How Wisconsin Became the Bermuda Triangle for Legendary Musicians
Once upon a time, choking on your own vomit in a hotel room was the most rock ‘n’ roll way to die. But Wisconsin looked at that and said, “Hold my beer… actually, hold my brandy old-fashioned.” For decades, the state has been luring legendary musicians in with promises of cheese curds and packed venues, only to send them packing straight to rock ‘n’ roll heaven via plane crashes, bus breakdowns, and winter temperatures.
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Otis Redding, and Stevie Ray Vaughan all learned the hard way: when Wisconsin says “Don’t tour here in winter,” it’s not a suggestion, it’s a warning.
On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper didn’t crash in Wisconsin, but Wisconsin made sure they got on that doomed plane. A brutal winter had already turned their tour into a frostbitten nightmare, stranding them on a bus colder than a bassist’s attitude. Desperate to escape, Holly booked a flight out of Clear Lake, Iowa.
Years later, Wisconsin kept its streak alive, setting the stage for the plane crashes that killed Otis Redding in 1967 and Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1990. Whether by ice, fog, or sheer bad luck, the state remains undefeated in its war against legendary musicians.
Honestly, if you’re a musician touring through Wisconsin, you might be better off traveling by dogsled. It’s slow, but at least it won’t suddenly plummet from the sky.
