10 Incredible Tribute Songs For Musicians That Passed Away

When words fall short, music often rises to the occasion. For many artists, songwriting becomes a natural outlet—a personal, honest way to confront grief and honor those they’ve lost. These songs aren’t just recordings; they’re emotional time capsules that capture love, loss, and remembrance with every note.

Musicians have always channeled their sorrow into sound, especially when it comes to paying tribute to their peers. Whether mourning a bandmate, an idol, or a friend, artists often return to their craft to say what can’t be spoken out loud. The result? Tracks that not only eulogize the departed but also resonate deeply with listeners who feel that same sense of loss.

This list dives into ten unforgettable tribute songs written for musicians who passed away. Each one reveals a unique story of grief, memory, and legacy—proof that even in silence, music ensures their voices are never truly gone.

1. “Here Today” – Paul McCartney for John Lennon

Paul McCartney’s “Here Today” is his emotional response to the loss of John Lennon, written not long after Lennon was tragically killed in 1980. The song plays out like a conversation never had, as McCartney imagines what he would say if Lennon were still around. It’s deeply personal—quiet in delivery, but thunderous in feeling.

Rather than painting a flawless image, McCartney acknowledges the complexities of their friendship. He recalls small moments, like the night they cried, and the overwhelming sense of love that perhaps went unspoken. There’s a sense of healing in the way he lets Lennon’s memory breathe through the lyrics.

“Here Today” stands as one of McCartney’s most intimate works. It’s not a grandiose tribute, but something simpler and more powerful: a quiet confession of love, loss, and regret from one artist to another, laid bare in song.

2. “The Needle and the Damage Done” – Neil Young for Danny Whitten

Neil Young’s stark acoustic piece “The Needle and the Damage Done” is less a tribute in the traditional sense and more a raw outpouring of guilt and grief. Written after the death of Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, the song captures the tragic weight of addiction and the painful helplessness of watching someone slip away.

Whitten and Young shared a close musical bond, but Whitten’s battle with heroin addiction led to his dismissal from the band. That very night, he overdosed. The incident haunted Young, and this song became his way of processing the loss—exposing the fragile line between creativity and destruction.

The power of the song lies in its simplicity. With just voice and guitar, Young delivers a haunting meditation on the cost of addiction—not just for the user, but for everyone around them. It’s personal, stripped down, and unforgettable.

3. “Never Without You” – Ringo Starr for George Harrison

When George Harrison passed away in 2001, Ringo Starr honored him the best way he knew how—through music. “Never Without You,” released two years later, is a heartfelt tribute to a lifelong friend and fellow Beatle. More than just a goodbye, the song captures the brotherhood they shared.

There’s an aching honesty in the way Ringo sings about missing Harrison. Lyrical nods to Harrison’s songs and influence are scattered throughout, while Eric Clapton, another close friend of George’s, joins in with a touching guitar solo. It’s not just a tribute—it’s a reunion of sorts, orchestrated by love and loss.

What makes this track especially moving is the emotional clarity. Ringo doesn’t hold back—he admits the pain, shares the memories, and keeps Harrison’s spirit alive in melody. The result is one of his most emotional and genuine works.

4. “American Pie” – Don McLean for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper

Don McLean’s “American Pie” is a sprawling, poetic reflection on the day three young musicians—Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper—died in a tragic plane crash. Though its lyrics are cryptic at times, the song is rooted in McLean’s deep sorrow over what he calls “the day the music died.”

The track mourns more than just three lives—it mourns an entire era. Holly’s influence on McLean was enormous, and through allegory and symbolism, the song becomes a eulogy for a lost sense of innocence in music and in America itself. Clocking in at over eight minutes, the song weaves a rich tapestry of history and emotion.

While it touches on many figures and events beyond the crash itself, at its core, “American Pie” is a tribute to the power of music—and the void left when voices like Holly’s are silenced too soon.

5. “2000 Miles” – The Pretenders for Pete Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott

Although now played every December as a seasonal favorite, “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders was born from a place of loss. Written by Chrissie Hynde, it was a quiet, poetic tribute to two original band members—James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon—both of whom died tragically in their twenties due to drug-related causes.

Rather than delivering a direct eulogy, the song captures the feeling of absence and emotional distance. Honeyman-Scott had been a close creative partner, and Farndon’s death—after he had already been let go from the band—still struck deeply. The grief runs under the surface, carried by Hynde’s soft voice and the melancholy melody.

