February 2 – Pavel Nicholas "Paul" Baloff, vocalist of Exodus, was taken off life support after suffering a stroke and falling into a coma. He died at the age of 41.[1]
April 5 – Layne Thomas Staley, founding member and original vocalist of Alice in Chains, died from a speedball overdose at the age of 34. His partially decomposed body was found on April 19.[3]
June 6 – Robbinson Lantz "Robbin" Crosby, former guitarist of Ratt, died from a heroin overdose, worsened by AIDS-related complications, at the age of 42.[4]
August 9 – Paul Samson, founder, guitarist, vocalist, and producer of Samson, died from cancer at the age of 49.[6]
August 14 – David Wayne "Dave" Williams, vocalist of Drowning Pool, died from heart failure, caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, at the age of 30. He was found dead in the band's tour bus.[7]
October 17 – Steve MacDonald, drummer of Gorguts, died by suicide at the age of 31.[8]
Altemir Souza, former guitarist of Krisiun, died from injuries sustained in a motorbike accident.
Yuji “Terry” Izumisawa, former guitarist of X Japan, died from injuries sustained in a car accident.