Last Days

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 147 - Chris Cornell Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

On May 18, 2017, Chris Cornell — the iconic singer, songwriter, and one of the most powerful voices in rock history — passed away at the age of 52. Rising to prominence as the frontman of Soundgarden, Cornell helped define the Seattle grunge movement of the late 1980s and 1990s with his soaring vocal range and emotionally raw songwriting. He later expanded his legacy with Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, while also building a deeply personal solo career that showcased his versatility across rock, acoustic, and orchestral styles. Songs like “Black Hole Sun,” “Fell on Black Days,” and “Like a Stone” cemented his reputation as both a fearless artist and a poetic storyteller. By the time of his passing, Cornell was revered not just as a rock star, but as a generational voice whose music gave shape to pain, beauty, and vulnerability for millions around the world.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Eric Colley

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The Ones We Missed In 2025 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

As we celebrate the New Year, Derek and Jason take the opportunity to reflect on some of the most memorable celebrities we didn't have a chance to cover on the podcast, focusing on their extraordinary lives and legacies.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman

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The Biggest Deaths of 2025 Dec 29, 2025

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As 2025 comes to a close, Derek and Jason take a look back at the most famous and influential celebrities we lost this year, and explore what made their lives and careers so memorable,

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Ep. 146 - Layne Staley Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

On April 5, 2002, Layne Staley — the hauntingly gifted frontman of Alice in Chains whose voice carried the ache, rage, and beauty of an entire generation — died alone in his Seattle apartment at the age of 34, closing the final chapter on one of rock music’s most tortured and transcendent lives. From the moment Alice in Chains emerged out of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s, Staley’s raw, wounded harmonies and unflinching vulnerability helped define the darker emotional core of the grunge movement. His death, arriving years after he stepped back from the public eye yet still painfully soon for the millions who felt connected to his music, transformed an already enigmatic figure into something larger — a symbol of artistic brilliance shadowed by addiction, isolation, and a pain too great to outrun.

Hosts: Eric Colley, Derek Kaufman

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Special Episode - Rob Reiner Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

On December 14, 2025, Rob Reiner — the groundbreaking actor-turned-director whose blend of humor, heart, and moral clarity helped shape the landscape of modern American film — was murdered along with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home, bringing a tragic end to one of Hollywood’s most enduring creative and personal partnerships. From his Emmy-winning turn as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family to his extraordinary run of genre-defining films — including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and A Few Good Men — Reiner carved out a career marked equally by artistic daring and emotional resonance. Michele, his steadfast collaborator in life, influenced his most iconic work and shared his commitment to family, advocacy, and the belief that stories could make the world better. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 145 - Mickey Mantle Dec 15, 2025

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On August 13, 1995, Mickey Mantle — the legendary New York Yankees center fielder who defined power, speed, and switch-hitting excellence in baseball — died at the age of 63 after a battle with liver cancer. Celebrated for his rare combination of strength and athleticism, Mantle revolutionized the game with towering home runs, blazing speed, and a fearless style of play that thrived on the sport’s biggest stages. A three-time MVP and seven-time World Series champion, his impact on baseball during the 1950s and 1960s made him an enduring icon of America’s pastime, inspiring generations of players and fans alike.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 144 - Eddie Van Halen Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

On October 6, 2020, Eddie Van Halen — the revolutionary guitarist who reshaped the sound and possibilities of rock music — died at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. Celebrated for his explosive tapping technique, innovative tone engineering, and fearless musical curiosity, Van Halen transformed guitar playing into a new art form with a style that blended virtuosity, rhythm, and pure adrenaline. His work on albums like Van Halen and 1984 not only catapulted his band to global fame but set an enduring benchmark for rock musicianship, inspiring countless players across genres from hard rock to pop.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 143 - Randy Rhoads Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

On March 19, 1982, Randy Rhoads — the prodigiously gifted guitarist who helped redefine heavy metal’s sound in the early ’80s — died at the age of 25 in a plane crash while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne. Known for his blistering technique and classical-inspired precision, Rhoads brought sophistication and melody to a genre previously defined by raw power. His work on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman not only revived Osbourne’s solo career but set a new standard for guitar virtuosity, influencing generations of players from metal to modern rock.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 142 - Bob Marley Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley — the Jamaican singer, songwriter, and cultural revolutionary who brought reggae and Rastafarianism to the global stage — died of cancer at the age of 36 in Miami. Born in rural Nine Mile and rising from the streets of Kingston’s Trenchtown, Marley fused spiritual conviction with political defiance in songs like “One Love,” “Redemption Song,” and “No Woman, No Cry.” Though his life was cut short, his music and message of unity, resistance, and peace made him a worldwide symbol of freedom and the enduring soul of Jamaica.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman

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Ep. 141 - Hervé Villechaize Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

On September 4, 1993, Hervé Villechaize — the French-born actor and artist best known as Tattoo on Fantasy Island and Nick Nack in The Man with the Golden Gun — died by suicide the age of 50 in North Hollywood. Rising from a difficult childhood in Paris, he became a global television icon whose exuberant cry of “De plane! De plane!” made him a household name and a trailblazer for actors with dwarfism. Though his life ended in tragedy after years of chronic pain and fading fame, Villechaize’s legacy endures as that of a singular performer who turned difference into stardom.

Hosts: Jason Beckerman & Derek Kaufman

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