Alternative rock was still truly underground when singer-guitarist D. Boon helped form California post-punk band the Minutemen in 1980. The group never sold many records, but its influence on the rock world is undeniably felt to this day. The Minutemen were true road warriors, leaving home for months at a time. It was while on tour that Boon died, on Dec. 22, 1987, when the band's van was in an accident near Tucson, Ariz. He was, of course, 27.

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