored founding member and keyboardist Jon Lord, who died in 2012, with two tracks on their Now What?! album. In “Above and Beyond,” Ian Gillan sings from Lord’s perspective, describing their band’s bond as “forever entwined.”