Stairway to Heaven: The Final Resting Places of Rock’s Legends commemorates the rock‘n’roll greats who have gone on to that big backstage party in the sky. With artful photos of graves and memorials, and text offering in-depth and never-before-published information about the rock stars’ lives and deaths, Stairway is an elegant, informative, and soulful tribute to music’s greatest stars, from Elvis and the Lizard King to the Ramones and "Left Eye" Lopes. The best gift you can give a die-hard music fan this holiday season, Stairway can best be summed up by the words on the headstone of Blues Brother John Belushi: "I may be gone, but Rock & Roll lives on."

At 7:30 a.m. on a sweltering July day, I climbed the curving driveway of Graceland, Elvis Presley's mansion/museum in Memphis, Tennessee. During business hours, only buses shuttling ticket holders are allowed up the drive. But for an hour or so in the early morning, the white wrought-iron gate swings open onto Elvis Presley Boulevard, allowing visitors, fans, and a few obsessives inside. Only one attraction is open that early: the emotional acme of the eighteen-dollar regular tour - Elvis's grave.

INTRODUCTION 

THe Day the  MUSIC DIED: 

Buddy Holly

Richie Valens

J.P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson

Gene Vincent

Eddie Cochran

Robert Johnson

Hank Williams

tHe allman BROtHeRS:

Duane Allman

Berry Oakley

a Beatke aND a  StONe: 

Stu Sutcliffe

Brian Jones

Jimi Hendrix

Jim Morrison

Gram Parsons

Jim Croce

Harry Chapin

Randy Rhoads

Nick Drake

Dusty Springfield

the kiNg IS DeaD:

Elvis Presley

tHe BeaCH Boys:

Dennis Wilson

Carl Wilson

Junior Walker

Minnie Riperton

Aaliyah

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Selena

Jackie Wilson

Bobby Hatfield

Nico

Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen

StRaWBeRRy fieLDS

fOReveR:

John Lennon

George Harrison

Jerry Garcia

t. Rex:

Marc Bolan

Steve Peregrin Took

Keith Moon

Mick Ronson

John Bonham

Rick Nelson

Clyde McPhatter

a mama aND a papa:

"Mama" Cass Elliot

"Papa" John Phillips

Shannon Hoon

Jam Master Jay

Terry Kath

Bianca Halstead

Sonny Bono

Andy Gibb

the temptattoNs:

David Ruffin

Melvin Franklin

Paul Willliams

Eddie Kendricks

motOWN QueeNs:

Florence Ballard

Mary Wells

Miles Davis

Eric "Eazy-E" Wright

tHe CIRCLe IS UNBROkeN: 

"Mother" Maybelle Carter

A.P. Carter

Sara Carter

Johnny Cash

June Carter Cash

Carl Perkins

Waylon Jennings

Doug Sahm

Rufus Thomas

Jessie Hill

Bessie Smith & Janis Joplin

John Lee Hooker

sweet  Home CHICago: 

Howlin' Wolf

Muddy Waters

Willie Dixon

John Belushi

mcs:

Rob Tyner

Fred "Sonic" Smith

the New yORk DoLLs:

Billy Murcia

Johnny Thunders

Arthur Kane

Jerry Nolan

LyNyRD skyNyRD:

Ronnie Van Zant

Steve Gaines

Cassie Gaines

Leon Wilkeson

Allen Collins

the maRSHaLL

tucker BAND: 

Tommy Caldwell

Toy Caldwell

Lisa "Lefteye" Lopes 

Frankie Lymon 

Bobby Fuller 

Ernie K-Doe 

Karen Carpenter 

Ray Charles 

Harry Nilsson 

tHe BAND: 

Richard Manuel

Rick Danko

Bon Scott 

Bob Marley 

eND Of tHe ceNtuRy:

Dee Dee Ramone

Joey Ramone

Johnny Ramone

Acknowledgments 

About the Authors

Photo Credits