“2000 Miles” endures not just as a Christmas song, but as a subtle, beautiful way of remembering friends lost too soon. It’s a quiet nod to what once was, and what continues to echo in their absence.

6. “Oh, Thank You Great Spirit” – Chicago for Jimi Hendrix

Terry Kath, often hailed as one of rock’s most underrated guitarists, led the band Chicago in crafting “Oh Thank You Great Spirit” as a subtle but powerful homage to Jimi Hendrix. While Hendrix and Kath never played together, they shared a spiritual connection through the guitar—channeling raw emotion into sound. This track reflects that connection beautifully.

Rather than delivering a conventional tribute, the song lets the instruments do the talking. Kath’s expressive guitar playing becomes the true language of mourning and admiration, mimicking Hendrix’s signature crescendos and dynamic shifts. It’s not just a tribute—it’s a conversation between two virtuosos, even if one of them is no longer alive to respond.

The slow-burning buildup and eventual eruption of sound echo the kind of sonic landscapes Hendrix used to explore. It’s a fitting acknowledgment from one gifted guitarist to another—a spiritual thank you passed through strings and soul.

7. “Back in Black” – AC/DC for Bon Scott

Few tribute songs hit as hard—musically and emotionally—as AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” Written in the wake of Bon Scott’s sudden death in 1980, the track introduced new frontman Brian Johnson and proved the band’s resilience. But at its heart, it’s a thunderous farewell to their fallen comrade.

Johnson belts out, “Forget the hearse, ‘cause I never die,” in a line that captures the band’s refusal to mourn in silence. There’s grief beneath the surface, but it’s masked by power chords and pulsing drums—a statement that Scott’s legacy would live on through every riff.

What makes the tribute unique is its energy. Rather than slow down or look back, AC/DC chose to channel their loss into momentum. “Back in Black” is a celebration of Scott’s rebellious spirit and an anthem for moving forward without forgetting where you came from.

8. “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” – U2 for Michael Hutchence

U2’s “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” wasn’t born from a place of quiet mourning—it came from frustration, guilt, and unresolved emotions. Written by Bono for INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, the song imagines an argument he never got to have. Instead of soft condolences, Bono delivers tough love.

The lyrics pull no punches. There’s urgency in the way Bono pleads, as if he’s shaking Hutchence out of the darkness posthumously. It’s not a typical eulogy, but rather a conversation fueled by friendship and regret—reflecting the reality that some goodbyes come too late.

Bono once said the song was the only way he knew to express how he felt about Hutchence’s tragic end. It’s raw, conflicted, and bold—a reminder that sometimes the most powerful tributes aren’t sugarcoated, but brutally honest.

9. “Sleeps With Angels” – Neil Young for Kurt Cobain

When Kurt Cobain referenced Neil Young’s lyric “It’s better to burn out than fade away” in his suicide note, it hit Young hard. Though the two weren’t close, Young had been trying to reach Cobain in the weeks before his death. That failed connection became the seed for “Sleeps With Angels.”

The track is a departure from Young’s usual style—moody, atmospheric, and influenced by the grunge sound Cobain helped pioneer. It’s not a direct tribute, but a mournful, ambient reflection on loss, fame, and the fragility of life when lived in the spotlight.

Years later, Young admitted he wished he could have reached Cobain in time. That haunting sense of what might’ve been lingers in every note of “Sleeps With Angels.” It’s a tribute not just to a person, but to the pain of disconnection.

10. “Johnny Bye Bye” – Bruce Springsteen for Elvis Presley

Bruce Springsteen’s admiration for Elvis Presley ran deep—so deep that Presley’s influence can be felt across Springsteen’s entire career. “Johnny Bye Bye,” written just a few years after Elvis’s death, is Springsteen’s way of saying goodbye to the man who first lit the spark in him.

Borrowing from Chuck Berry’s “Bye Bye Johnny,” the song reframes the upbeat original into something quieter and more solemn. Springsteen paints a picture of a young man leaving town, chasing stardom, only to fade too soon—a clear metaphor for Elvis’s own rise and fall.

It’s a compact track, but its emotional weight is heavy. Through sparse lyrics and understated delivery, Springsteen pays tribute not just to the icon, but to the fragile dream that shaped them both. It’s a goodbye letter to the King from a disciple who still remembers being a wide-eyed kid glued to the TV.