Phil Everly Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Phil Everly has been reported dead by the LATimes. Here’s 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know about the life and death of this rock musician.

1. Phil Everly Is In Both The Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame & The Country Hall of Fame

According to Wikipedia, “In 1986, the Everlys were among the first 10 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the ceremony, they were introduced by Neil Young, who observed that every musical group he belonged to had tried and failed to copy the Everly Brothers’ harmonies.”

According to the Country Music Hall of Fame website, “In purely commercial terms, the Everly Brothers were one of the most successful acts in popular music between 1957 and 1962.”

In terms of their music, the CMHF said, “In artistic terms, the Everlys took the country brother duet one step further. They added Bo Diddley riffs, teenage anxieties, and sharkskin suits, but–for all that–the core of their sound remained country brother harmony.”

The AP says that the Beatles once quipped that they were “the English Everly Brothers.”

2. Phil Everly Died From Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This disease is characterized by difficulty breathing and was likely caused by Phil Everly’s lifetime of smoking as reported by the LA Times.

Patti, Phil’s Wife, told the LA Times that she was heartbroken and attributed Phil’s death to a lifetime of smoking cigarettes.

3. The Everly Brother’s First Hit Was ‘Bye Bye Love’ in 1957

4. The Brothers Once Fought on Stage at Knott’s Berry Farm in 1973

UltimateGuitar.com tells the fascinating story that would lead to the group’s falling-out:

The Everly Brothers are the Billboard Hot 100’s most successful American rock duo of all time, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had their share of drama. In 1973, during a show in Hollywood, the brothers were in the middle of their set when the venue’s manager came on stage to alert the crowd that the show had been cancelled due to Don Everly being “too emotional” to play. In reality, Don was too drunk to remember the lyrics and guitar parts to the songs. His skipped notes and forgotten lyrics enraged his brother Phil, who proceeded to smash his guitar mid-show and storm out of the building, promising he would “never get on stage with that man again”.

Of course, the brothers would eventually reunite for two separate reunion concerts in the ’80s.

5. Phil Is Survived by His Brother, Mother, Sons Jason and Chris, and Two Granddaughters