I remember as a kid crying over Thurman Munson's death (Yankee catcher who died in a plane crash at 32), but I was so young then, and I didn't experience loss on a personal level until a year later, when my 37-year-old uncle passed away unexpectedly. THAT was life-changing.

I'm one of the biggest Blue Oyster Cult fans around, but I didn't cry or become despondent when Allen Lanier passed. However, upon learning of Neil Peart's passing a few weeks back, I was toast the rest of the night, even into the next day. Not crying, just totally down. Not that I had any reason to ever think we'd hear from him again...but just the thought that it COULD happen...and how, after he went through his own hell 23 years ago, he finally found happiness again, and had all of perhaps a year to enjoy his new family and retirement before illness descended upon him. Just so sad.

I was also very bummed when Ric Ocasek passed. The Cars were my first favorite band, and I still love them to this day. So his passing hit me pretty hard, as well.