This is definitely not the first time I've seen this trend (I remember it with George Carlin specifically, as one example) but, as it turns out, death is a really, really good marketing move.
Only works once though.
Honestly I had little to no affection for his music and I thought he was more than a little weird, but he was an icon that deserved to live far longer than 50 years. Hell, everyone deserves to live far longer than 50 years, I don't care who you are.
I only hope, for the sake of his families and true fans, that his music is remembered over the scandals and strangeness of the 90s. I doubt it will be, but I hope I'm wrong.