Would Jimi Hendrix Have Become A Joke?

[Gvac]

When I think about the people who have become larger than life figures in pop culture and the arts, it's usually the ones who went supernova - burned bigger and brighter for a short while and then died. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, James Dean, Kurt Cobain, Tupac Shakur, Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe, Sam Kinison, Lenny Bruce...the list goes on and on.

People always say "Imagine what they would have done if they lived!" Yeah, imagine. They might have sucked a big bag of dicks.

Seriously.

How many entertainers have hit the scene, lit it up, and then gone on to become a parody of themselves and fade away? It must be thousands. Those that were fortunate enough (?) to die at the height of their fame enjoy eternal worship, though.

Could you imagine the reverence and awe the Rolling Stones would be mentioned with if they had died in a tragic plane crash after Altamont? I don't think their full influence and impact on music will be recognized until after their deaths, because they're still alive and out there.

Which, if any, of the superstars who left us quickly do you think would have continued on and which ones would have worn their act thin and become a novelty act?

[lleeder]

Gvac wakes up early.

[torker]

http://events.liveguide.com.au/458626_thumbnail_280_The_Angels_Rose_Tattoo_The_Pa rty_Boys_The_Bon_Scott_Celebration_Concert.jpg
There would have been no Back In Black as we know it,
but I would have liked to have know which direction he would have gone.

[torker]

Gvac wakes up early.

I don't think he sleeps.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZvac

[Gvac]

Wow. Good answer torker!

I'm a HUGE Bon fan. I respect the work Brian Johnson has done, but Bon Scott era AC/DC always has been, and always will be, my favorite stuff.

[sailor]

what's more of a joke than a young guy od'ing on sleeping pills and/or drowning in his own vomit?

[lleeder]

What about someone that lived that might be even bigger if they had died? If Michael Jackson had died right after Thriller came out he might be viewed as a genius right now rather than the joke he's become.

[Gvac]

What about someone that lived that might be even bigger if they had died?

That's cool too. I mentioned the Stones in the initial post, and I think there are tons of people who would have attained legendary status if they weren't around so long.

[Chip196]

I think it's a harder decision when you're a fan ... I love Jeff Buckley and would love to know what he would have done over the past 11 years. But if he didn't keep up the great work I would have a lower impression. Tough call.

Also ... what about a band like the Police ... They just stopped. Death is a much harder to imagine "what if". The Police you can actually wonder what would have happened if they could just get a long with each other.

[Gvac]

I think it's a harder decision when you're a fan ... I love Jeff Buckley and would love to know what he would have done over the past 11 years. But if he didn't keep up the great work I would have a lower impression. Tough call.

Also ... what about a band like the Police ... They just stopped. Death is a much harder to imagine "what if". The Police you can actually wonder what would have happened if they could just get a long with each other.

How about The Beatles, for that matter? By 1970 they were done. The 2 oldest members of the band were 30! They might have really shit the bed if they continued on into the 70's.

You just KNOW McCartney would have tried to turn them into a disco band once he saw the success of the BeeGees.

[Chip196]

How about The Beatles, for that matter? By 1970 they were done. The 2 oldest members of the band were 30! They might have really shit the bed if they continued on into the 70's.

You just KNOW McCartney would have tried to turn them into a disco band once he saw the success of the BeeGees.

I agree completely!!!! What about the bands that lost one member? Led Zep definitely held a ton of cred for stopping when they did (until recently anyway).

And would the Who be even more reveered had they shut it down afte Moon's death?

[danner1515]

I've always argued with people about the "What if they were still alive?" thing. For some reason, if Hendrix hadn't died, I think he would have wound up like Carlos Santana. Yuck.

Now, to take that the other way around, what if someone like Tom Waits had died in 1980? There's a guy who definitely would have died before hitting his peak.

[denko]

i'm going to say buddy holly would have continued to write great music, but on the other hand would he have been the massive 50's icon had he not died? on the other hand, the big bopper and richie valens i think would have been the novelty act.

and i would have liked to see duane allman live a couple more years, i think any guitar player/fan feels robbed by that one. and stevie would still be tearing the roof off of small clubs all over the country.

and finally i think if aerosmith punched out in 82 they would have been been looked at as a much better band than a lot of people see them as today.

