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Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. When consumed in moderation alcohol can have certain health benefits, but long time consumption can bring serious health problems including cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction and even death. The careers of these amazing musicians were sadly cut short by their addiction to alcohol. Here are 5 legendary musicians who drank themselves to death:

John Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980)

Hailed as the greatest drummer in the history of rock, loved for his feel of the groove, speed and power, John Bonham is best known as the drummer for legendary band Led Zeppelin. Although he never took drumming lessons he started playing with pans, containers and coffee tins at age five, imitating his idols Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.

He got his first drum set at 15 and at 20 he got is big break when Robert Plant asked him to join a band that noted guitarist Jimmy Page was putting together. Sadly the "God of drums" had another love beside his drums: alcohol. On 24 September 1980 he started his day by drinking almost half of liter of vodka and continued in the same manner. A little after midnight he was left at his home “to sleep it off” and was found dead the next morning. He had choked to death in his sleep, a victim of alcohol poisoning.

Bix Beiderbecke (March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931)

Known as one of the most influential 20’s jazz soloists, alongside Louis Armstrong, Bix’s gift has inspired a large number of musicians. Born in Davenport, Iowa, Beiderbecke taught himself to play the cornet by ear at age 13. He played with the Wolverines in 1924, the Jean Goldkette Orchestra alongside Frankie "Tram" Trumbauer until 1926.

The following year, Beiderbecke and Trumbauer joined the most prestigious dance orchestra in the country, the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. He stayed with them until 1929 when his alcoholism began to affect his work. His drinking frustrated Paul Whiteman so much that he wrote on a sheet music arrangement form the note "Wake up, Bix." He first moved with his parents in Iowa, then into a rooming house in Queens, New York where he drank a lot and worked on his solo piano pieces. He died in his apartment on August 6, 1931 during an alcoholic seizure. The official cause of death was lobar pneumonia and edema of the brain.

Bon Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980)

Bon Scott will always be remembered as one of the best frontmen of all time. Born in Forfar, Scotland, his family immigrated to Australia in 1952. Bon worked as a postman, bartender and truck packer. Inspired by Little Richard, he started his first band, “The Spektors” in 1964, and years later his band merged with another, ”The Winstons ”, and formed “The Valentines”. After a drug scandal “the Valentines” disbanded and he joined “Fraternity” and in 1974 he joined “AC/DC”.

The band’s most successful album,”Highway to Hell”, propelled Scott to a legendary status. Sadly, it was his last album as his drinking caught up with him. On 19 February 1980, 33 years old Scott passed out after a night of heavy drinking in a London club. He was found dead in a car, having chocked on his own vomit. The official cause of death was acute alcohol poisoning and death by misadventure.

Lester Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959)

One of the giants of the tenor saxophone and a jazz legend, Lester Young grew up in a musical family. His father taught him to play the saxophone, the trumpet, violin and drums. He played in his family's band until 1927 when he refused to tour in the Southern United States, where racial segregation was in effect.

He moved to Kansas City, where he was part of several bands, but he rose to prominence after playing with “Count Basie's” orchestra. In 1940 he left the band and until 1943 when he returned he played with a number of small bands, but also made recordings with Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole. He was drafted in the army and some critics argued that his style declined after his return from World War II. His health steadily declined, he was eating significantly less, drinking more, and suffering from liver disease and malnutrition related to his alcoholism. He died in the early morning hours of March 15, 1959, in New York, at the age of 49.

Keith Whitley (July 1, 1954 - May 9, 1989)

Although he had a brief career in the country music industry, from 1984 until his death in 1989, he continues to inspire an entire generation of singers and songwriters. He charted five singles consecutive Number Ones on the Billboard country charts: "Don't Close Your Eyes", "When You Say Nothing at All", "I'm No Stranger to the Rain", "I Wonder Do You Think of Me" and "It Ain't Nothin”.

Sadly Keith started drinking in his teenage years, and although he tried to overcome his alcoholism, he failed. His wife even went so far as tying their legs together before going to bed, so that Whitley couldn't wake up in the middle of the night to take a drink, but she often found him drinking perfume or nail polish to get intoxicated. His brother-in-law found him dead face down on his bed, fully clothed. The cause of death was acute ethanolism, alcohol poisoning and his blood alcohol level was 0.477.