Fans Reflect on David Lynch Through His Favorite Bands and Songs.

Remembering David Lynch

Since David Lynch’s passing, fans have been commemorating the iconic director through his cherished bands and songs.

A Legacy of Music

His death was confirmed by his family yesterday (January 16) and occurred after the Twin Peaks creator was reportedly “forced to move out of his home” due to the Los Angeles wildfires. He was 78 years old.

Lynch’s favorite artists included Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Duran Duran, Lissie, the Pixies, and David Bowie.

On social media, many fans shared his favorite songs, including Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” which became an integral part of his album Twin Peaks, and “Falling” by Julee Cruise, the show’s theme song. Others highlighted Peter Ivers’ song “In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song),” featured in his 1977 film Eraserhead, and the Rammstein song of the same name in his 1997 film Lost Highway.

Thank you ❤️ #DavidLynch #TwinPeaks pic.twitter.com/SyUHgUSDax

— Frankie (@itsbeats) January 16, 2025

Very sad about David Lynch. I’m performing “In Heaven” by Eraserhead in honor of this. pic.twitter.com/EWIsh0QOOY

— Jace 🐶 🎸 🎥 (@jasemonkey) January 16, 2025

Lynch’s musical choices are always great, but my favorite is the use of Rammstein on Lost Highway. German industrial metal truly evokes the feeling of a fever dream. pic.twitter.com/SQZd8a4CsC

— Biollante (@BivouacChillin) January 17, 2025

Other songs that Lynch was particularly fond of include Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Wild Thing,” and Lissie’s “Wild West.” You can check out the full playlist of his favorite songs and artists: Far below.

His Musical Contributions

Lynch’s musical interests also extended to collaborating on recordings with fellow film scorers like Angelo Badalamenti and Cruz, as well as releasing three solo albums of electro-blues and rock between 2001 and 2013, featuring musicians such as Karen O and Lykke Li. Notably, during his debut in 2001, he played the guitar for BlueBob upside down and backwards, in a guitar-on-lap style. His most recent musical release was a collaboration with longtime associate Christabell on last year’s Cellophane Memories.

In film and television, Lynch was acclaimed for masterpieces like Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and the less favorable Dune. His longtime collaborator and friend Kyle MacLachlan has since paid tribute to the late director, stating he “owes” his life and career to Lynch. The duo has worked on multiple projects together, including Dune, Blue Velvet, and Twin Peaks.

Many others who have honored David Lynch following his death include Steven Spielberg, Edgar Wright, James Gunn, Hugh Jackman, Billy Corgan, Questlove, and more – additional tributes can be found here.

Last year, Lynch announced his diagnosis of emphysema, attributed to smoking for much of his life. In November, he revealed that he required supplemental oxygen to walk.

Despite this, he mentioned he would “never retire” and would manage remotely and pursue other projects as necessary.

He directed several music videos, most notably Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” featured in his 1990 film Wild at Heart. His music video credits also include Moby’s “Shot In The Back Of The Head,” Nine Inch Nails’ “Came Back Haunted,” and Donovan’s “I Am The Shaman.”