R.I.P. singer Layne Thomas Staley (ALICE IN CHAINS) - August 22nd, 1967 – April 5th, 2002
According to Wikipedia, on April 19, 2002, Layne Staley's accountants contacted his mother Nancy McCallum and informed her that no money had been withdrawn from the singer's bank account in two weeks. The police went with McCallum and her husband to Staley's home; there, on a couch, lit by a flickering TV, next to several spray-paint cans on the floor, not far from a small stash of cocaine, near two crack pipes on the coffee table, reposed the remains of the rock musician. The 6'1" Staley weighed just 86 pounds when his body was discovered.

R.I.P. drummer Colin Flooks (aka Cozy Powell) (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, THE JEFF BECK GROUP) - December 29th, 1947 – April 5th, 1998
Legendary drummer Cozy Powell was killed in a car crash in 1998. He was alone in his Saab 9000 when he lost control on the M4 motorway in the UK, and crashed between junctions 18 and 19 near Bristol. He was travelling well in excess of 90 mph when he crashed into the center divider. According to the BBC report, at the time of the crash, Powell's blood-alcohol reading was over the legal limit, he was not wearing a seatbelt, and he was talking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone. Weather may have been a factor. He died of his injuries in the hospital. He was 50.

R.I.P. guitarist Mark Leslie Norton (aka Mark St. John) (KISS) - February 7th, 1956 – April 5th, 2007

R.I.P. Kurt Cobain (NIRVANA) - February 20th, 1967 – April 5th, 1994
Kurt Cobain committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his home in Seattle, however his body wasn't discovered until April 8, by an electrician who had arrived to install a security system A suicide note was found that said, "I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music, along with really writing . . . for too many years now."

Happy 69th Birthday drummer Les Binks (ex-JUDAS PRIEST) – April 5th, 1948

Happy 69th Birthday Dave Holland (ex-JUDAS PRIEST) – April 5th, 1948

Happy 51st Birthday Mike McCready (PEARL JAM) – April 5th, 1966

Happy 49th Birthday Tommy Heart (FAIR WARNING, SOUL DOCTOR) – April 5th, 1968

Happy 10th Birthday MONSTROSITY's Spiritual Apocalypse - April 5th, 2007

Happy 6th Birthday GLEN DROVER’s Metalusion – April 5th, 2011

Happy 6th Birthday VOIVOD – Warriors Of Ice (live) – April 5th, 2011

Happy 6th Birthday ASKING ALEXANDRIA’s Reckless And Relentless – April 5th, 2011

Happy 4th Birthday VOLBEAT’s Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies – April 5th, 2013

More releases on this day:

Happy 4th Birthday
DEATHCHAIN’s Ritual Death Metal – April 5th, 2013
THE STORYTELLER’s Dark Legacy – April 5th, 2013
SALTATIO MORTIS’ Manufactum III – April 5th, 2013