[paulisded]

How about The Beatles, for that matter? By 1970 they were done. The 2 oldest members of the band were 30! They might have really shit the bed if they continued on into the 70's.

You just KNOW McCartney would have tried to turn them into a disco band once he saw the success of the BeeGees.

One difference with the Beatles is the fact they had three writers. Lennon once said in an interview if you want the band back together just make a compilation of the best tracks, and for quite some time that theory holds up.

Plus, even though they had stopped writing together years before, Lennon and McCartney continued to inspire each other's writings in the latter years. Once they split up, their most trusted advisors were their wives. Wouldn't John have stopped something as awful as "Let 'em In"?

Having said all that, they would have also eventually gone the route of the Stones.

And GVAC, I'd rather that fatal Stones accident would have happened a couple of years later so we'd still get Exile on Main Street.

[Gvac]

And GVAC, I'd rather that fatal Stones accident would have happened a couple of years later so we'd still get Exile on Main Street.

AMEN!

I stand corrected.

That Grand Slam of studio albums (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile On Main Street) along with the live "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" is the greatest set of albums to come out in a 4 year span by any band.

[paulisded]

AMEN!

I stand corrected.

That Grand Slam of studio albums (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile On Main Street) along with the live "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" is the greatest set of albums to come out in a 4 year span by any band.

Exactly...the only sets that comes close are:

1. Dylan - Bringing it All Back Home to Blonde on Blonde.
2. Elvis Costello - first 3, maybe 4 albums
3. Replacements - Let It Be to Pleased to Meet Me
4. Beatles - Help to Revolver (British versions)

[denko]

AMEN!

I stand corrected.

That Grand Slam of studio albums (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile On Main Street) along with the live "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" is the greatest set of albums to come out in a 4 year span by any band.


i guess its subjective, but led zeppelin 1-4 was a pretty impressive run for the fact they were all releasd in a three year span, not only that there is a GOOD number of those songs that get steady air time to this day. now you're lucky to get four albums in ten years from any band.

sorry, didn't mean to change the debate.

[spot]

I think Duane Allman would have continued to make great work, his output never flagged. However, I think Lowell George probably would have faded into obscurity.

[sailor]

AMEN!

I stand corrected.

That Grand Slam of studio albums (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile On Main Street) along with the live "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" is the greatest set of albums to come out in a 4 year span by any band.

i'd go with led zepellin 1-4 in under 3 years. rolling stones are great, but i don't feel their music grew any over time.

[razorboy]

Gvac wakes up early.

So does my Granddad.

[Stankfoot]

I think Hendrix was not at his peak when he died, based on the stuff that came out posthumously. But I think he would have bounced back and got back to his roots and maybe put out some blues based stuff that would have killed. But that's all speculation.

The other one I looked forward to seeing what he produced as he got older was Kurt Cobain. His sense of humor and warped view of the world would have been interesting to see develop as he matured ...

[Hottub]

How about if Andrew Wood didn't die?
Mother Love Bone would have still been making records. Therefor there would have been no Pearl Jam.
Without Pearl Jam the Seattle 'grunge' scene may not have exploded and music would be quite different today.

[razorboy]

Therefor there would have been no Pearl Jam.

I think I could live with that.

[Hottub]

I think I could live with that.

I can picture the tear slowly running down Marc's cheek.

[torker]

I can picture the cum slowly running down Marc's cheek.
you're the cream in my coffee

[Bunny™]

What about someone that lived that might be even bigger if they had died? If Michael Jackson had died right after Thriller came out he might be viewed as a genius right now rather than the joke he's become.

I've always thought how great it would've been if he had died when his head caught on fire during that Pepsi commercial shoot. We'd remember Black Michael. Not scary fucking funhouse Macauley/ Feldman/ Webster/ elephantman/ amusement park in his yard that is only open to boys/ melty face freak.

Off The Wall is an awesome album.

[A.J.]

I think Hendrix would have gone into fusion like Jeff Beck did on Blow by Blow.

I would have loved to have seen where the Allman Brothers would have gone had Duane and Berry Oakley both not been killed.

[spot]

I would also include The Band's first three records..maybe even five, although Cahoots was kind of a let-down, but they made up for it with Rock of Ages.