While it’s true that the history of rock music is filled with tragic stories, it’s also true that the history of grunge music—a much smaller sliver of rock’s history—is practically saturated in sad stories. Indeed, the dark side of grunge is not for the feint of heart.

Born in the Pacific Northwest, grunge music is characterized by its heavy riffs, brooding lyrics and artists who turned what the music that they loved into a global phenomenon in the 1990s. What started in the late 1980s quickly turned into a movement with marquee names and sounds we all recognize still today.

Here below, we wanted to explore some of the sad stories of grunge’s history. For all the great songs, there were some seriously difficult moments. These are four grunge stars who died too young.

Andrew Wood

Born on January 8, 1966, in Columbus, Mississippi, Andrew Wood later found himself in Seattle where he was a prominent figure in the PNW grunge movement. At 14, he founded the band Malfunkshun and later he fronted the promissing band Mother Love Bone, which included members of Pearl Jam. Sadly, though, Wood died on March 19, 1990, just weeks before Mother Love Bone released their debut LP, Apple. Perhaps more than any other, it’s hard not to think about what could have been. In his wake, his former roommate and close friend Chris Cornell started the Andrew Wood tribute band, Temple of the Dog.

Mia Zapata

Born August 25, 1965, in Chicago, Mia Zapata became a force in the Seattle music scene. The frontwoman for the band The Gits, Zapata had a bright future with big record labels circling her band, preparing to hand out a deal. Sadly, though, Zapata was murdered in her hometown late at night on July 7, 1993, as she walked home from work. For years, her murder went unsolved. But in late 2002, a random DNA test helped reveal her killer. Like Wood, one can’t help but wonder: What if.

Kurt Cobain

Born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington, Kurt Cobain was the bright hot star of grunge. Strangely, his band Nirvana played the fundraiser show to help raise money for Zapata’s case and to hire an investigator. But just months later on April 5 of 1994, Cobain died by suicide. With that, many in the know said, grunge died, too. More than any band in the 1990s (or perhaps since), Nirvana shook up the world. Cobain’s combination of songwriting genius, aloofness and good looks made him an icon and a curiosity. Perhaps it was more than anyone could handle.

Layne Staley

Speaking of irony, Layne Staley, the sublime singer for the grunge band Alice in Chains, died on April 5. The same day Cobain passed away, just eight years later. Incredibly, April 5 is also Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready’s birthday. Shudder. Staley had perhaps the best singing voice of all the grunge artists. He could touch the atmosphere with it, or get to the Earth’s core. Born on August 22, 1967, in Bellevue, Washington, Staley died on April 5, 2002. And there has been no on like him since.

Photo by Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images